Not all types of growth brings-in prosperity, uncontrolled rapid growth of cells clinically termed as cancer reverses and resets the life after-which it never remains the same.When there are more than 10,000 diseases known to humankind, why only cancer? not because its second leading cause of death, but its impact is so pervasive it doesn’t limit only affecting the physique rather it carries out a surgical strike and annihilates health, wealth and peace of entire family, in this sense its not a disease but a calamity.
Every cancer patient embarks on an emotional highway called as AAA (Affinity, Annoyance and Anguish). At onset of cancer, first reaction is affinity, wherein sympathy and “Stay Strong, Kick the cancer’s a**” messages bombards from all directions. Family, friends, office mates line-up with sagely advises, some go out of way and initiate fund collection in support of the newly diagnosed. Few hospitals partnering with Crowd funding platforms are now specialised in capitalising this brimming emotions, a combo of photographer and an editor, gets an eloquently sympathetic appeal, online within minutes.An ailing child picture from the nursing bed, with an oxygen mask gleans more funds than that of an adult. The hospitals waste no time in parading all types of clinical test and procedures until the collected funds are completely dried up.Family recovering from the shock of diagnosis is blindsided by this gruesome commercialisation of human feelings, and even before they react the funds are tied up.
In the second stage, number of visitor footfalls gradually declines and becomes restricted to weekends or text messages. If patient happens to be a bread winner then responsibility to keep the family engine running dawns in . At this stage there is a compelling need for alternate family member to pick up any available job and in parallel, care for the patient. As leaves gets exhausted, Loss of Pay kicks-in, Ceiling of insurance cover approaches much faster, unpaid medical bills starts to haunt. Finer prints of policy document which we conveniently ignored during active office days gets magnified explaining rationale of limited available corporate support. Not very many minds are capable of handling this dynamic prolonged stress, this explains why 50% of couple breakups during chemo treatment and teenagers resort to drugs when when one of the parent is diagnosed with cancer. Monthly liabilities and piling medical bills leads to liquefaction of life long saved assets at a throw away price(42% of patients loses entire life savings and 62% inch closer to bankruptcy).In nutshell, at this phase relationship turns cold and financial outlook looks menacing, setting in Annoyance
Third stage is a deceptive stage of extreme Anguish, wherein fake social media messages and target marketing products lure patients to explore alternate treatment or experimental products for immediate relief.Double whammy of instant relief and cost optimisation gets them trapped and makes them to conveniently abandon the ongoing treatment/medication. A hig-risk vicious decision which in most cases causes irreversible damage, from a containable cancer it gets soon escalated to terminal stage. To an extent the limited availability of physicians and their attention is also a driver for this lapse (On an average physician spends less than 20% of time interacting with patient) , pragmatically patient gets no immediate avenue to have the queries clarified.
This stage is a spiritually awakening one, patient comes out of mortal emotions and makes every sincere attempt to live every possible moment radiating happiness. Any visit to palliative care patients will not be filled with grim looks and perfunctory nods rather it will be blossoming with lively smiles and encouraging words. They realise value of each moment and go extra mile in transferring enthusiasm to the visitors.Make no mistake, inmates of palliative care are not without worries, they long to breathe their last moments under the thatched roof of their own residence surrounded by friends and family rather to die alone in the confinement of world class facility filled with all possible luxuries
Do we just eulogise this journey and move on? Absolute NO, strategy to combat cancer shouldn’t be focused only on Physical recovery but equally emphasise on emotional aspects. Family members of cancer patient needs to be continuously counselled to handle the stress, children of cancer patient has to be an integral part of the overall treatment plan so that they don’t yield to the seductive temptation of drugs. To abate drop in medication adherence, avenues to verify & clarify fake news has to be institutionalised (voice assistants,Chemo helpline, etc can bridge this widening chasm) Strict regulations with high penalty on fake cancer treatments and products to be enforced. Crowd funding market needs to be brought under tighter control to prevent exploitation of emotions. In brief, cancer shouldn’t be viewed as chance of commercialisation but as a continuum of care and cure.
Next time when you meet a cancer patient, remember he/she is at some point of this AAA highway, fighting their own inner battles. They don’t need our riches or worldly wisdom rather lend your ear to them, there is a poignant power in the unspoken words and though they remain strong, yet every now and they need someone to hold their hand and tell them everything will be alright.It is not a false hope but a placebo positivity which will put smile and shine on their faces…
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