Monthly Report, August 2000

A Month of Special Events

CPAA regularly organises or takes part in a number of special events. These events help raise much needed funds. Equally important, they highlight our activities through the media coverage they receive and bring them to the attention of many healthy individuals who stand to benefit from the Awareness Lectures and Early Diagnosis Camps, which would otherwise not come to their attention. The organizers of these events are the unsung heroes of CPAA, who struggle against heavily stacked odds to ensure that everything goes smoothly. This includes getting necessary permissions from authorities, coordinating with busy artistes and arranging for the venue on the chosen dates. Not to mention praying for rain when the occasion demands. During the month of August three such events were held.

Musical Evening in Sawan with Falguni Pathak:

CPAA’s association with Falguni Pathak started in July 99, when she was invited to visit our centre at Mahalaxmi. She was so moved by the experience and impressed with CPAA’s achievements that she agreed to perform for our benefit free of charge. The first event was a Dandiya held last year at the NSCI during Dussehra. The second event was held on 14th August at the Lokhandwala Kamat Club in the form of a "Rain Dance." About 2000 people attended the programme that was organised by Shailja Singh. Falguni kept the audience enthralled by singing her most popular numbers and dancing with gay abandon. Her enthusiasm encouraged everyone present to join her on the dance floor where sprinklers approximated the rain, which did not make an appearance in spite of Shailja’s fervent prayers.

Auction of Shirts at Charagh Din:

The auction was a novel event organised by Kavita Kulkarni. Charagh Din, the well-known shirt store in South Mumbai, had suggested the auction of shirts at their store. Film stars, Juhi Chawla, Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Sunjay Dutt and Sushmita Sen among others, signed the shirts. Ruby Bhatia, well known compere and a valued friend of CPAA made the announcements, exhorting the audience to higher and higher bids. One t-shirt autographed by Shahrukh Khan fetched as much as Rs. 5000.

Fashion Show by Shaina NC:

This was an event conceived and arranged by the fashion house of Shaina NC, a very popular designer label. The show was the first event choreographed by Hemant Trivedi after his recovery from a severe car accident. A number of well-known women from different backgrounds took the place of professional models to walk the ramp for this charitable cause. Anjali Mukherjee, Bachi Karkaria, Dolly Thakore, Ila Arun, Mahima Chowdhary, Neena Gupta, Ruby Bhatia, Sabira Merchant, Satya Saran, Tanaz Currim, Zeba Kohli and other celebrities got onto the catwalk wearing Shaina’s creations. The proceeds of the event, which was held at Hotel Regent, were donated to CPAA. The cheque was handed over to CPAA by Shabana Azmi. In a speech to the audience during the break, Mr. Y. K. Sapru, CPAA’s Founder Chairman thanked Shaina for her generosity in supporting our activities in a novel manner. He pointed out that besides the much needed funds raised, such programmes generate a great deal of good will and are effective in reaching CPAA’s message to a wider audience. The programme, which appeared on the front page of Bombay Times, went a long way in publicizing CPAA’s activities.

Department Reports

Cancer Awareness Programme

During the past six months, Mrs. Zainab Allana and her group have covered all the BMC offices in the city through the Awareness and Fund Collection programmes. From July, they have started with the Income Tax offices. During the month of August awareness lectures were conducted in the Charni Road and Grant Road branches of the Income Tax offices. One department of the main Central Railways at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus has been addressed; two more will be covered during September. An Awareness lecture was also given at the Rhone Poulenc factory in Bhandup.

The importance of the Awareness Lectures was borne out at the talk for Central Railways when a lady approached the team after the talk. She had a lump in her underarm, which she had been neglecting for quite some time. Mrs. Allana immediately took her to our clinic at Naigaon and had her undergo a thorough screening.

As a part of the Anti-Tobacco educational initiative for schools, talks were given at Jamnabai Narsee and Bombay International Schools. Such talks have been found to be very successful in educating school children on the hazards of smoking and chewing tobacco. The stickers devised by Network Advertising were distributed among the children and were widely appreciated.

Prevention and Early Detection

The activities of the Early Diagnostic department continue to go from strength to strength. 34 camps and OPDs were held during the month, more than one per day.

