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Jammu Tawi: Medica Oncology department of Medica Superspecialty hospital organized a walkathon in the city on Sunday from 9:00 am
onwards for creating awareness of cancer disease. Approximately five hundred people from all walks of life including students; Cancer
survivors; NGO's, family members; Hospital staff of Medica, amongst others joined the rally at Kishore Bharati Stadium gate number 6 and
then proceeded to walk through Ajay Nagar, Highland Park, and Singhabari Bus Stand, reaching Medica Superspecialty Hospital. To
emphasize the significance of the cancer awareness cause, Indian table tennis player, Mouma Das, Singer Anupam Roy, Actor Chandan
Sen, Music Composer Kalyan Sen Barat, and Film Director Shiboprosad Mukherjee, among other dignitaries attended the awareness
walkathon at Medica Superspecialty Hospital. The dignitaries and celebrities shared their thoughts and experiences relating to cancer and
cancer patients, inspiring the listeners to maintain a sense of hope and think positively because cancer is not always fatal, it can be cured if
detected early. The rally was flagged off by Dr. Alok Roy – Chairman of Medica Group of Hospitals, Dr. Sourav Datta – Director (Medica
Cancer Projects), Medica Superspecialty Hospital, Dr. Subir Ganguly – Senior Consultant Radiation Oncology, Medica Superspecialty
Hospital & Dr. Sudeep Das – Consultant Medical Oncologist, Medica Superspecialty Hospital amongst various other doctors, medical
staffs & guests. Addressing the gathering about Cancer awareness, Dr. Alok Roy, Chairman of Medica Group of Hospitals, said, “India
observes National Cancer Awareness Day on November 7 of each year. As a doctor, I would suggest that cancer can be treated at a
much lower price if it is detected early on as opposed to when it is more advanced. People who show up for screening at the first sign of
symptoms have a significantly lower mortality rate. Medica's oncology department will begin to offer radiotherapy & home-based
palliative care to patients from this month onwards & we are very hopeful that we will be able to combat cancer soon.” Dr. Sourav Datta –
Director (Medica Cancer Projects), Medica Superspecialty Hospital averred, “It is extremely important that the society extends moral
support to cancer patients instead of showing sympathy towards them because, for cancer patients, moral support is as important as
medical treatment. Keeping this thought in mind, we at Medica organized this walkathon as motivation for cancer patients & also to spread
awareness about cancer.” Dr. Subir Ganguly – Senior Consultant Radiation Oncology, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, stated, “This year
Medica Oncology has taken up Palliative Care as its theme for National Cancer Awareness Day. In India, there are reportedly 2.25 million
cancer patients, 1 million new cases each year, and more than 0.88 million yearly fatalities. Every year over seven million new patients
need palliative care in India, with less than 4% having access to these services. Poor symptom control, poor quality of life, improper end-of-
life care, and greater financial burden are the main drawbacks of the lack of access to palliative care.
