Find it, fight it...

 

 

 

THE thought of cancer itself sends shivers down the spine of even the most positive and optimistic persons. Today being World Cancer Day, this writer shares his own experience in battling and coming out successfully from lung cancer. Although happy-go-lucky nature went a long way in recovering from this trauma, the same is not the case for many who even take the recourse of suicide to permanently put a full stop to the suffering. Cancer has always triggered a wave of fear among a majority of victims. In the olden times, cancer meant death. But now, with advanced research in medical science, the disease is not as life-threatening as it was in the past.

 

Yes, the disease does burn a hole in the pocket of unfortunate patients but the gift of life presented to the victim is invaluable. Initial warning signals are major indicators. They should never be ignored and treatment must start immediately. There are cases where it is too late as diagnosis is at the terminal stage. But it is the initial warning which is a sure-fire solution to beat cancer. In the case of yours truly, it all started with intermittent bouts of acidity which brought relentless trouble. The best of doctors failed to provide a permanent cure to this irritant. Finally, a physician with a leading hospital directed this scribe to undergo a series of tests to get to the root of the ailment. One such test unravelled cancer in the lungs. What followed was hospitalisation and several rounds of chemotherapy followed by radiation. A very painful and traumatic experience to say the least but by the grace of God and well-wishes of near and dear ones, one was able to defeat this ‘deadly’ disease and come out triumphant in the battle with death. On this World Cancer Day, let us take a pledge to resolutely fight this disease and come out in flying colours.

 

The world has been through the pandemic called COVID-19. The horrors inflicted by this deadly epidemic are still fresh not only in the minds of the victims but also in their relatives and friends. Though this experience is still a work in progress in many countries, India emerged as a shining example of fortitude and forbearance. It not only successfully developed vaccines for its huge populace, but also became a saviour of many a suffering soul across the world. Cancer was once no less than a terrorist - dealing in death. But medical science has made path-breaking strides in saving many precious lives. Cancer is not the ‘end’ game when it comes to early diagnosis but just a bridge to cross and embrace life in its myriad colours.