Toddler, 80-year-old man win battle against cancer

Eighty-year-old Bal Mukand Sharma, a resident of Aanwal village in Rohtak district, was diagnosed with lung cancer nearly two years ago. He has been undergoing treatment at the local PGIMS, where he has undergone 24 cycles of chemotherapy and shown good recovery.

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On Tuesday, he drove from his village to the PGIMS, where he was invited to be honoured at a ceremony organised to mark the World Cancer Day.

“I can drive a motorcycle too,” exclaimed the octogenarian. Sharma, who has been a truck-driver by profession, said he used to smoke bidi, but quit smoking after being diagnosed with cancer.

“Before being diagnosed with cancer, I had suffered two heart-attacks and also contracted Covid. I am deeply indebted to doctors who have enabled me to stand up and smile again,” he said.

Seventy-five-year-old Dharampal, a small-time shopkeeper from Hamayunpur village in Jhajjar district, has also a similar story to narrate. Five-month-old Sakshi from Dhiranwas village in Hisar district had cancer at the time of her birth. “She underwent a surgery at the PGIMS in December and is doing well by the grace of almighty and efforts of doctors at the institute,” said Sakshi’s mother Rekha.

Sharma, Dharampal and Sakshi are among 28 survivors, including men, women and children, who have defeated cancer of the lung, breast, oesophagus, cervix, urinary bladder and leukaemia. They were honoured at Tuesday’s felicitation ceremony at the PGIMS.

“The patients, who have defeated the dreaded disease, should now act as brand ambassadors and create awareness about cancer in the state,” said Dr HK Aggarwal, Vice-Chancellor, Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, who was the chief guest at the felicitation ceremony.

Rohtak PGIMS Director Dr SK Singhal said, “Cancer is spreading like an epidemic. We can be successful in preventing it to a great extent by refraining from smoking and consumption of tobacco and gutkha etc.”

Dr Dhruv Chaudhary, head, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Department, observed that increased use of chemical fertilisers in crops was hazardous for health. He said, “Timely detection can help in curing the disease completely.”

“The success stories of numerous survivors indicate that there is no need to be afraid of cancer, but we should be alert, undergo regular medical check-up and consult a qualified doctor in case of any doubt or need,” maintained Dr Sanjeev Parshad, head, Department of Surgical Oncology, PGIMS, Rohtak.

He pointed out that patients who had been cured of cancer 15 to 20 years ago were, especially invited to the event. Dr Ashok Chauhan, head, Radiotherapy Department, exhorted cancer survivors and other participants to spread awareness about the disease on the basis of the knowledge acquired by attending such events.

Dr Pushpa Dahiya, Dr Sanjay Marwah, Dr Alka Yadav and other senior faculty members of the institute were also present at the event.