10 Jun Cancer Care – A bridge between doctors and patients during COVID-19

Life has nearly come to a standstill across the world due to the Coronavirus pandemic. While nations battle larger issues like the burden on health systems and medical professionals, citizens are grappling with daily challenges of their own. One such major challenge is that of continued treatment for pre-existing illnesses. Regular treatments, tests and doctor consultations have been put on hold for most patients. Many people, who are battling serious diseases such as cancer, are left stranded without the means or the will to continue treatment.

In the challenging times of COVID, our doctors have a burden to prevent patients from COVID infection along with their pre-existing illnesses. It is a well known fact that cancer patients are already low on their immunity, due to this they are at higher risk of getting infection. So doctors and other authorities in the healthcare department are making their efforts towards the well-being of all patients out there. As a NGO working in health care we are acting as a bridge between doctors and patients. We make sure to help cancer patients in whatever way as we can. Today we are sharing two such stories out of many such stories.

60 year old Ketaki Devi is one such person. Ketaki was diagnosed with a lump in her breast in December 2019. In the following months, more tests were done and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Just as her treatment was about to start in March 2020, the nationwide lockdown was imposed. She was unable to undergo chemotherapy, as patient intake was restricted in all hospitals.

Renu, a 28 year old woman, was in a similar situation. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2020 and was advised to undergo four sessions of chemotherapy. However, due to the lockdown, she could not undergo the treatment.

As part of CAPED’s patient navigation initiative with NICPR, CAPED field worker and patient coordinator, Kanchan Nigam had been facilitating Ketaki and Renu’s tests and doctor appointments at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS Campus, New Delhi since their diagnosis. Both Ketaki and Renu were not aware that patients with critical illnesses could travel for treatment during lockdown as an exception. In this situation, Kanchan took it upon herself to ensure Ketaki and Renu received chemotherapy at the appropriate time.

CAPED field workers followed up with doctors to set-up chemo sessions for both of them in April and May. Ketaki has undergone two chemo sessions and Renu has undergone three chemo sessions during the lockdown period. Kanchan religiously communicates with Ketaki and Renu to answer their queries and facilitate their appointments. She also takes the onus of keeping them both motivated to complete the course of their treatment, despite the struggles of the lockdown and the scare of the pandemic.

CAPED supports many such cancer patients to ensure their queries are answered, treatment is completed and their worries are put to rest as best as they can be. As we find our way out of this global pandemic, CAPED’s focus will continue to remain on facilitating cancer care for those who are struggling with this challenging disease.

About CAPED:

CAPED – Cancer Awareness, Prevention and Early Detection, is a non-profit organization established for the dissemination of information and awareness creation about the latest developments in the field of cancer and for cancer screening in the economically weaker sections of society.

Our mission is to identify and create different arenas to spread awareness, knowledge and carry out screening among women and empower them to take action regarding their own health.

A few highlights of our work:

• Over 6 years working in the field
• Disseminating information and awareness through CMO office, CHC, PHC to ASHA workers, Anganwadis, bastis and villages for economically weaker sections of society
• Screened 13,000 persons for Cancer (till Feb 2020), through screening camps in rural communities such as Rajokri, Ballabhgarh, Bisrakh among others
• Operating own mobile cancer screening van, in association with EICHER Foundation, since 1.5 years
• Made over 14 million persons aware through events, workshops, talks at schools, colleges, corporate offices and via online campaigns (till Feb 2020)
• Having presence in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and UP
• Working with National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) in patient navigation system in AIIMS Delhi.
• Partnered with Indian Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), SRF Foundation, Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) among others