Didsbury-Magazine-Jun-Jul-2013

Anil
Jain
What attracted you to radiology?
The interaction with so many other disciplines
is so varied, you can‘t get bored. Radiology
allows me to give my best to patient care in
a wider sense, yet focus in particular on my
breast screening work.
your interest in breast cancer?
In 1993, I was a Senior Radiology
Registrar at Withington Hospital when
the old Nightingale Centre established its
Breast Screening Programme. People said
it wouldn’t last — but as it grew, so did
my interest.
your professional passion?
Raising Breast Cancer Awareness and
prevention. Culturally, my own community
- perhaps like the poorer white community -
manages crises well but neglects prevention.
The key to success is early diagnosis.
Women delay screening for many reasons,
including fear and concern about taking time
off work. Just as on the Indian subcontinent,
breast cancer incidence has risen among the
UK’s Asian women and peaks at 45 years
old. Awareness is vital for them to attend for
screening.
did your own hospitalisation affect
you? Life-threatening spinal surgery
in June 2005 gave me an insight into
patients’ worries and anxiety, as well as
their need for understanding, support
and aftercare. I put into my own practice
what being a patient taught me. Focusing
on procedures is vital, but so is patients’
The working life of caring Anil Jain comprises
research, lecturing, hands-on clinical duties - plus his
trailblazing Asian Breast Awareness Movement
experience and their functionality. Patients
need doctors to give them information and
explanations they can understand.
did you go privately?
No. I went NHS and, being classed as
urgent, waited six weeks. During that
time both my kids fractured their limbs, so
home life was chaotic.
Pet hates?
Traffic and more traffic!
your loves?
Natural beauty.
What scares you?
Violence in any form.
What thrills you?
Human love, empathy and compassion.
What do you enjoy about your job?
Meeting colleagues, patients, carers and
seeing support for my work increase.
any irritations?
NHS bureaucracy – it’s reorganisation
after reorganisation!
your greatest influence?
Mahatma Gandhi.
your views on Manchester?
A great place - but long distances and bad
traffic.
your happiest moment?
My son’s and daughter’s births.
your long-term goal?
The full establishment of the Asian Breast
Cancer Support Group in the hope of spreading
this work to the Indian subcontinent.
Words Fay Wertheimer
Fact file
PEOPLE
Born and qualified in Delhi
1989 Glasgow Western Infirmary: Radiology Registrar
1993 Senior Radiology Registrar: Withington and
Wythenshawe Hospitals
1994 Consultant Radiologist
2005 Life-changing operation
2005 Started research into Asian breast cancer
2006 Medical Staff Governor, UHSM NHS Foundation trust
2007 Nightingale Centre and Genesis Prevention
relocated to University Hospital of South
Manchester NHS Foundation Trust
2010 Organised National Conference addressing
health inequalities in breast cancer care
2011 Launched Asian Breast Cancer Support Group at
the Nightingale Centre
2013 Award of British Medical Association Fellowship
Nationwide breast screening saves an estimated
1,400 lives annually. Among the 25% of women who
fail to attend, many are Asian.
Wife: Eye-surgeon Sunila; son Neel 19: medical
student in Cambridge; daughter Anu 13
JUNE/JULY 2013 I 37