Coimbatore Kidney Centre in association with International Max Foundation India inaugurated a Blood and Blood Cancer Foundation along with a matrimonial website for patients who have been cured of blood cancer.
The Blood and Blood Cancer Foundation and the matrimonial website were inaugurated by S.Raja, a popular Tamil television personality. Dr.K.S.Ramalingam, managing director of Coimbatore Kidney Centre and Specialty Hospital; Dr.Jansi Ramalingam; Viji Venkatesh, Head of International Max Foundation and Dr.R.Suthanthirakannan, Hematologist & Hemato Oncologist, were also present at the launch.
"Blood Cancer is a curable disease that often affects children. The cure rate in children is 80-90%. In many developed countries the curative rate is very low due to lack of funds for initial therapy. The main purpose of this foundation will be to generate funds for the cure of patients with blood diseases and blood cancer. According to studies, lymphoma and blood cancer mostly affects people while they are of a marital age. Even though the disease is curable there is a social taboo while looking for alliances. Many cured patient go through depression due to this reason. Hence, this matrimonial site is being launched, in order to help patients who have been cured of blood cancer, find suitable partners. It will have a database of such patients. The person looking for an alliance can enter his or her details and suitable matches will be suggested. The details of patients will remain confidential. This initiative is an attempt to break the social stigma associated with blood cancer" said Dr.R.Suthanthirakannan.
S.Raja, in his address, encouraged the survivors and fighters of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. He said "It is overwhelming to see a doctor thinking beyond just the treatment of patients and curating a matrimonial website for them. People with cancer are being ostracized in the society as well as in their families. It’s high time this sort of narrow thinking changed. Apart from medicines and prayers, the patients require support which they can receive from such support groups. Cancer has been portrayed as a dreadful lifelong disease, but many a times cancer is curable. Another aspect that needs to be stressed upon is that cancer patients are not to be excluded from the wider society. They are as skilled and efficient as any of us."
Karthikeyan, 40, hailing from Udumalpet is suffering from Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. In a conversation with SimpliCity, he said, "I am a farmer and was leading a normal life as anyone else of my age. In 2008 I was diagnosed with CML, and my whole world turned upside down as cancer is thought to be a fatal disease. My perspective about Cancer changed when I was introduced to Max Foundation, which is a support group. With regard to CML, no therapies are required. Just one tablet per day will help the patient to keep the disease in control. Most times these patients are cornered and they lose hope due to lack of awareness. However, we can live healthy, normal lives and have families. Since 2008 I have been working with Max Foundation to spread awareness and provide support to people like me. In December, a youngster with CML got married and is living happily. I am planning a fundraising event and an awareness meeting for CML patients this weekend in Pollachi. I hope to help them look at Cancer in a new light."
This event turned out to be a great platform to create awareness about Cancer and its treatment amongst Cancer patients and their caregivers. The volunteers from Max Foundation motivated the patients to live their lives with dignity. The award for First Haplo Transplant Thalassemia patient in Tamil Nadu was given to Master Mukhilesh, by Viji Venkatesh, Head of Max Foundation India.