Bhubaneswar, Feb. 4: Tiny tots sporting beatific smiles walked on the ramp spreading cheer in a hall full of cancer patients and survivors to mark the World Cancer Day at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital here on Tuesday.
All the children were cancer patients as well battling leukemia but escorted by medical students they glowed on the stage as the audience cheered.
“You are the real superstars, fighters,” extolled Varsha Priyadarshini, eminent Ollywood star and social worker, who was the chief guest on the occasion.
The children also presented dance performances including an Odissi recital.
“I am fortunate that I could meet you, I am touched by your innocent smile,” she said adding the fashion show by the children taught much about life.
The program, an annual event, was organised by the hospital’s Department of Oncosciences with the theme for this year being ‘United by Unique’. It was attended by more than 800 cancer patients either undergoing treatment or those who had defeated the disease after being treated in the hospital run by Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA).
Prof. (Dr.) Pusparaj Samantasinhar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, described the patients battling the disease as icons while pointing out that the hospital was providing complete cancer care from diagnosis to treatment with the departments of Onco-Surgery, Onco-Medicine and Hematology extending the needed facilities.
Prof. (Dr.) Soumya Ranjan Das, acting Dean of the teaching hospital, said around 15 to 20 lakh people in India get affected by cancer every year as it is a huge problem. “Prevention, early detection, efficient treatment and rehabilitation are the key to battle the disease,” he said adding people should avoid cancer causing food.
Prof. (Dr.) Neeta Mohanty, Professor in the Institute of Dental Sciences (IDS), SOA’s faculty of dental sciences, described the program as a ‘celebration of life’ while mentioning about availability of new diagnostic techniques which would help in battling cancer.
Pointing out that the oral cavity was the most accessible part of the human body, she said many people suffer from oral cancer because of their habits of chewing pan and gutka.
The pre-cancer signs are to be diagnosed early, she said adding 95 per cent of cancer was caused by habits and the environment.
Dr. Soumya Surath Panda, head of the department of Onco Medicine, Anshuman Nayak, eminent Ollywood playback singer and Dr. Saroj Prasad Panda, head of the Pediatric Oncology department also addressed the gathering.
Dr. Sunil Agrawal, head of the department of Onco Surgery, said a person’s ‘belief system’ played a big role in the battle against cancer. “It enabled us to come out with the Covid vaccine,” he said adding a person fighting the disease should never ask the question as to why he got the disease when others were healthy.
He gave the example of athlete Deepa Malik, who despite being afflicted with cancer, went on to win the silver medal in the Paralympics in the shot put event in 2016.
