Dr. Mhoira Leng, Medical Director Cairdeas International Palliative Care trust along with Dr. Jo Dunn, palliative care specialist, Uganda, South Africa, Dr. Sanjay Dhiraj, associate professor and Dr Shakeel Ahmed from pain and palliative care unit of department of Anaesthesiology, SGPGI, Lucknow and sister Shakeela, senior staff nurse, palliative care unit, CMC, Vellore have delivered their lectures in the symposium on various issues of cancer patients.

 Dr. Mhoira Leng emphasized on the establishment of a good palliative care centre where all possible services could be provided to cancer patients under one roof including the control of their severe pain, management of symptoms other than cancer pain as well as their psychological, social and economic aspects including the support of their children and their family.

 Dr. Sanjay Dhiraj from SGPGI, Lucknow highlighted the fact that large number of cancer patients are not able to get morphine tablets due to undue fear regarding morphine tablets in the mind of people, he said that morphine tablet is a safe and  cheap option for control of pain in cancer. Dr. Mhoira Leng also demonstrated various skills of good communication between the doctors and the patient. She also highlighted the fact that an open discussion with the patient and his or her family should be made.

 Dr. Jo Dunn, palliative care specialist from Uganda, South Africa has given an overview of the management of pain in cancer patients. She has highlighted the role of other adjuvant drugs like amitriptiline and gapapentin in patients having neuropathic type of pain.

 Dr. Shakeel and sister Shakeela have addressed the issues of cancer patients during the end of the life including the support of their children and their family. They emphasized that the cultures and beliefs of the patient and their family should always be respected and no false hopes should be given to the patient or the family. 

Coordinator of the symposium and consultant in Pain Clinic, Dr. Hammad Usmani informed the audience that the symposium is extremely useful to establish a good palliative centre at JN Medical College hospital. He also highlighted various services offered by Pain Clinic at JN Medical College hospital including the most common problem of back pain to most fearsome cancer pain.

Chairman, Department of Anaesthesiology, Prof. S. Bano thanked the faculty members, guests, university and hospital administration for making the symposium successful.

About 125 participants from Aligarh and other cities of UP has participated in the symposium. Prof. S. Bano, Prof. MMH Siddiqi, Prof. Shahla Haleem, Prof. Abdul Quadir, Dr. SM Ahmed, Dr. QE Ali presented memento to the guests. Dr. S. Hussain Amir, Dr. Abu Nadeem, Dr. Obaid, Dr. Kamran as well as all senior and junior residents of the department of Anaesthesiology extended their whole-hearted support to make the symposium a great success.

The programme was conducted by Dr. Shivani Agarwal, resident in the department of Anaesthesiology.