“In fact, my quality of life has turned better after treatment''
:News of noted cricketer Yuvraj Singh being diagnosed with cancer comes as a shock to his fans. While almost all cases of cancer evoke responses of shock and fear, people who have fought a successful battle against it tell us that it is completely curable. Sharing their reassuring stories of recovery, cancer survivors in the city explain how they never let memories of the disease cast a shadow on the normal lives they lead.
On February 9, it will be 14 years since she underwent surgery for breast cancer. “After the surgery I remember asking my doctor how soon I can drive, and she said I could drive back home. At that time I could hardly move my hand. Though I started driving only after three months, the kind of confidence Dr. Shanta gave me was amazing,” says Ramamani Ravi.
Now completely cured, she leads a very busy life with little memory of the ailment or the tough times it gave her. Mother of a person with special needs, she says cancer did not seem big to her. “I have no time to think of that because there are bigger things in life. If you have a formula to cure a problem in six months, then it's no problem at all. My quality of life is, in fact, better after treatment. I remember the annual check-ups only when it is close to the dates,” says Ms. Ravi, currently involved in activities of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of India. Once a year, she undergoes ultrasound scan, ECG, X-ray, mammogram and physical examination to rule out recurrence or the possibility of it spreading to other parts. Emphasising the importance of family support during treatment, she recalls how she was worried about her son Niranjan.
“I asked my doctor how long I should be away from regular daily work. My son was 12 then. However, Dr. Shanta said I could continue with whatever I was doing. My mother, mother-in-law and her mother were there to support me. They would take care of my son. I could eat only in limited quantities but the food had to be high in nutrition. They took care of that as well. More than just offering support, they radiated positive energy and kept my morale high,” recalls Ms. Ravi. Family members vividly remember the challenging years. Her mother-in-law Jayalakshmi Kannan says: “At that time, she went on her own to meet the doctor. My mother, who was in her 80s then and I were so scared because it was something new to us. We could only pray and think positively that she would come out of it. And she did.”
Life is, after all, not hopeless
V. Shanta, chairperson, Cancer Institute, Adyar:
With our present knowledge, we have the possibility to cure two out of three common cancers, which are cervical, oral and breast cancers. But we are achieving only one out of three as they come in at an advanced stage. But things are improving. In the 1950s and 1960s we used to see only 10-15 per cent of early cases. However, at least 40% of them come early now. Once cured, the survivors need not be on medication. They can lead a normal life. ‘Life is for living and there is life after cancer' is what we tell our patients and survivors.
Keywords: cancer treatment, living with cancer, Cancer cure, palliative care
The Govrnment as well as the Corporate Hospitals must organise Cancer Detection Camps ( like Eye, Diabetes check-.up camps ) periodically to identify cancer victims at early stages and arrange to treat them and save their life. The Hospitals which are selected for treatment under Govt Medical Insurance scheme must come forward to organise such camps.
I would love to share my mother's 100% recovery by the Hon'ble Dr. Shantha's love and care. Mother was diagnosed when she was around 55 years and with Dr's care, love and guidance mother did get cured completely. If I can sum up about Dr., She is 'a God Given Gift' to our society. God Bless Doctor and all her efforts!
Its encouraging to read this article , at the same time , am deeply worried to know the fact there many other types of cancer that incurable even at early stages. A cousin of mine is suffering from rectum cancer since almost more than a decade , am at loss of words to express their family battling to fight this fatal disease since having undergone 3 major operations. Despite the advancement in medical science there isn't any development to control this spread of disease...Keeping fingers crossed , pray someday this draconian disease dies of its own.
The Changing life style is big cancer to the society. It is responsible for such dreadful diseases, moreover the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink is all impure, how can there be quality life? The only solution is try to find ways to escape from pollution and bad food.
It is meet and proper that I share a personal note. Dr. V.Shanta is one of the greatest persons ever born in the past few centuries. No mere doctor, she is a dreamer, who shares and lands her dreams. My wife, the late lamented Vasantha was one of her favorite clients and led the very usual pattern of her life for decades after cancer treatment in her hands and ended up as a hard-working volunteer in the Cancer Institute. Unfortunately, we lost her to other causes, in her sixties. Our family, like countless others, owe a tribute to Dr.V.Shanta.
Great to see such positive news. The news is simple and crisp. I wonder
how I missed this paper for long time.
Dear Sir,
It is really gratifying to know about the courage and conviction with
which the patients and their family deal with cancer. Life is full of
hope and optimism and these people demonstrate this message thro'
their life. Sure, shock and fear must have been the initial reaction
and once it settles, it is the attitude that wins or loses the battle.
The medicines and treatment can cure the disease only 50% and the
remaining 50% is the will power of the patient and to some extent
their immediate family that can really provide relief. Its truely
inspiring to know about the warriors in the real life. Hats off to
them... Not to forget the nurses and sisters who assist the patient,
they also deserve special mention and gratitude. It will be good to
spread awareness so that the disease is detected early so that the
pain and sufferings are minimised.
A very humble suggestion. Either due to lack of awareness or monetary
or other limitations, a sizable percentage of women living in the
urban areas (not to speak of women in semi urban areas and villages)do
not deem it necessary to undergo medical check up for mammograms or
pap smear tests starting from their mid 30's. Public awareness by
volunteers who can visit the individual houses to explain the benefits
of such tests, news paper/radio/television/commercial breaks in movie
theaters (all sponsored by big commercial establishments - where
Government could provide tax exemptions for such expenses), special
medical camps to villages, in-house bulletins in ladies colleges
(future mothers), are a few things the government should think of.
Early detection and treatment would certainly save several from this
disease.
Thanks
What a doc. What a person! What she has been as a person is what tops what she has been as a doctor!
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