Children living in countries such as India account for 80% of the world's population of children and when these children are diagnosed with cancer, they are currently denied the right to hope for a cure. They struggle under a double burden of their disease and poverty. Cancer Patients Aid Association recognizes this double burden and has initiated steps to help children and parents to provide access to the resources and information they require to ensure their child gets appropriate treatment.
 
The treatment and care of childhood cancer requires the joint efforts of a team working together to provide medical treatment on one hand (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation) and psychosocial support for the child and the family as a whole.  

We have also compiled and published a much needed cancer resource directory entitled Sahayata. To obtain copies call on 2494-8775 / 2492-4000 or email patientcare@cpaaindia.org.  

Budgeted Aid

Cancer treatment can be a huge drain on family finances, even for the relatively well off. Through whatever limited funds we have, we try to disburse medical aid to as many patients as possible. We also find sponsors, help patients network with aid-giving organizations, guide them about circulating appeals in the proper channels, and organize medicines at wholesale rates through a tie-up with chemists and pharmaceutical companies.

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Playgroup (Ernest Borges Home)

The Ernest Borges Memorial Home in Bandra, Mumbai, is a five story building affiliated to Tata Memorial Hospital. The Home provides accommodation for out-station patients while they are undergoing treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital. Every budget is catered to, from the almost free dormitory to five star accommodation with suites. There is also a free bus service to Tata Memorial Hospital, 4 times a day, which is a great help to patients undergoing treatment. Admission is given through the Social Work Department at Tata Memorial Hospital.

Ernest Borges Home shelters a number of children undergoing treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital. On the behest of Mr. Badwe, Superintendent of the Home we run a playgroup for the cancer affected children, whose lives revolve around trips to Mumbai and to and from the hospital. These kids miss out on the normal activities that other children take for granted. CPAA got in touch with Mrs. Neerja Birla who had earlier adopted many patients under our 'Adopt-a-Cancer-Patient’ Scheme and so began the Neerja Playgroup. The first contribution paid for a cupboard and toys.

Subsequently a fixed sum has been spent every month on toys, sweets and treats for the children. CPAA representatives go to the Home every Thursday between 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm to play with the children, and impart some amount of non-formal education. Volunteers from St. Xaviers College Social League have been roped in to teach them arts and crafts. Recently, at the request of CPAA, A.H. Wheeler, publishers, have been donating a large number of Hindi paperbacks for the adult inmates as well as the children.

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Blood requirements

Leukemia patients and those undergoing surgery need to arrange for blood, and that’s not always easy. Very often, in India, even the patient’s friends and family are reluctant to donate blood because of misconceptions about it causing harm. The fear of AIDS has exacerbated the situation. CPAA maintains a databank of willing donors, along with their blood groups. In an emergency, our employees have themselves donated blood. We also try to mobilize donations among the patients’ community, reassuring them that blood donation is perfectly safe.

Leukemia patients also sometimes need transfusion of platelets, the blood cells that help in clotting. This involves passing the donors blood through a cell separator, which extracts the platelets in a process called plateletpheresis, delivers them to the patient, and returns the rest of the blood to the donors’ body. Since only a part of the blood is actually transferred, platelet donation can be done more often than the once in six months allowed for blood donation.

If you are willing to be put on CPAA’s donor list, click here.

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 Grant A Wish Day

Childhood oncology patients struggle with their disease on a day to day basis. The pain, the nausea, the discomfort is a part of their lives for the duration of the treatment. While every effort is made to ensure that they receive the chemo, prostheses, blood components, in short the complete protocol the doctor prescribes, often the small ingredients that make childhood are forgotten.

Every child has a wish, but the desires of a childhood cancer patient are pushed to the background. Recognising this, 
Cancer Patients Aid Association worked with the Sadhu Vaswani Trust to fulfill the innocent wishes of some patients. On Saturday 3rd May, the children were first entertained by a magician, then invited to sing along with Kiran, a talented young singer. Snacks followed. Then the grand finale-each child was presented with the gift they had requested. Each gift 
was wrapped and addressed to the individual child. Immense efforts had gone into ensuring that there were no mistakes. From video games to dolls to cricket sets and cycles-the children were delighted and for an afternoon, childhood returned.

Many thanks to the generous members of the Sadhu Vaswani Trust who made this special occasion possible.