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.

'Childhood Cancer Patients Support Group':

On 21st March, CPAA launched its ‘Childhood Cancer Patients Support Group’, where paediatric cancer patients and their family members were invited. There were games, quiz, music and dance for the children. Mr. Debashish Sharma with his group from Assam Bhavan, Vashi entertained the children on this occasion. Dilshad Patel made everyone get up and boogy to popular dance tunes.

The event was organised in collaboration with Times Foundation. Each child got a memento to take home. Full marks to Dr. Shital Raval and Mallika Narayan for a well organised programme. Many thanks to all those who attended the programme and helped make it such a success.

Tobacco Habits of Youth in Guwahati: CPAA has undertaken a project under a grant from UICC to study the tobacco habits of young marginalised children in shelters and remand homes. Thanks to the groundwork done by Deepsikha Foundation, we got an invaluable opportunity to conduct this study in three locations in Assam. A 4 member team consisting of ENT surgeon, Dr. Milind Khare, camp coordinator, Deepak Tirlotkar, counselors Susmita Mitra and Shubha Maudgal visited Snehalaya and Lalsingh Academy, Guwahati and Regional Bridge Centre, Amsong. 534 children were screened and administered a questionnaire to understand whether they took tobacco, what forms, when and why they started, where they get the funds and whether they are aware of the dangers. An overwhelming proportion of the children screened took betel nut and tobacco.

14 children were found to have precancerous changes such as leukoplakia. Shockingly, a 14 year old girl was among those detected with these conditions and an 18 year old boy had the changes on both sides of the inner lining of his mouth. Betel nut use is rampant in the region. In Amsong we found that every house had a tree growing in their back yard. People were not aware that betel nut is equally dangerous and can cause cancer in the long run. In fact betel nut is offered to all guests as a mark of respect. Ironically, even our group was offered betel nut after lunch!

Tobacco Cessation Campaign: CPAA has initiated a Tobacco Cessation Campaign to help those who would like to quit the habit. The campaign coordinator, Dr. Shital Raval underwent extensive training to design a systematic programme to ensure complete cessation. This campaign was launched at the PRS Industrial Tapes factory at Safed Pool, Andheri as a part of their Safety and Health Week programme. A talk was given by Executive Director, Dr. Shubha Maudgal, followed by a description of the modality of cessation by Dr. Raval.

International Women’s Day: An Open Forum discussion program (in Marathi) on Cancer was organised for the staff members of Bank of Maharashtra at Shivaji Mandir, Dadar on 7th March on this occasion. Mr. Nandkumar Poojari, Dy. General Manager (Mumbai Region) Bank of Maharashtra; Dr. Mandakini Purandare, Gynaecologist; Dr. Rajendra Badwe, Director - Tata Memorial Hospital; Dr. Hemant Tongaonkar, Professor & Head, Dept. of Gynaecologic & Urologic Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital; Mr. Y. K. Sapru, Chairman, CPAA; Mrs. Neeta More, Director,CPAA and Mrs. Vaidehee Sukthankar, Chief Manager, Bank of Maharashtra were the speakers. Mr. Mohan Wagh, Producer and Mrs. Renuka Shahane-Rana, Film Actress were the chief guest at this program sponsored by BG India.

'Fashion'- film show for women cancer patients: 75 women cancer patients were taken to Cinemax Theatre for a special screening of the hit movie ‘Fashion’.
Celebrities like Rakhi Sawant, Dino Morea, Shweta Pandit and Tisca Chopra made the patients feel special with their presence. They all sang and danced and
thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Entertainment Programs for patients in collaboration with other NGOs: 25 childhood cancer patients from Wadia Hospital were taken for an entertainment program organised by ‘Helping Hands’ at the Jaslok Hospital Auditorium on 16th April. The children witnessed a puppet show, music, games and snacks, prizes and gifts thereafter.

At another such program organised by an NGO, ‘Angel Link’, CPAA volunteers took 75 childhood cancer patients from Wadia, Tata and Sion hospitals for a fun-filled afternoon at the Bowling Company, Phoenix mills on 29th April.

Cancer awareness lecture: Y.W.C.A Byculla invited CPAA to conduct a lecture for their Nursing students. Iva Athavia delivered an educational and interactive lecture to about 150 nursing students.

DELHI BRANCH: Holi was celebrated at the Rajgarhia Dharamshala with a lot of merriment and bonhomie. 50 patients and their relatives exchanged herbal gulal colours amidst dancing and singing, thus bringing out the true meaning of Holi, the festival of colors and friendship.

An Early Detection and health check-up camp was conducted at Motilal Nehru Camp, Munirka Village in the month of March. This camp drew 210 women and children from the area. It was preceded by an awareness talk. It was also observed that there were many children suffering from scabies and respiratory ailments. The women of this community showed poor hygiene standards and were given a talk on the subject.

Another Health check-up camp was organised on 28th April at the Gneimer Herman Hospital serving the rural area of Anangpur Village. Around 200 men, women and children were screened at this camp. Preceding the camp was a special talk on importance of hygiene especially explaining to the women the importance of pap smear tests. The ill-effects of tobacco were also explained to the villagers in great detail. It was observed that the women here were regular users of tobacco. One child was detected with a lump in the thyroid and was referred to AIIMS for further investigations.

Avon Beauty Products India Pvt. Limited has renewed the partnership with CPAA Delhi for the year 2009.

PATIENT CARE REPORT: MARCH & APRIL 2009

TOTAL NO. OF PATIENTS COUNSELED	2,990
TOTAL NO. OF PALLIATIVE PATIENTS COUNSELED	154
INFORMATION / LITERATURES PROVIDED	2,095
WARD / ROOM VISITS	2,083
TOTAL NO. OF AMBULANCE SERVICES PROVIDED	1,916
TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT ON 464 PATIENTS - RS. 6,30,665

FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
World No Tobacco Day 2009 Programs:
23 May: Press conference with prominent Bollywood stars at Taj Lands End, Mumbai
25 May: Cricket match between Film stars and Doctors at Mumbai Police Gymkhana
27 May: Free mega-ENT Cancer Screening Camp at Naval Dockyard
31 May: Skit, Essay and photography competition at K.C.College for students.
For details see side panel

Colours Of Life- ‘Affordable Art For Affordable Drugs’ : 5years of Spreading Happiness :CPAA has worked continuously to ensure that cancer patients are not denied treatment simply for financial reasons. The aim we focus on is the creation of funds capable of helping needy cancer patients take the benefit of the latest drugs science has to offer. We also feel that just as a wider population should have access to the best drugs available regardless of cost, there exists a wider, untapped population interested in acquiring art if they could afford it. This year, our curator, Piali Syam, has put an extra effort into identifying and sourcing a variety of works which fall within the grasp of this broader group. On offer are the works of over 100 artists, who have generously given us their creations at prices which will allow many first time buyers to take home a piece of beauty. Senior, junior, established and struggling artists from all over India have come together to create this unique collection for a cause.

We invite you to come for our exhibition between 22nd June – 30th June 2009, at the Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai. Every painting bought will be a source of joy and will also help to gladden the heart of a cancer patient in need.