A life-affirming and eventful meeting for those who had conquered breast cancer was held by Dr. K. Shantha Breast Cancer Foundation (SBCF) and Dr. G. Viswanathan CBCC Cancer Centre at SRM Hotel on Sunday bringing to the fore the need for greater awareness of the disease.
The 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ‘Pink October’ event, attended by breast cancer survivors and their families, blended short entertainment programmes with interactive question-and-answer sessions on the medical aspects of the disease.
“We started this foundation (in 2005) to help women avoid the problems faced by my mother Dr. Shantha 20 years ago when she was diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Dr. K. Govindaraj, managing trustee of SBCF and director, Dr. G. Viswanathan Speciality Hospitals. “For five years, in the 1990s, my mother would receive treatment in Chennai and return to Tiruchi by train to continue her work in the hospital, because she didn’t want her patients to know about her ailment,” he recalled. “Her determination showed me that it is quite possible for breast cancer patients to recover from their ordeal faster if they resume their normal routine as soon as they are able to,” he added.
Dr. Govindaraj also pointed out that all the operations were the result of team work.
Dr. Sujatha, radiation oncologist, said “this is an opportunity for those who have undergone treatment for breast cancer to share their experience and reassure those who have been newly diagnosed,” she added.
Encouraging women of all ages to voluntarily get tested annually after the age of 40 years, Dr. Sujatha said, “in India, we are unable to detect stage 1 or 2 breast cancer, because our women are afraid of approaching the doctors until it is too late. It is easier to cure the disease when it is detected early, and the quality of life of the patient is much better. This is something women have to understand and practice in their lives.”
The question-and-answer session (moderated by medical oncologist Dr. Prasanna) saw members of the audience sharing vignettes about their battle with breast cancer. A suggestion to rename ‘survivors’ as ‘conquerors’ was applauded by the gathering.
Students of the Viswanathan School of Nursing presented a ‘villu paatu’ performance and a humorous skit. Tiruchi-born TV actor Dinesh, who has been a long time volunteer of the foundation, gave away prizes to question-and-answer session participants. A brief demonstration of the dance-based Zumba fitness programme and games were held as part of the event.
Dr. Jawahar Nagasundaram, vice president and Dr. K.N. Srinivasan, secretary of SBCF, spoke.
