Cancer Patients Aid Association E-newsletter January

CPAA website is renamed www.cancer.org.in : In line with nomenclature used by major NGOs worldwide, Cancer Patients Aid Association's website has now been renamed www.cancer.org.in . You can access the website using both addresses for the present.

World Cancer Day: On 2nd February 2009, an awareness lecture was conducted at Trident Hotel in two sessions for 120 staff members on the occasion of World Cancer Day.

An open forum program was organised in Hindi on Breast cancer for railway staff and general public in association with Western Railways Employee’s Union, on 4th February 2009. Dr. Mandakini Purandare – Gynaecologist, Dr. Mandar Nadkarni – Asst. Professor of Surgical Oncology – Tata Memorial Hospital, Mrs. Neeta More – Director – CPAA. were the speakers. Actress, Mrs. Kishori Shahane-Vij was the chief guest, while Mrs. Sangeeta Vyas compered this discussion sponsored by BG Energy Challenge Fund.

On 13th February 2009, an Early detection camp was conducted for 90 women at Sneha Shakti, an organisation working in the field of Health care, education and training for women from poor sections of society. This was preceded by an Awareness Lecture delivered by Iva Athavia of our Patient Care department on the 12th which helped ensure a better attendance for the screening. 43 of the participants were advised further follow-ups, while one was referred to Cama Hospital for further investigations and biopsy.

Dr. Shubha Maudgal, Kirti Dustakar and panel

doctor, Dr. C.S. Joshi were invited for an Awareness Lecture by the Matrisangha Janakalyan Ashram, Kolkata for their annual programme celebrating the birthday of their guru, on 14th and 15th February 2009. The programme included a full day Blood Donation and Free Health check-up Camp, inaugural speech on the state of health care in West Bengal by Dr K P Sinha, Director Social Welfare and Special Secretary, Govt.of West Bengal, Cancer awareness program overview and benefits lecture by Dr. Shubha Maudgal, Keynote address on Cancer detection and awareness by Dr C.J Joshi. The group also discussed the details of setting up a cancer screening programme at the centre.

As a part of CPAA's ongoing programme of 'Total Management of Cancer', an awareness lecture was delivered by Dr. Shubha Maudgal at the Larsen and Toubro Powai campus on 16th February 2009. Over 100 employees attended the talk and an interesting question-answer session followed.

Support to the Terry Fox Run: The Terry Fox run is an annual event which is part of a worldwide effort to raise funds for cancer research. It commemorates the efforts of Terry Fox, a cancer patient who ran across Canada to raise awareness about the disease. The run was held in Mumbai on February 1st. CPAA assisted in the organising by creating outdoor advertising to promote the event. Over Rs. 50 lakh were raised through the run which were donated to Tata Memorial Hospital to further their research efforts.

Deutsche Bank wanted to fulfill the wishes of 100 childhood cancer patients. On 3rd February, Mr.Gerard D'Souza and his colleagues gave us the

gifts which were distributed to patients from Tata, Wadia and Sion Hospitals.

Iva Athavia delivered an Awareness Lecture attended by 400 patients and family members at Bharat Seva Sangh, Vashi on 18th February. A screening camp is being planned.

12 college friends and housewives collected Rs.15,000 to provide drugs for our patients. These medicines were distributed to patients from Nair, Cama and Tata hospitals. This unique and generous gesture will continue as a monthly event.

DELHI BRANCH: Breast & Cervix Cancer awareness program: Convergys invited CPAA for a presentation on Breast & Cervix cancer for its women staff on 20th January 2009. Dr. Puneet Gupta from Apollo Hospital made the presentation which received an overwhelming response. The employees used this opportunity to gain as much information and allay their fears about cancer.

Anti-smoking campaign: CPAA participated in an anti-smoking campaign organised by Convergys. CPAA’s team interacted with the employees and shared information on the ill effects of tobacco. It was interesting to note that a majority of the smokers were keen on quitting smoking for which CPAA plans to organise a cessation clinic headed by Dr. Maini from Ganga Ram Hospital.

Donation: Childhood cancer patient, Amit Kumar from district Samastipur was operated on for a malignant tumor with formations of Osteosarcoma during which his leg had to be amputated. Mr. Subhash Lakhotia, a long-time patron of CPAA generously donated a tricycle for the handicapped Amit.

Funday: Fun Day was celebrated this year at Wonders of the World, an amusement park in Noida. 80 children were taken to the amusement park for a day of fun and games. The children thoroughly enjoyed the rides and the hospitality shown towards them by the Amusement park team. Famous pop singer Shanker Sahney entertained the children with songs and invited the patients on the stage to join in the dancing. The children forgot their pain, joined in the merriment and had a great day. Our day was made when little Rahul remarked, “Madam, today I forgot that I am a cancer patient and had lots of fun. Please bring us here again!” The children were served hot lunch and ice-cream, which they thoroughly enjoyed. The children left for their homes with bags full of gifts and happy memories to cherish.

CHENNAI BRANCH: On 7th February, CPAA's recently launched branch in Chennai organised a screening camp for 132 individuals from a village at the outskirts of the city with the help of the Apollo Group of Educational institutes. The doctors and infrastructure were provided by the Paterson Cancer Centre. The three way partnership ensured a successful camp wherein 4 persons were detected with cancer. The event was widely covered by media.

CPAA at United World College of South East Asia: A group of high school students of the UWCSEA have initiated a Global Concern (GC) student group in support of CPAA. Its members collect money for patients and raise awareness among students at the school regarding the disease and the social/emotional effects of cancer. CPAA GC held a ‘Cancer Week’ from 4th to 11th February 2009 to mark World Cancer Day. During the week members of the GC organised role-play games in the form of a snakes and ladders board. Participants answered questions on cancer depending upon which square they landed on. A non-uniform day was also held on 4th February. The colours worn were purple and yellow representing cancer and childhood cancer respectively. Items such as stickers, bracelets, bookmarks and pins, handmade or designed by members of the GC, were sold and raised SGD$900 (INR 30,000), to be donated towards a patient’s treatment at CPAA. Through these events CPAA GC hopes to make cancer just a word and not a sentence.

Forthcoming events
On behalf of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) CPAA would like to inform you about the 13th World Conference on Lung Cancer (13th WCLC) in San Francisco, California from July 31st to August 4th, 2009. More than 7,000 participants are expected; for details contact grit@icsevents.com