Providing hope to encourage cancer patients

In Goa, there are various healthcare organisations, government agencies, and non-profit groups that collaborate to organise awareness campaigns, seminars, screenings and events for people of different walks of life.

An initiative of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, under the aegis of Caritas Goa, CanSurvive has oncologists, surgeons, NGOs and civil society groups on board to provide information and support. Director of Caritas Goa, Fr Maverick Fernandes informs, “We have been running the programme for over three years and we receive a lot of calls for support. When a person is first detected with cancer, they are going through different emotions. Mostly it is a family member or a relative who approaches us more than the patient themselves. They don’t want to talk about it or they hide it. It is important to tell them that it is not their fault or it is not a curse and anybody can get it.”

Speaking about how they support the patients, Fr Maverick adds, “Firstly, we guide them on whom to approach, the different options available for treatments and specialists in Goa and outside Goa. They can explore those options and make their decision. Secondly, we financially support them, not fully but a considerable amount. We also accompany them and talk to them especially through chemotherapy when most patients feel lost and give up hope. Thirdly, we also have a team of survivors that encourage the patients. They give them the confidence that they too have survived cancer and so they can survive even after getting treatment and regular checks.”

CanSurvive hold awareness sessions in schools, colleges, churches, panchayats and housing societies and based on the participants, they plan their talks ranging from leading a healthy lifestyle to prevent cancer, early examination tests for those with cancer history in the family, and different types of cancer. They also provide counselling and support and palliative care information for cancer patients.

Goa Medical College (GMC) Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar has seen cancer patients going through different phases, from fear to joy and gratefulness. “There is a strong support system for cancer patients in Goa especially from their own family members and once they are completely cured, they want to share their stories and become brand ambassadors. Many patients also donate cancer treatment equipment to make the treatment better for other patients while many also sign up for organ donation,” says Dr Shivanand.

He further adds, “Incidents of cancer are increasing in Goa with the highest cases in breast cancer followed by Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, lung cancer and kidney cancer. With an increase in awareness too, there is early detection of cancer which makes treatment and recovery also faster. GMC will offer full-fledged facilities for cancer patients very soon as we have signed an MOU with Tata Memorial Centre to establish cancer institute. The State Cancer Institute will be close to the new super-specialty block of the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) at Bambolim. Right now, we have created a ward and the doctors visit every week. Tele consultation has also begun for cancer patients and survivors.”

Muskaan, an NGO based in Goa, is one of the earliest support groups for cancer patients that was formed by managing trustees, cancer survivor Babita Agarwal and Dr Sharmila Sardessai Correia. Since 2006, their main motto has been to provide psycho-social support to the patients and family members. “We have organised many events in the past, including walkathons and awareness workshops which bust many myths about cancer. We also organise talks for Class 10 students, higher secondary schools and colleges, besides hospital and then home visits,” says Babita, who spends time between Goa and Baroda.

There is a better chance of survival with a positive approach towards the disease and this process is made easier with information sharing. “The importance of a support group is that the patient can open up to us as we are not judging them,” adds Babita, who finds that many cancer survivors volunteer to help other patients.

Sanjeevani…life beyond cancer was founded by cancer survivor, Ruby Ahluwahlia, who now calls Goa her home. The foundation was formed in 2012 and has 30 government hospitals in 15 states where it offers its support for cancer patients. “I was a bureaucrat in Mumbai and I resigned two years back when I relocated to Goa. We had started working in Goa five years back. I speak on all forums and provide information about cancer. However, Goa is special. People don’t want to join the support group. They don’t want to go in for early detection examinations and seek all the help that they can get. I recently had a webinar for the people of Goa and I insist on everyone to keep their cameras on. Yet, only four to five cameras were on which nearly 35 participants had turned it off. There is a lot of work to be done as the cancer percentage of Goa has increased and people should be aware of how to be disease free and prevent incidents of cancer,” says Ruby.

Cuddles Foundation is India’s only non-profit that helps children fight cancer with holistic nutrition. They will be organising their first awareness/ advocacy and fund-raiser for-the-cause event on December 1 in Goa. The most common cancer in children that Cuddles Foundation sees, is B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Zulena Trishal Rao of Cuddles Foundation says, “Detecting cancer in children promptly and preventing care delays can significantly enhance their quality of life and outcomes. Accurate diagnosis is crucial in treating paediatric cancer since each type of cancer demands a tailored treatment plan, which may involve surgical procedures, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.”

Cuddles Foundation provides support across the country for children through nutrition assessments, nutrition counselling and diet plan and parent support groups. “We assess the nutritional status of every child, prescribe customised diet plans and provides supplements and ration as required in order to support the nutritional needs. During hospital visits, we provide patients with egg, banana, chikki, milkshake, lassi and hot meals. We also conduct parent support group meets to educate caregivers about nutrition and hygiene. Through cook-outs and workshops at the hospital, we engage parents to make the right food choices for their child and the whole family,” concludes Zulena