The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Scores of survivors chant ‘death to cancer’

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Monday, Jun 16, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Scores of survivors chant ‘death to cancer’

Special Correspondent

At Cancer institute’s ‘Annual Reunion Day,’ inspiring stories of courage fill the air

— Photo: M. Karunakaran

SHARING A POINT: V. Shanta, chairperson, Adyar Cancer Institute, with N. Sugal Chand Jain, managing trustee, Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation, at a function in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI: When it came down to a choice between his voice and his life, Shafuddin consented to have his cancerous vocal box surgically removed.

Using a voice prosthesis after the total laryngectomy procedure at the Adyar Cancer Institute, this patient is these days an eloquent ambassador of the message that cancer is curable.

On ‘Annual Reunion Day’ organised at the institute, Shafuddin was among the scores of survivors who shared their experience to raise the morale of patients.

These inspiring stories of courage in the face of adversity were beamed over a telemedicine network to patients at two locations in Andhra Pradesh and two other centres in Tamil Nadu.

From Dilli Rao, who recalled being chided by Cancer Institute chairperson V. Shanta for even suggesting that he be discharged as there was no money to continue treatment, to Bhama Subramanian or Lakshmanan, a lymphoma patient, they had some common message: there is no need to fear cancer, and that there is life after cancer. As Sumana Premkumar said, quelling cancer required a collective will of the patient, the caregivers in the family and the doctors.

Dr. Shanta said the dramatic technology developments in oncology and cancer care in recent times has led to an emphasis on conservation of organs and improvement to the quality of life.

The last five years, in particular, had seen a sea change in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

The improvement in medical technologies had provided the potential to cure two out of every three patients suffering from cancer. However, in reality, intervention was succeeding in only one out of every three patients because 60-70 per cent of the patients reported to the institution when the disease was at an advanced stage. “This scenario has to change,” she said.

Dr. Shanta said the patients who had overcome cancer were best suited to be ambassadors, as they had undergone the cycle of distress and fear, pain, emotional trauma and joy and relief. They symbolised the spirit of the institution’s signature song “Vazhkai Vazhvathukke.” The annual event was a day of re-dedication and commitment to the work that had been done at the institution.

N. Sugal Chand Jain, managing trustee, Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation, and a generous donor to the institute, highlighted the society’s role in facilitating treatment. He also underscored the need for prevention, as tobacco and liquor accounted for 60 per cent of cancer cases.

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