Cancer meant death earlier, but not any more. It can be won over by patients if every person in the society does his/ her bit, say film actors Kamal Haasan and Gautami.
Creating awareness on cancer and campaigning against smoking or chewing tobacco would surely control cancer, feels Kamal Hasan. Speaking at the inaugural of the Yashoda International Cancer Centre here at HICC on Saturday, he said he quit smoking long ago to dissuade others from doing so to keep cancer at bay.
“One of my friends, who is a great cartoonist, chewed tobacco for 30 years of his life and he got cancer. But luckily he survived,” he said, appealing to people to not encourage habits that contribute to cancer.
With modern technology, diagnostic methods and medicine, cancer was no longer a life-threatening disease, he said.
“As a hero, I acted in 200 movies. But I am still not one. By conquering cancer, Gautami has become a real hero in life,” he remarked. Recalling the experience of being diagnosed with cancer and how she won it over with the help of doctors, actor Gautami said that she could know a lot about cancer.
“But not everyone has the access to such information… I request the doctors to make efforts to explain to patients what cancer really is,” she said. Mr. Haasan, Ms. Gautami, Minister for Health T. Rajaiah, IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao and Yashoda Hospital authorities felicitated noted oncologist Mammen Chandy for his services.
Dr. Chandy inaugurated the Bone Morrow and Stem Cell Transplantation Centre at the Yashoda Hospital.
