Hope has a face, and today, I saw two
By Alpa Dharamshi Today’s counselling session left an imprint on my heart, one that I will carry with me for a long time. I had the honour of meeting a mother and daughter, both of them fighting their own battles with cancer, yet drawing courage not just from within, but from each other. The mother […]
How and why to monitor prostate health regularly
By SATISH RAO – Prostate Cancer Survivor / Warrior and Volunteer at Indian Cancer Society, Bengaluru What is the Prostate gland ?? The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland in the male reproductive system, located below the bladder and in front of the rectum Location: The prostate sits below the bladder and in front of the […]
Listen to Your Body
A Challenging but Triumphant Personal Story of a Teacher The entire world changed when I was diagnosed with the big, scary “C” word – cancer. Life often moves so fast. Between work, family, and daily responsibilities, we rarely pause to focus on ourselves. Thankfully, I was always health-conscious and made it a point to get […]
Surviving Cancer and Spreading Positivity
By Ramendra Kumar I was diagnosed with stage II colon cancer in November 2021. Immediately after the verdict, I raved and ranted. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. I’m healthy. I exercise regularly. So why me? I went through the entire spectrum of anger, frustration, angst, and yes, even a few tears. I looked at […]
Sign Language
By Alpa Dharamshi The lady was very beautiful looking and had long hair almost touching her knees. I couldn’t resist myself, but my eyes immediately saw her beautiful black and silky hair. She looked very disturbed. She entered our Counselling room almost 10 months back at one of the government hospitals where I volunteer […]
Importance of Counselling for Cancer patients
By Alpa Dharamshi A cancer diagnosis changes lives. Feelings of shock, fear and uncertainty can overwhelm not only the patient but their entire family. A patient may react strongly to changes in the body, feel anxious about treatment and its results. Cancer can stir up many deeply personal issues such as spirituality, sexuality […]
The ‘Why me’ conundrum
Oncologists rarely pass a day without hearing a patient wonder “why me? Why did I get cancer?” As valid as the question is, rarely do we have an accurate answer. Most have lived their lives in moderation, perhaps never smoking or drinking. Many are good people never intentionally harming anyone, in case one fears […]
From early lump detection to treatment
I vividly remember the day, as if it was just yesterday. I was preparing to go for a vacation when I first detected the lump. My mind was filled with an array of conflicting thoughts, as I had to catch a flight in mere hours. Despite the excitement of my trip, the questions in […]
Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to empathize or feel compassion for others, often described as the NEGATIVE COST OF CARING. It is sometimes referred to as secondary traumatic stress and is mostly faced by caregivers. Compassion fatigue is similar to burnout. But burnout usually […]
You are not alone
Connecting with a 52-year-old patient with advanced stage of Brain tumour proved to be a challenge. When prompted, she was able to share her thoughts, feelings and wishes. She talked in a feeble voice about her belief of a speedy cure so that she could go back to her village to be with her home and […]
