The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Celebrating `freedom from cancer'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Celebrating `freedom from cancer'

Staff Reporter

Cancer patients share their experiences at a programme by Apollo Cancer Club "When you know that there are people behind you to support, self-confidence comes in. And the recovery process begins there," says 77-year-old Hanumanth Rao

HYDERABAD: They are freedom fighters of a different kind and were passing on battle strategies to people who are facing similar invaders. People who survived the menace of cancer and patients of cancer were brought together to celebrate freedom from cancer at the Apollo Cancer Hospital here on Monday.

Misconceptions like cancer was not curable or that one could not lead a normal life after cancer treatment were thrown out of the window as survivors like the 77-year-old Hanumanth Rao, writer Ms. Amin, social worker Ram Brahmam and Jameelunissa from Saudi Arabia shared their experiences with patients currently undergoing treatment under Apollo Cancer Hospital director P. Vijay Anand Reddy and his colleagues.

Popular cine artist Kota Srinivasa Rao was also present to enliven the proceedings organised by the Apollo Freedom From Cancer Club.

Mr. Hanumanth Rao, who said that he never had any ailment except for a heart problem till the age of 72, pointed out that it was important not to wrap up things to oneself. "When you know that there are people behind you to support you, self-confidence comes in. And the recovery process begins there." Asking patients to never say good-bye in true Karan Johar style, Hanumanth Rao's parting line was `Kabhi alvida na kehna'.

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