Army Medical Corps (AMC) personnel post retirement can play a major role in contributing towards the citizens’ health. Combating cancer at home and in the neighbourhood is one of the many initiatives that they can take up in the coming years.

Introduction

The Army Medical Corps (AMC) personnel, even after retirement, stands as a reserve for the nation. Health, Fitness, & Poise are the 3 dimensions of defence personnel of any age. Defence health & fitness-related research & own technology had drawn much public investment, approbation & approval in the 1970-to-80’s, thus India was well ahead of China. Since 1990, R & D units & programs became pro-establishment with all seats reserved for permanent squatters. All that & those institutes are now hulks. Times have changed. R-&-D is now Technology-&-Research (T-&-R) is extra mural matter whereof it is leap-forging forward. Thus, relevant R&D developed outside the establishment should be acquired and adopted.  Field commanders also need to be given powers so that they may opt to uptake Indian private enterprise’s innovations & inventions. This will enable retiree staff to either get involved in start-ups and or join existing ones and lead life gainfully. The medical institutes should be handed over to enterprising young medicos.  And the youth shall make India overtake China once again. Rest assured. ¹ This medical group has been sidelined for decades and hence can now be utilized to combat cancer at home with never-before returns on investments. 

Family Physician – Functional Food & Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, with rising incidence and significant challenges, including high recurrence rates, local and distant metastasis, and severe lifestyle disruptions². Its rate of prevalence among the defense forces is said to be rapidly rising due to abrupt alteration from active physical work to sedentary work post retirement. Despite the availability of treatment options, including chemotherapy, the need for cold-chain-dependent drugs and the associated toxic side effects pose substantial barriers to effective care, particularly in rural and remote areas. Family Physicians (FPs) are well-equipped with local support teams, medical expertise and drug storage facilities, and are uniquely positioned to assist in CRC management. However, due to a widespread misconception that legal frameworks do not permit their involvement, they largely refrain from treating cancer patients. Notably, in India—the world’s largest democracy—laws do allow FPs to play a more active role in oncology care, yet this remains largely unknown and underutilized. FPs also possess deep knowledge of Functional Foods (FFs), which are abundant in tropical and equatorial regions and have demonstrated potential in mitigating chemotherapy side effects, enhancing patient recovery, and improving overall well-being. Integrating FFs into CRC management under the supervision of FPs could offer a holistic, patient-centered approach that benefits all stakeholders—patients, healthcare providers, and the pharmaceutical industry. This paper explores the potential role of FPs in CRC care, the integration of FFs in treatment regimens, and the medico-legal considerations surrounding this paradigm shift. By leveraging the expertise and accessibility of FPs, CRC management can be made more comprehensive, ensuring better patient outcomes, economic benefits, and an expanded healthcare market that prioritizes family welfare and prolonged survival³.

Medico Legal Aspect

The Indian National Medical Commission Act (NMCA) of 2019, under Section 31(1), explicitly permits FPs to provide cancer care, including chemotherapy. Furthermore, Section 32 of the same Act recognizes Community Health Providers (CHPs) as legitimate healthcare stakeholders, extending legal support to multidisciplinary teams, including academics, nurses, and other trained professionals⁴.  India is the sole nation to have done so, a case of leadership.

Take Home Points :

Defence clinicians are conservative, have a knack for FFs, have excellent pension & lifestyle benefits so as not to be commercial (patient \system exploiting) and can be gainfully used for national & social welfare as FPs in ‘Fight Cancer At Home’.  Such a large resource personnel pool is currently scantily used due to ‘fear of Law’, which is unfounded. Def Ministry; AMC & IMC should utilize India’s potential (which is idling).   

Clinical; Nursing; Paramedical; Teaching & Research defense personnel (superannuated) should be enrolled on a National Electronic Register (NER).  Such NER may spew once a month (only) AI powered refresher course; practice & latest style updates and in-society skill relevance retaining tipps and info. To enroll, remain and profit from being a part of the various pan-India & mass plans & programs^5,6.

The Defence, Home, Health, and Family Welfare ministers & Secretaries and the DGs et al. can also remain in touch with the far-flung located highly disciplined and anti-greed medical corps (even the solitary person in no-where India).

