• Early detection is the best cancer management : Sunitha Krishnan

• Social activist Sunitha Krishnan, Tollywood Diva Dimple Hayathi & Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, participated in the Cancer Survivors Day program

 Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad; launched “Cancer Champions United” a unique and empowering initiative dedicated to supporting and uplifting cancer survivors, on the eve of Cancer Survivors Day (First Sunday of June). This innovative program aims to provide comprehensive resources, community support, and a platform for survivors to connect, inspire, and thrive. Prominent social activist and Padmashree Awardee Ms Sunitha Krishnan, Tollywood Diva Ms Dimple Hayathi; Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Director, Apollo Cancer Centres, Hyderabad and Dr Srinivas Chakravarthy, Medical Oncologist, Apollo Cancer Centres, Hyderabad; unveiled the survivor friendly program.

Cancer Champions United is driven by Apollo Hospitals’ commitment to holistic care and the well-being of cancer survivors beyond their treatment journey. It recognizes the unique challenges faced by survivors and aims to create an inclusive and empowering space where they can find solace, support and encouragement.

Through Cancer Champions United, survivors gain access to a range of valuable services and support, including specialized survivorship programs, support groups, counselling services, educational workshops, and milestone celebration events. The initiative aims to foster a sense of unity and shared experiences among survivors, empowering them to navigate the post-treatment phase with strength, resilience, and hope.

Cancer Champions United is open to all cancer survivors, irrespective of their treatment history or cancer type. It welcomes individuals at any stage of their survivorship journey, encouraging them to join a thriving community that understands their experiences and offers unwavering support.

Sunitha Krishnan said, I was diagnosed with lung cancer in the May month of last year. The mission I am in for the last 30 years is to rescue girls from prostitution and rescued more than 28,000. I have had more than seventeen attacks on my life, so death per was not something I feared. But after I was diagnosed for lung cancer, for the first time I experienced a sense of shock, people called me the most brave and courageous person, suddenly I was not that courageous or brave person, suddenly it hit me on my face, what my world is going to be. I didn’t even plan for succession in the two organisations I set up, I am just nearing fifty. Because I thought cancer means end of my life, diagnosis of cancer does that to most courageous of persons and I was no exception. But what helped me was early diagnosis. As a choice in my life, I moved away from my family to do what I am doing and so I got a new family, Apollo Hospital became my family, which supported me in that entire crisis and of course Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, my oncologist. Not only was I treated here but my entire expenses for the treatment was born by this family. That’s why I call Apollo Hospitals my family, which stood by me to go through this entire ordeal. What worked for me is early detection, living for the day and seeing every day positively. But does that mean I did not get scared, I didn’t fear, I went through all of that. I started working three days after my surgery, It took me a month and half to recoup from the surgery, but during that month and half I experienced absolutely illogical fears, I couldn’t see a movie which had tears coming out of someone else’s eyes, forget the movie, I could not even read the disclaimer, I was diagnosed with lung cancer, the disclaimer says cigarette smoking is injurious to health and you may get cancer, my hands and legs used to get cold and I would get palpitation and such restlessness with in me, I stopped seeing television for one and half month. But one should understand that we will undergo all these fears, embrace those fears, it would be foolish to say that you will not be scared of all this. It is not just about surviving, I call myself a conqueror, I am a cancer conqueror. It doesn’t mean that I am away from the fear of it might coming back to me. Every two months I see Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, and again it came back this year, a lesion was seen in my right lung and the entire month it meant more stress, those anxieties are real, let’s face and embrace them and let us be confident that we will get over it, this too shall pass and after a month that lesion disappeared. Today I am a proud cancer conqueror and I believe each one of us can conqueror it. Let us take the fear from inside us, let us become little more mindful of our bodies, let us not run away from our symptoms, if there is some symptom that we see, let’s get it checked, early detection is the best cancer management, thank you so much Dr Vijay Anand Reddy for being my doctor and thank you Apollo Hospital for being my family during this distress.         

Speaking on the occasion Dimple Hayathi said, listening to so many stories here, so much of courage that these survivors displayed is truly an inspiration, I am humbled and honoured to be here. I know Cancer is something which is very difficult to defeat, it takes mentally, physically, emotionally, lot of courage to beat it, but I am sure that you guys have eased it so well. Today is National Cancer Survivors day, I would rather call it National Cancer Warriors day, because you people are the real warriors, you gave me lot of inspiration and are really inspiring to all. Also thank the doctors and nurses here, for dedicating their lives to patients and the families of survivors for the support to the patients.  

We are thrilled to launch Cancer Champions United, as it represents our deep commitment to supporting cancer survivors on their unique journey, said Dr Vijay Anand Reddy. We believe that by providing a platform for survivors to connect, share their stories, and access valuable resources, we can help them navigate the challenges of survivorship and embrace life beyond cancer, he opined. There are several emotional, touching and powerful stories of Cancer survivors seen and felt throughout my career. The morale of these endless stories is the minute they hear the news that they have cancer, immediate thought in their mind is nothing but death. They start losing the battle before they actually begin to fight. But several of them recover after counselling and fight cancer to be survivors. There are thousands of survivors in my journey. There are millions of survivors across the globe. Please do not run away from cancer, face it, fight it. Cancer cannot cripple love, it cannot shatter hope, it cannot corrode faith, it cannot silence courage, fight cancer regardless, you will be a Winner, added Dr Vijay Anand Reddy.

Dr Srinivas Chakravarthy, said, it’s great to see survivors and we are seeing more and more survivors because cure rates have increased. Overall some 60% of the cancers are completely curable now, we will get to the 100% very soon. This cure happens because of your will to fight, with the support of your families and friends, the dedicated doctors and support staff and the tremendous technological advances.