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Cancer victors day 2024 was celebrated at Chennai on 25th August. 91 victors and their escorts assembled to a joyous morning. The event began with an one hour recital by Mr. Anil Srinivasan on the piano, Abhilash Venkitachalam (of Super Singer fame) & team which combined melody with intense interaction from the audience.

 

Six eminent persons from Chennai ,Hon’ble Justice K.Murali Shankar, Judge Madras High Court , Dr. S. Aravind MS ,MBA, CMO & Director – Projects, Aravind Eye hospital, Chennai
Dr. Sumanth.C.Raman Physician,& Television personality,Mr. G. S. Ramesh Chairman & founder, Layam group Dr. S. Sunder MD ,Founder & Managing Trustee, Freedom Trust, Chennai & Mr. G. Aravind ,President, Ambattur Ind. estate Manu Assn, Chennai , helped six victors to light the ceremonial lamp. Before that all the victors were assembled on the stage and lit up the lamps and brightened the darkened hall to proclaim that there is life after cancer. The guests lauded the victory of the victors and urged them to get into the community and inspire cancer affected to get into the fold of cure. Uniformly all of them heaped felicitations on the victors on their triumph over cancer.

 

This year the trust introduced a new set of awards , “ Vasanth Bandhu Urthunaiaalar Award ceremonies – recognition of relatives of patients who stood by them at crucial times of treatment        

Many times we have said in the past that for patient to transform from a victim to a victor, the role of a doctor is 1% , nursing & other health worker’s contribution is 9% and remaining 90% , yes the bulk, is in the hands of the patient and his/ her relatives. Firstly they have to accept the diagnosis, second have to be convinced that it is treatable & possibly curable, they have to select a doctor & hospital ( numerous suggestions would have come by then ) , they have to assess their affordability and most important the feasibility at the desired facility – this includes logistics, stay at a different city for 6 – 9 months, sustenance of the remaining family and an alternate source of income to run the family ).Last and most important is to give moral support to the patient and show a mellowed but understanding behaviour to the temperamental changes of the patients. In short being like a rock to patient, be able to make decisions and be emotionally strong

The one-on-one teaching of breast cancer project – Pudhuvasantham – has been going since the year 2015. Over 3 lakh women have been reached by us so far in Tamil Nadu. In Dindigul our associate in this project is with Shanti Seva Trust. ..Since Nov 2016 they have covered over 70,000 women. In a recognition of their continued support to our efforts the trust presented them with a Vasanth Bandhu award a gifted, a portable public address system.Mr.Anthony Sagayaraj and his team to received it from Mrs. Meenakshi Selvaraj, the person chiefly responsible for educating these ladies

After the ceremonies Mr. Shyam related a ghost story and entertained the audience. Thereafter Saisree & Tanushree regaled the audience with their dance performance. The program ended with an open house wherein some victors & caregivers related their stories.