The suffering of those stricken with cancer is hard to comprehend. While the patients face both physical and mental trauma, for the relatives too who accompany them for treatment, there is much hardship. Some travel from rural areas and unable to afford lodging in the city are forced to spend nights in the bus stand or railway station when they cannot return to their villages the same day.
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| V. Subramanium |
Chandra Rupage |
In one sad incident, a 19-year-old girl from Ampara who had visited her mother who was receiving treatment at the Kandy Cancer Unit, was harassed while she spent the night at the railway station with her younger brother.
The Sri Lanka Cancer Society Kandy Branch was established in 1971 with the vision of easing the burden of those afflicted with this dreaded disease. In their mission to help cancer patients they set up a Cancer Home that operates free of charge.
Ever since then, a number of cancer stricken patients who come for daily ray treatment to the hospital have benefited from the Cancer Home which provides meals, medicine and care free of charge.
Located close to the Kandy Hospital, this Cancer Home has since 2001 also opened its doors to the patients’ visiting or accompanying kith and kin.
U. G. Appuhamy, a farmer from Hanguranketha has had to travel to Kandy regularly for ray treatment since he was diagnosed with cancer in the throat in December. The Cancer Home run by the Sri Lanka Cancer Society is thus for him, a huge blessing. That the home offers a comfortable stay for the patients is evident. “We are being looked after well here. The staff is kind and they treat us as if they treat their own parents,” says Mr. Appuhamy.
The home with its two male and female wards can accommodate about 50 people. It also has a children’s ward with space for five children and their mothers.
Among the remarkable services that this society offers is a counselling service conducted by the oncologist, psychotherapists, and trainers from Sumithrayo. Counselling sessions are held daily in a confidential environment. “The moment someone is diagnosed with cancer it is natural that a patient breaks down mentally. So cancer counselling is important. Cancer specialists always stress the importance of counselling,” says the ex-Treasurer and Senior Counsellor of the Cancer Society, V. Subramanium.
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| In the offing: The hospice |
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| Cancer Home: Where meals, medicine and care are provided free of charge |
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| The home with its two male and female wards can accommodate about 50 people |
Public awareness campaigns are also conducted regularly for schools, mercantile establishments, estate sector communities and various other institutions in areas including Nuwara Eliya and Polonnaruwa.
As a result, there is a considerable drop in the number of people who smoke or chew betel in these areas, says Mr. Subramanium. “Since cancer is now on the increase, we think we have to make the public vigilant,” stresses the Treasurer of the Society Chandra Rupage.
Elaborating on their other activities, Mr Rupage says under their foster parent scheme, needy children who attend the clinics, will be sponsored by a foster parent for one year.
Patients who on being discharged from hospital find themselves unable to meet the travelling expenses to go back home are provided with transport or money in addition to dry rations, meals, clothes, vitamins, painkillers, nutritious food etc. A Cancer Drug Fund has been set up to assist patients who cannot afford to purchase drugs. On recommendation by a cancer oncologist, such patients are referred to the fund to receive assistance.
The cancer home is sustained by donations from well wishers. To meet the basic needs of patients, excluding medication approximately about Rs. 250,000 is needed monthly, says the Treasurer.
“As some patients are abandoned and not accepted by their families due to the illness, the Cancer Society is planning to set up a hospice in the future to ensure such patients are well taken care of throughout their lifetime. But to meet this objective a trained staff is vital,” says Mr. Rupage.
Once ray treatment is given, the patients require a comfortable stay; they need to be properly looked after, he explains, adding that there are instances when the Kandy Hospital becomes overcrowded and two patients are compelled to share a bed.
D. M. Kumarihamy from Mahiyanganaya is deeply appreciative of their efforts. Having undergone surgery, she now attends the clinics at the Cancer Hospital. “They are doing a great service to poor people like us. To know that there is someone whom we could turn to when we are in trouble is a great satisfaction,” she said. |
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