12 Kolkata: From involving cancer survivors to send a positive message that the disease is not the end of the world to stressing the need to make cancer a notifiable disease and free screening initiatives, the city saw a buzz of activity on World Cancer Day.
At Medica Superspecialty Hospital, the spotlight was on cancer survivors, who went from battling to ruling the stage. Around 100 of them showcased their talents through dance, song, skits, and recitation. The hospital also planned to involve cancer survivors in a play directed by thespian Chandan Sen.
"The journey of every cancer patient is different. Apart from the medical treatment, they also need a humane touch. There are still a lot of myths and stigma attached to cancer. Hence, talking about them is very important," said radiation oncologist Subir Ganguly of Medica.
The hospital has employed five cancer survivors. One of them was handed over the appointment letter today. Sourav Datta, director of Medica Oncology said: "We thought of organising a drama workshop by cancer survivors. This initiative will not only boost the morale of the patients but also give a positive message to all the cancer survivors."
Apollo Cancer Centres, in collaboration with ICMR, Indian Cancer Society and Family Physician Associations, launched a nationwide campaign — Unify to Notify — on Tuesday, urging the Centre to classify cancer as a notifiable disease.
P N Mohapatra, director of medical oncology at Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata, said: "Making cancer a notifiable disease is a transformative step that will revolutionise how we approach cancer care in India. With proper documentation of every cancer case, we can better understand patterns, allocate resources efficiently, and develop targeted treatment protocols."
At Ruby Cancer Centre, cancer survivors were involved in telling their stories to those undergoing treatment. The IMA Bengal, in association with CNCI, stressed the ‘close the gap' theme, highlighting the need to address the disparities in cancer care and ensure that all individuals have access to quality cancer treatment.
Narayana Health Kolkata organised an awareness and survivor meet in association with Dakshin Howrah Muktodhara and Aloke Foundation. "Our activities touched around 700 individuals directly during the day," said Abhijit CP, director, Narayana Hospital RN Tagore Hospital and Corporate Growth Initiatives, Narayana Health (East).