3 camps were held for Jindal Iron and Steel Company, two at their head office on Peddar Road and one at their Prabhadevi office. 2 camps each were held for Vipakshana, Jogeshwari; Empire Machine Tools; St. Paul’s Church; Aga Khan Jamatkhana, Bandra and Mazgaon; Rotary Club, Andheri and Ulhasnagar (Wada) and for the Army at Colaba and one camp was held for Rotary Delisle Raod BMC Municipal School. A total of 759 people, 305 males and 454 females were screened in the camps. 155 were advised follow up. 14 OPDs were held. 80 males and 132 females were screened. 81 people were advised follow up.

Smt. Lila Kishanchand Shahani Clinical Diagnostic Centre

The Smt. Lila Kishanchand Shahani Clinical Diagnostic Centre screened a total of 182 patients during August. 582 tests were performed, out of which 503 were pathological tests. 2 free tests were performed. 10 sonography, 41 x-ray and 28 mammography investigations were carried out. 18 free mammographies were done under the Well Woman Clinic OPD held during the month.

Insurance

39 new policies were registered in August, bringing the total to 6504. 62 people were examined, of whom 8 had come for the first check-up and 54 for renewal check up. Rs. 50,000 was disbursed towards the claim made this month.

Patient Care

At Smt. Panadevi Dalmia Cancer Management Centre

71 new patients were registered during the month of August, 43 under the Aid category, 24 under the Adoption category and 4 under the Special Adoption category. Out of this number, 22 children were registered. 342 patients were aided, counseled and given guidance. 185 patients availed of ambulance facilities, including 18 patients who availed of the service for long distance. 50 sets of clothes and 55 packets of Complan were distributed. 6 home and institutional visits were made. Donations amounting to Rs. 44,501 were collected and Rs. 2.80 lakhs were disbursed. Eight of our patients expired during the month.

Laxmi Kadam, a 33-year-old terminally ill patient with breast cancer was referred to Shanti Avedna by our Palliative Counselor. Laxmi is a Christian who got married to a Hindu against the wishes of her family. Her husband deserted her when she contracted the disease a year ago and remarried. Both families are unwilling to take the burden of her three children, a son aged 13, and two daughters aged 9 and 4. CPAA approached Sister Valerie Miranda, Principal of St. Joseph’s Convent who agreed to arrange hostel and boarding for her 9 year-old daughter. Her son’s school admission is also being arranged.

Gulraj Ansari has been undergoing treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia since October 1999. Gulraj underwent chemotherapy and will now be put on a maintenance course after two months. After his successful treatment he has been allowed to return to his hometown of Betia, Bihar. The experience moved his granduncle who sold gutkha and cigarettes to stop selling them. He said, "If I sell cancer to others, won’t it affect my child also?"

At Tata Memorial Hospital

179 patients were aided, guided and counseled by CPAA’s Halima Aurangabadkar at Tata Memorial Hospital during August. 10 ward visits were made. 300 packets of biscuits were distributed. 23 patients were given clothes. 3.5 kgs of sweets were distributed. 14 referred cases were helped. 26 children were given toys. 68 patients were given Complan and 12 patients were given medicines.

At Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children

9 new patients were registered during the month. 479 patients attended follow up of whom 147 patients are undergoing chemotherapy. 30 patients were counseled and given guidance and 15 patients were visited in their wards. 25 packets of puzzles and toffees were distributed.

Mrs. Laltia Savoor and her daughter, Anjali visited the ward along with Ms. Zakia Topiwalla on 22^nd August on the occasion of Anjali’s birthday. She distributed gifts and toffees to the 15 children there. It is heartwarming to find a young girl wanting to celebrate the joy of her birthday by sharing it with the less fortunate and those in pain.

"Can I Help You?" : CPAA’s Desk at Tata Memorial Hospital’s Private OPD

Jennifer Quadros of our Prevention and Early Detection department has taken the responsibility of manning the desk provided by Tata Memorial Hospital to CPAA, in the Private OPD Registration Counter area every day from 9-12. Many first time visitors to the hospital and even to the city make their first introductions to Jennie, who lends a sympathetic ear to the bewildered and anxious patients and their caregivers. She steers them through the process of registration, helping them to collect the form from one counter, fill it in, pay the registration fees at another counter and to collect the file, which identifies the patient at Tata through the course of their entire treatment protocol. She tells them how to get a doctor assigned depending on the cancer site, where to find the doctor, the timings and room numbers. And she helps them to come to terms with their fears.

This month, Jennie helped 90 patients, provided information on various kinds of cancers to 185, helped 139 in filling up forms and gave medical counseling to 13. CPAA has also provided newspapers for the benefit of patients waiting in the registration area. 196 patients made use of the facility. A large number of patients have expressed their gratitude to CPAA for Jennie’s constantly cheerful, smiling presence.

