19 Jun How a family was nearly torn apart by cancer

Posted at 08:01h in Cancer Awareness, Cancer Care, Cancer Screening, Case Studies, Cervical Cancer Stories from Field, COVID-19 by
1 Like

Cancer is a challenging disease. Every year India reports more than a million new cases of cancer. However all cancers are preventable if detected at an early stage. Advanced stage cancer is disheartening for the patient; it also affects them and their families emotionally, mentally and financially. As CAPED is a NGO working in the healthcare department, we come across many cancer patients in our routine life. We aim to help cancer patients in every possible way.

As another helping scheme, we tied up with NICPR and set up a patient navigation system for cancer patients in Delhi NCR. In this project, CAPED field workers help cancer patients with their appointments with doctors, their treatments and medication ongoing in AIIMS.

We haven’t stopped working during these challenging times of COVID. Here we are sharing one such story with you.

Ganesh Spodia and his family were nearly torn apart by cancer. Ganesh’s father had been suffering from blood cancer for a while. He was being treated in a private hospital in Delhi. However, soon the hospital bills reached a lakh, and it became difficult for the family to continue the treatment at the hospital. Scared and disappointed Ganesh, was worried about his father’s health and contemplating what to do next. At this time, someone told Ganesh about CAPED, and that the NGO works towards supporting cancer patients through patient navigation and follow-ups to ensure completion of their treatment. Ganesh reached out to Ravi Sisodia, Senior Program Manager at CAPED who immediately connected him to Kanchan Nigam, Field Worker and Patient Coordinator at CAPED.

Kanchan works in close association with the doctors at AIIMS, New Delhi, to facilitate appointments and treatments for cancer patients. She tried to coordinate with the doctors at the hospital, to arrange an appointment for Ganesh’s father. However, due to the lockdown, an appointment was not given. After much persuasion, the doctors advised to bring in the patient through emergency.

On 14th May, despite the nationwide lockdown, Ganesh took his father to AIIMS emergency. However, he could not be treated and they were sent back. At home, his father had 103 degree fever continuously for the next two days. Once again, Ganesh felt hopeless towards his father’s condition.

In the meantime, Kanchan tried to find a way to get Ganesh’s father admitted into the hospital. This time she succeeded. On 18th May, Ganesh took his father to AIIMS once again, this time he was admitted and the treatment began. However, before Ganesh could breathe a sigh of relief, his mother’s health started to suffer. She started experiencing intense pain in her abdomen and noticed blood in her urine. Ganesh tried to take her to the nearby private hospital; however, they refused treatment due to the lockdown.

Ganesh reached out to Kanchan immediately who made sure that his mother received treatment. The doctors found that she had multiple stones in her kidney, and needed to undergo surgery to remove the kidney. As of today, Ganesh’s mother is healthy and back at home. Ganesh’s father is being treated at AIIMS, and the family is hopeful about his health.

Every day we meet many such patients and their families, as part of our work. Our endeavor is to support them in their struggle against these diseases. With your love and support, we will continue to do so in the future.

 

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


He initiated TQM as a management way in SRF and the Company has so far earned the Deming Prize for two of its businesses, for the tyre cord in 2004 and for the Chemicals Business in 2012.

Mr. Bharat Ram was elected President of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) during 2000-2001 and continued to play important roles as Chair and Member of various council of CII till March 2015. He co-chaired the Indo German Consultative Group (IGCG) which consisted of eminent citizens from both the countries from 2002 till 2014.

Mr. Bharat Ram is actively involved in social development activities. Currently he is Chairman of:

  • SRF Foundation, the social wing of SRF, which manages its own schools and also supports education in villages;
  • The Lady Shri Ram College (LSR) for Women in Delhi which has consistently been rated as one of the two best colleges of India;
  • The Shri Ram Schools; and
  • CAF (India) – Charities Aid Foundation (India); and
  • A governing body member of CAPED– a registered Society for spreading cancer awareness program

He is on the governing body of SPIC Macay, a society for the promotion of the Indian Classical Music. He is himself an accomplished sitar player, having learnt it from Pt. Ravi Shanker.

Mr. Arun Bharat Ram has won many awards and accolades, The Jamshedji Tata Award, which was conferred on him by the Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) for the year 2006 and the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit, presented by the Federal Government of Germany in 2008. Mr. Bharat Ram schooled at the Doon School, Dehra Dun and graduated in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan, U.S.A.

Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Vaid practiced and coordinated the Department of Medical Oncology at the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCI) in Rohini, Delhi, India. In addition to his active medical oncology practice, Dr. Vaid has participated in many national and international clinical trials as a principal and sub-investigator. His clinical interests include Hemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant. He has also taken keen interest in treating breast cancer, lung cancer and genitor-urinary cancers.

Dr. Vaid established the bone marrow transplant services in the private sector in Delhi starting with Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre during the last decade and has cumulatively carried out the largest number of bone marrow transplants in the private sector in Delhi. Currently at Medanta, he leads a large team which comprises of hemato-oncologists, pediatric transplant specialists, hemato pathologists specializing in transplant pathology, transfusion specialists, and molecular pathologists required for HLA typing and post transplant chimerism monitoring.

