‘Can-cervive’ spreading positive vibes among cancer patients and survivors
AEISEC members with survivors and patients at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium
“Just the word, cancer, can kill a person in this part of the world” according to Lushanya Dayathilake. AEISEC-ers of the movement’s Colombo Central chapter concluded a unique event last weekend in the hopes of changing this largely negative train of thought.
Can-cervive, which was the name of the event brought together “Cancer survivors, physicians, researchers and patients” at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium, for an afternoon of interaction.
The University of Colombo, constituting AEISEC’s Colombo Central community has been working with those affected by the disease for a while, Lushanya who leads Project Faith shares. At the time project Faith came into being, “we found most of the work done by other organisations were for affected children.” Working closely with the National Cancer Control Program and the Courage Compassion and Committment Foundation, biweekly visits to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital are now routine for this AEISEC community. Under the project Faith umbrella one of the Global Community Development projects foreign AEISEC interns have the option of taking part in, includes this recreational time at the cancer ward. “We even have things like the pink parade,” essentially a pink-clad flurry of students handing-out leaflets on breast cancer awareness.
Suggested by the Cancer Control Program, bringing together survivors to share their stories has been a task she says. “People who fought cancer, generally don’t want to share their stories,” contributing to the extreme negativity attached to the word.
“Abroad the attitude is different, people affected and survivors lead very normal lives.” With the intention of normalising the disease and inspiring a more positive thought pattern at the mention of ‘cancer’ “Tell your story” is another bi-project inspiring survivors to be vocal about their struggle as a means of strengthening others.
A Culmination of these efforts resulted in last Saturday’s event. “We had some survivors make speeches,” which were well-received by the 45 patients present. The afternoon was a big step for AEISEC we’re told, “It’s the first time we reached out” to pull-off an event of this magnitude.
Other support groups are currently in action at premium care-giving facilities she says, but “they’re all secret groups.” Exclusively limited to those who have received care in the facility. Moving-out of secrecy, “Can-cervive was the first time survivors and patients from different backgrounds came together.”