19 Jun How a family was nearly torn apart by cancer

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