• Systemic Inflammation and Response Pathology.
• Chemotherapy-Induced Toxicity
• Systemic Anemia in CRC Patients
• Medico-Legal Considerations

Nine Key Aspects in CRC (All Clinical Stages) During Chemotherapy Cycles ^25-35

In colorectal cancer (CRC), across all clinical stages, nine notable aspects require special attention during chemotherapy cycles:

•      Collapsed Gut Lumen – A common complication impacting digestion.
•      Lumen Constriction Due to Lymph Node Inflammation – Worsens bowel obstruction.
•      Declining hemoglobin levels with hypotension and fatigue can lead to systemic weakness.
•      Resultant Hemodynamic Alterations – Affecting circulatory stability.
•      Gastrointestinal Distress – Including nausea, mild cramps, and a persistent uneasy stomach.
•      Opportunistic Viral Infections – Heightened susceptibility due to immunosuppression.
•      Nutritional Support for Chemotherapy – Site-specific dietary interventions to enhance treatment efficacy.
•      Mood Swings and Depression – Psychological impact of CRC and treatment.
•      Addressing the Ill-Feel Factor – Transitioning from discomfort to well-being.

Functional Foods (FF) in CRC Management

Functional foods (FF) are not equivalent to medical diets. Instead, they are rooted in anti-malignancy research and involve a collaborative effort between nurses, patients (both under treatment and in observation phases), and family caregivers. FF interventions are nurse-mediated and remotely supervised by healthcare professionals, ensuring dietary adherence and therapeutic efficacy^7,8,9.

Key Functional Foods and Their Benefits:

The following, along with the run-up citations, may be weighed in for optimum management of CRC in the far of the wild by the solitary defense health care professional in national-&-social duty to ‘Combat Cancer-at-Home’^10,12

• Curd (Homemade Probiotic Yogurt): Supports gut microbiota, countering chemotherapy-induced disturbances. Helps restore Akkermansia muciniphila levels, often depleted during treatment.
• Legumes for Gut Lumen Health: Green gram (Vigna radiata) and black gram (Vigna mungo) aid in gut biome restoration.
• Minor Millets: Essential in CRC and solid cancers for overall metabolic support.
• Mustard Oil (Brassica juncea): This is the preferred cooking medium due to its hydrophobic properties and non-counteractive nature with CRC.
• Renal Support with Herbal Extracts: Tribulus terrestris, Boerhavia diffusa, and Macrotyloma uniflorum for kidney function preservation.
• Sweet and Energy-Dense Foods: Homemade candies (peethas), mild sweet fries, soups, noodles, and gram flour-based snacks enhance appetite and caloric intake.
• Dairy-Based Functional Foods: Cottage cheese, clarified butter (ghee), and milk support energy metabolism and drug vectoring.
• Gut-Soothing Herbs: Asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida), sesame seeds, and warm water aid in digestion and reduce bloating.
• Tubers and Rhizomes: Most are beneficial, except for vitamin A-rich varieties like carrots.
• Ayurvedic Elixirs: Dasamularishta or Panchamularishta for diabetic and non-diabetic CRC patients.
• Minor Millets and Country Grains: Promote anti-acidity, mild ulcer healing, and regulated bowel movements.
• Brining and Hydration Strategies: Bristling brine to counter drug-induced dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
• Iron Supplementation: Ayurvedic Lohasava for hematopoiesis and anemia management.
• Fruit-Based Therapies: Pomegranate for anti-inflammatory effects and virus resistance.
• Unripe sun-dried mango (ambula) as an effective CRC supplement.
• Mental Well-Being Interventions: Papaver somniferum for mood stabilization and REM sleep regulation.
• Natural Pain Management: Dried poppy carp and Ayurvedic formulations like Mritasanjibani.
• Exercise and Sun Exposure: Induces peripheral circulation, metabolism of therapeutic toxins, and stress relief.
• Traditional Healing Foods: Chyawanprash, Dasamularishta, and Mritasanjibani as general regeneratives.
• Oral and Dental Hygiene: Guava twigs, neem stick brushing, and natural antiseptics for gum health.
• Anti-Parasitic Measures: Erythrina variegata leaves and pineapple juice for post-chemotherapy pinworm infestations.

Functional Foods and Symptom Management

Contraindicated Functional Foods

Certain foods should be avoided in CRC, as they may counteract chemotherapy effects or exacerbate symptoms:

•  Iodized salt and iodine-rich foods
•  Steroids and synthetic vitamins (especially Vitamin A)
•  Crabs, fish oils, and palm/sunflower oil
•  Green plantains and tamarind
•  Mouthwashes with benzene, Dettol, or phenol
•  Wheatgrass and genetically modified (GM) foods
•  Citrates in renal stone patients

Heritage and Research Perspective

Ancient healthcare manuscripts, including Indian Ayurvedic, Persian, Mesopotamian, Maori, Incan, Chinese, and Nipponese traditions, reference functional foods as integral to disease management. However, none have explicitly linked them to CRC management, making this an evolving area of study. Research supports functional foods as an avenue for drug discovery, integrating bottom-up methodologies for safer and cost-effective cancer care^13,14,15,16.