Dr. Vaid lectures nationally and internationally and has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and abstracts. His work has appeared in Journal of Clinical Oncology, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, World Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Diseases International. Dr. Vaid currently chairs the Indian Council of Medical Research Subcommittee on formulating guidelines for treatment of Hodgkin’s Disease in India. He is recognized as Teacher and Examiner for superspeciality course of Medical Oncology by National Board of Examinations and the Bombay University and a reviewer of thesis for award of PhD degree in Life Sciences, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, India. He is an editorial board member for the following journals “Research & Reviews: A Journal of Medicine” and “Research & Reviews: A Journal of Toxicology”, and “South Asian Journal of Cancer”.

He was conferred the prestigious “Padma Shree” Award, one of the highest civilian award in India, by the President of India in 2009 for his contribution to the field of medicine on 14th April, 2009.
Prior to Stellaris, Alok was a Partner at another VC firm, Helion Ventures, where he led enterprise software and services investments. Before his career in venture capital, Alok was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SAP India and had been associated with SAP since the year 2004 in various leadership roles in the United States and in India. Before SAP, Alok also worked with Siebel Systems, The McKenna Group, McKinsey & Company and Cadence Design Systems.

Alok has completed his MBA from INSEAD (France), MS in Computer Sciences from University of Texas, Austin and his B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Delhi.

Alok is interested in cricket, light & classical Indian music, hiking and long distance running. In addition, Alok is passionate about mathematical puzzles and used to run a weekly blog at http://alokgoyal1971.com/.

Alok’s association with cancer started in 2007 when his mother was diagnosed with a late stage Ovarian Cancer. He saw his mother battle with cancer for more than four years, during which time he was the primary care giver.

Committees / Ambassador Radhika is a part of many committees in CII and is also Pinkathon Ambassador. Social Initiatives

  • Radhika has participated in plays as a lead singer to raise funds for NGO’s like Azad Foundation and CAPED.
  • Mamma Mia Again, ABBA songs Musical, was staged at The Shri Ram Center, Delhi in December 2016 to raise funds for Azad Foundation.
  • I have a Dream, ABBA songs Musical, was staged at Apparel House, Gurgaon to raise funds for CAPED in April 2017.
  • I have a Dream, ABBA songs Musical, was staged at The Shri Ram Center, Delhi to raise funds for CAPED in December 2017.
  • She was also instrumental in staging a play, Khushi Ek Ehsaas, by the visually impaired children of JPM School to raise funds for Blind Relief Association at Kamani Auditorium in January 2016.

Hobbies

  • Radhika learns music at Theme.
  • She also loves to run and has completed 3 half Marathons in India in 2017.

Amitav worked for Bristol Myers Squibb based in Princeton for 5 years. He has been involved with his family-run business since 1994.

Amitav was educated at the Doon School and went on to study Economics at St. Stephens College, Delhi University. He has an MBA from UNC Chapel Hill, USA. He sits on the board of Central Square Foundation, AVPN India and several other non/for-profit organisations in India.

In 2010, he became an Aspen Fellow, in 2015 he became an Ashoka Fellow and 2017 he was incubated as an N/Core Fellow.

Organizational Positions
  • Vice President, Fertility Preservation society of India/ 2014 – 2018
  • Coordinator, Deptt of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon, April 2007 – Nov 2009
  • Coordinator, (North India), Clinical Research Committee, Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecology Society of India (FOGSI) 2003-2008
  • Executive Member, Adolescent committee, Association of Obstetrics & Gynaecologists of Delhi (AOGD ) 2006 – 2007
  • Executive Member, Association of Gynaecologic Oncologist of India,2009 -2011
  • Chairperson, Gynaec. Oncology Committee, Gurgaon Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society, 2011
  • Executive Member, Gynaec.Oncology Committee, Association of Obstetrician & Gynaecologists of Delhi (AOGD) 2012 -2014
  • Executive Member, Gurgaon Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society (GOGS), 2012 -2013
  • Coordinator – Young Women Club ( National Project under the aegis of National Adolescent Health Committee, FOGSI) 2012 -2013
  • Treasurer, Asia Oceania Research Organization in Genital infections and Neoplasia ( AOGIN) –India, 2011 -2015
  • Executive member, Gynaec Oncology Committee, Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecology Society of India (FOGSI).2012 -2015
  • Peer Reviewer for the Journal of Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecology Society of India (FOGSI).
  • Peer Reviewer for The Indian Journal of Gynaecologic Oncology.
  • Invited as a trainer by Vattikuti Foundation, Michigan, USA for – Gynaec. Robotic Surgery Training of Gynaecologists at KIMS Vattikuti Institute of Robotic Surgery, Hyderabad
  • Executive member, AOGD(Association of Obsterician and Gynaecologist of Delhi ) 2013 – 2014
  • Executive member, AOGD(Association of Obsterician and Gynaecologist of Delhi ) 2014-2015
  • Executive member,GOGS 2013
  • Executive member, Gynaec.Oncology Committee, Association of Obstetrician & Gynaecologists of Delhi (AOGD) 2013 -2014
  • Executive member, Gynaec.Endoscopy Committee, Association of Obstetrician & Gynaecologists of Delhi (AOGD) 2013 -2014
  • Executive member, International academic exchange committee(FOGSI) 2013 – 2015
  • Executive member, Delhi Society of Gynaec endoscopists.2014- 2015
  • Co-Chairperson, Gynaec.Oncology Committee, Association of Obstetrician & Gynaecologists of Delhi (AOGD) 2015 -2016
  • Executive member, Gynaec Oncology Committee, Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecology Society of India (FOGSI).2015 -2017