New technique to benefit breast cancer patients
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 7
The PGI has introduced the sentinel lymph node technique in breast cancer for the care of patients with breast cancer. In this technique, the patient need not go through the complete removal of the breast but only a part of the breast where the lymph nodes are cancerous.

“The surgeries under this technique are done with the introduction of a blue dye, a radioactive isotope adjacent to the breast mass. The breast is then gently pressed to enhance lymphatic flow for five to seven minutes after the dye injection,” said Dr J.D. Wig, Head of Department of general surgery at the PGI.

Earlier, lymph nodes under the arm pits were also removed to rule out any possibility of spread of cancerous nodes. However, in the new surgery since the lymph nodes would not be removed, the allied complications of swelling in the arms, restricted arm movement were also minimal.

Dr Wig said though the dye was very expensive, the surgical technique, which was performed at select centres in India, would be available at no additional cost for the patients at the PGI.

Action against poultry farm owners
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 7
The SDM, Mr Varinder Dahiya, has asked the Block Development Officer, Barwala, to book proprietors of Triveni Poultry farm near Kakrali village, for insanitary conditions at the farm.

Mr Dahiya said he had visited villages in the Barwala poultry belt and found that no precautions were being taken to bury dead chicks and hens. “They were simply being thrown away and this was attracting flies in the area. I have asked the BDO to get an FIR registered against the owners of the farm,” he said.

He has also asked officials posted in the Barwala and Raipur Rani blocks to carry out a routine check of all 90 poultry farms there, and ensure that insecticides were being used in the feed of chicks and other sanitary precautions were being taken.

He warned that action would be taken against all poultry farmers who were not adhering to the sanitation norms laid down by the administration.

Substandard polythene bags seized
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 7
A team of the Chandigarh Administration today seized five quintals of sub-standard polythene bags from Industrial Area, Phase II, and Sector 22. The DC, Mr Arun Kumar said he had warned the violators that criminal proceedings would be initiated against manufacturers and stockists of sub-standard poly bags.