Heritage Aspect

In India, we note numerous ancient palm-leaf manuscripts titled ‘Determination Of Diet’¹⁷. Fig -1 is a token example (a 1^st time expouser case). It shows such a rare specimen. It seems to be a redaction of the Original in Sanskrit (self gelling {language}), not in the library used.

Fig-1: Image of the original palm leaf manuscript as in Ref No.38.  Photo  (exposed for author on exclusive request) by Mr. Laxmidhara Sahu, Lab Assistant, Palm Leaf Section. Superintendant Odisa State Museum, Bhubaneswar –India (sole proprietor).  Remarks: Odia lingua; Odia script;  Approx. Folios Not recorded. Its major part is a redaction from the original Sanskrit, and the minor part is in sync with regional agro-met and regional health issues dt. between c.1750 and 1850 (like the other manuscripts cited in this transaction).  The text & Label’s script is in Odia (regional vernacular). This museum conserves  >20,000 palm-leaf manuscripts – all-inclusive. Digital versions of the cited manuscripts are available on application. Fig-1 merits mining.   Library Call No:: Pathya Pathy Vinischaya, (c.1700-1850). Determination Of Diet, Ancient Palm Leaf  Manuscript, By   Biswanatha Sena, Library Call No. Ay -16;154;295-B, C/o Dr. Bhagya Lipee, Superintendant, Odisa State Museum, Bhubaneswar – India.

While various active pharmaceutical ingredients – APIs from Indian medicine (Ayurveda & Unani) have indicated as a source for Drug Discovery, including cancer¹⁸, the popular Glycyrrhiza glabra, a historical food item in greater parts of Asia and a prominent API in the Ayurveda, has been computationally docked with the CRC receptor protein¹⁹. The Avicenna school of medicine c.11^th A.D.²⁰ and the Sanskrit-Persian²¹ health care literature on ‘Functional Fruit’ speaks about anti-inflammation therapies and regenerative & anti-cancer concepts²².  Sri Lanka (c.3rd BC) and Singhala\Lanka’s Buddhists (Hinayana & Mahayana) have their mints^23,24,25. In Mesopotamia²⁶; Maori²⁷; Inca civilization^28,29; Sino^30,31; Nipponese³² and General Reports^33,34 on health care Science related ff as the vital internal\oral healthcare items are noted. However, none relates even remotely to CRC.

Conclusion

India’s vast defence network has an in-lay of a firm grid of health services that includes outdoor & indoor efforts & excellent nursing force. All skilled & excellently capable.  Defense health care recourse personnel mostly invariably take a conservative route and hence will find this communication as relevant, easy to appreciate & uptake as alike a swan taking to waters. However, AFMC is wanting in the Inventions & Discovery arenas. Any out-of-the-box work attracts a drowning stare as if a suspect subject of the Supreme Commander. A complete mind-set rebooting is urgently warranted. Why? because inventions & innovations get trapped by the eyes of the nurses and germinate in the hands of the Ph.D clinicians. In this regard, the surgeon-general of the US & Israel lead the global show. Either follow the dictum of ‘no holds bar’ to catch innovation by anybody anywhere (pan globally) and convert it into a cash cruncher. India is light-years behind.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of India and Defence Research and Studies

Image Courtesy: https://www.pennmedicine.org/

Acknowledgment

Extracted From

Research Jor of Pharmacy & Technology, (2025). Vol.18(2), pp.949-1004. https://www.rjptonline.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2025-18-2-71 (26-2-25)

Bridging the Gap: The Role of Family Physicians in Colorectal Cancer Care and Functional Food Integration

AUTHORS  (multi-Lateral Team)
Dr. Deepak Bhattacharya¹, Prof. Kavita Chenania², Prof. Asadollah Asadi³, Chandra Sekhar Tripathy⁴, Prof. U. S. Mahadeva Rao^5*, Diba Kiani⁶

Policy, Critical Nursing, Drug Discovery, Medicinal Toxicology & QC (primary – fountain author) at: Sri Radha Krishna Raas Mandir, Kedar Gouri Main Road, Bhubaneswar–751002, Odisa, India, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, IMS and SUM Hospital, Associate professor, Department of Biology, University of Mohaghegh, Ardabili, Iran, Department of Botany, Centurion University of Technology and Management,  Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kampus Perubatan, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. *Corresponding Author E-mail: raousm@unisza.edu.my, Microbiologist, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz branch, Iran. 

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