Counseling at Cama & Albless Hospital Cancer Ward

CPAA has introduced a Counseling Cell at Cama & Albless Hospital. 16 patients were counseled out of whom 2 were CPAA’s registered patients. 18 patients were counseled and given guidance. 15 patients were visited in the wards and 2 were referred to Shanti Avedna for terminal care. Most of the patients come from lower economic strata, some below the poverty line and generally suffer from malnutrition. They go through extreme feelings of fear, anxiety and non-acceptance with withdrawal. CPAA representatives help the patients to deal constructively with their feelings and guide them in understanding about their treatment modalities.

Rehabilitation

The Rehabilitation Centre adopted 9 new patients and relatives this month. A total of 76 patients were helped. 4 cases of mastectomy were attended and breast prostheses were provided. 163 patients were given rations worth Rs. 20,936. Rs. 24,892 was spent on teachers’ salaries, for patient education and vocational training. Rs. 90,860 was spent on patient wages and Rs. 23,191 was spent on welfare activities, conveyance and diet supplements. The Rehabilitation Centre’s total income for the month, exclusive of CPAA transfer, was Rs. 3.24 lakh.

To mark the beginning of the Diwali season, the first consignment of 1000 diyas was sent to Dubai. This year Trent, the Tata shop, Wockhardt and Hallmark have ordered CPAA’s diyas and will be carrying our stock for sale at their outlets.

A new tie up with Tresorie, the departmental store in Bandra is being initiated. The store is well known for its exclusive gift items. Managers at the store were captivated by CPAA’s product range and have expressed interest in providing a special outlet for them at the store.

Besides regular orders to certain outlets, the Rehabilitation Centre’s major sales occur during the festive seasons. To ensure continued business during the rest of the year, various companies and banks are being approached directly to hold sales at their offices and factories. During August sales were held at Scotia Bank, Jindal Iron and Steel Company (JISCO), Trikaya Grey and HSBC Bank on Peddar Road. Besides providing an outlet for CPAA’s products, they are an opportunity for our representatives to meet individuals who will benefit from our other activities such as Early Detection camps, OPDs and Insurance. Many thanks to Joan Bose, Scotia Bank; Raman Madhok, JISCO; Nisha and Radhika Gandhi, Trikaya Grey and Dheeraj Dikshit and Jasmin Jukhi of HSBC Bank for organising the sales.

The well being of the patients working at the Rehabilitation Centre has always been of primary importance to Executive Director, Manju Gupta. Surgery for breast cancer often involves removal of the breast, the pectoral muscles and lymphatic nodes in the armpit. This results in loss of sensation and reduced circulation to the arm. Most doctors prescribe a regimen of exercises to be followed by the patient. While this is done religiously immediately after surgery, it generally slides later with disastrous consequences. An occupational therapist, Vaishali Gurav has been asked to visit the Smt. Panadevi Dalmia Cancer Mangement Centre every Saturday between 11 and 12 to teach breast cancer patients working at the Rehabilitation Centre the proper exercises. Ashwini Chalke, who has worked in the Rehabilitation Centre for the past 4 years, said that the exercises, which include yoga as well as calisthenics, have helped her a great deal by imparting a sense of well-being. They help to relieve stiffness and give flexibility to the entire body.

New Projects

A number of people participated in CPAA’s new Online Chat at www.cpaaindia.org to discuss their problems with doctors, counselors and CPAA representatives. Questions included those regarding side effects of chemotherapy, prognosis and availability of specific drugs.

Farewell to Sanjeev Chowdhury

CPAA bids farewell to Sanjeev Chowdhury, Canadian Vice Consul, who has been a valued friend during his posting to India. The friendship started with a chance phone call when he struck a chord with Mrs. Silloo Jasdanwalla, Honorary Secretary of CPAA. He helped to arrange shows for cancer patients, including a truly memorable one by Shiamak Davar. He was always available even at short notice to support our activities along with friends he roped in through his enthusiasm. This year he inaugurated our World No Tobacco day screening camp at Hutatma Chowk along with a number of celebrity friends. CPAA hosted the first of a series of farewells held in Sanjeev’s honour at various locations in Mumbai, one he appreciated the most by his own admission. We wish him the best of luck in his new assignment and hope to see him back in India. We will miss you, Sanjeev.

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