Wednesday, August 27, 2008

GET UNITED TO FIGHT THE MONSTER

Fight against CANCER is proving to be loosing battle, full of pain and sufferings for the patients, and a great cause of worry, mental agony and draining of financial resources, for the haggard loved ones and hapless relatives.
In this post I am only talking about our Community.
Cancer related deaths are on the rise. In my city alone, within the past 2 – 3 months, 6 mumineen have died because of cancer related disease, ( information provided by Hizbe Husaini member) and a few are undergoing treatment. In other cities and towns also, if one cares to find out, many such instances, of death because of Cancer, may come to light.

With no financial cover to fund exorbitant medical bills, because the tenets of our Deen, do not allow any form of Insurance Cover, the family are at their wits end. It is a very painful and pathetic scenario.

The costs of the treatment are so high, that even arranging medical aid of say Rupees 1 lac, in a particular case, proves wholly inadequate.

CANCER gets detected, the family is in a shock, their whole world turns upside down. The family, which barely manages to maintain a decent standard of living, braces up to face the future with fortitude, always hoping , that a miracle will happen. All the time, wishing away the dreaded monster.

Three months ago, when initials treatment and chemo were being administered, I had talked with the person, and was amazed at his composure and fortitude, to face the monster, head on. Tears flowed when I was told- just keep praying, as they were willing to “bear their own cross’ and were confident , that they will overcome. I at that point of time, simply marveled at the courage, and the noble trait of ‘sabr’, which became evident.

Funds for the treatment had been arranged from friends and family, in large part as KH to be repaid.
But sadly CANCER is an unrelenting monster, it refuses to be cowed down, it strikes hard and fast, in many instances. The family is shattered, the close circle of friends and relatives, are all very helpless. With no back up support, the medical bills keep rising, one things leads to another in quick succession. It is like a vortex from, where there is no coming out, money borrowed goes down the drain, so to say. There is no complete cure in sight, after spending around 5-6 lacs and much more, in many known instances.
As I write this post, the patient is still in the hospital in a very critical condition.
HERE I AM NO SEEKING FUNDS
I AM SEEKING ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS. EVEN BEING A LAYMAN, I KNOW THERE ARE ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS OUT THERE, WATING TO BE CHANNELIZED FOR THE COMMUNITY GOOD.

HERE I AM APPEALING TO THE MEDICAL FRATERNITY OF OUR COMMUNITY TO TAKE OUT SOME TIME FROM THEIR VERY BUSY SCHEDULE AND HELP WITH YOUR GUIDANCE AND ADVICE.

What is needed is expert advice and guidance, to be put on public domain (eg: DB Net – Malumaat etc : ) so that at least, if need arises, mumineen can log in and seek information and guidance, which can be passed on to the patient and the relatives, so that a correct perspective can be formed by them.

Asgar says will not count, however, sound and rational it may seem. Dr. Asgar says and it will surely be taken into consideration. This is reality.

I know it is not a big deal. There is a lot of information on the Net, but it is for the experts in the field of medicine, to retrieve information and guidance, that can be understood by laymen like me.

I have managed to assimilate some information on the subject of Pain and palliative care of terminally ill cancer patients from the Net.

‘ The goal of palliative care are to control symptoms in patients with advanced disease and enhance their quality of life. Hospice, which involves providing care for terminally ill patients, is a step in the right direction. (Is it possible for our community to have a few of these specialty treatment centers – I had made a reference to this in my earlier post – ‘ Death is but a dropping of the flower, so that the fruit may swell.
Pain affects more than 70% of the cancer patients, but is often under treated. The world Health Organization’s step wise guide to pain control serves as an excellent basis for management. Around the clock dosing using adjuvant treatments, and using non invasive routes of administration provide good pain control for 80 % patients.
Ack: Article : Assessment and management of Pain in Palliative care Patients.
Source: Cancer control Journal of the Moffitt Cancer Centre.
Is it possible that the medical fraternity and mumineen who are pursuing medical studies, can work on the above subject, and put on public domain some resources along with their expert advice, so that patients and relatives can at least get an opportunity to get second opinion, and can discuss with their Oncologist and doctor.

In the earlier part of this very post, I had made a reference to a patient family, who had shown exemplary courage and fortitude to fight the monster head on. The patient was in a critical state, when I began writing this post, and now, when I am about to post it, I have just been informed that the patient, has lost the battle, leaving behind a shattered family and a lot of financial burden to be shouldered.

Such is the enormity and seriousness of the situation. As such, thru this post I appeal, that some positive thinking and work should be done in this respect, and what better time, than Sherullah, which is mukbil (nearing) in a few days.

During this month we will be meeting each other on daily basis. So my request is to be focused on the subject, try to carry on the dialogue and I am confident, that good will surely emerge out of it.

I am not claiming that if you mail this post to 10 - 20 or 100 persons, you will be blessed with a rich fortune, and if you do not e mail it, some harm will befall you.

Nothing of that sort will happen, but yes, if you e mail it to those, whom you feel, can offer some solutions and answers to check this monster, you will be doing an A’maal ul bir ( good deed) which is incumbent on every mumineen during the month of Sherullah.
SHERULLAH MUBARAK. DOA NI ILTEMAS.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful inspiring article once again!Keep on.

Anonymous said...

A very informative site about ways of preventing Cancers.

http://cancer.about.com/od/causes/tp/topreventcancer.htm

Please copy paste the above link on your browser.

Dr. Aliasgar Lokhandwala
MD, MRCP (UK)
SKMC - Abu Dhabi