Mysuru:  To mark the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -2017, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement’s Palliative Care Programme along with the Department of Oncology, K.R. Hospital, had organised a patient get-together event for breast cancer survivors on Oct. 30 at Vivekananda Institute for Leadership Development (V-LEAD), Mysuru. As many as 30 patients and their family members from in and around Mysuru participated in the event.   

Dr. Mukesh, Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, K.R. Hospital, inaugurated the event in the presence of Ramakrishna Mudre, Hon. Director, Palliative Care Programme, SVYM.

Dr. M. R. Seetharam, President, SVYM, urged the cancer survivors to be undeterred and to tap their inner strength to face the disease and overcome it. Highlighting the importance of being self-reliant, Dr. Seetharam said: “Everyone of us faces crisis in our lives. In the face of challenges, we should not bog down but instead accept it and then trust oneself to handle the challenge. The moment we trust ourselves, magic happens, several avenues open up that will boost us to tackle our crisis.”

He urged the cancer survivors to form groups, share their stories which would boost their morale and also strengthen them to face the disease with rigour.

Physiotherapist Deepa said that exercises were crucial in managing cancer, post-surgery. She demonstrated simple exercises that breast cancer survivors should do regularly to reduce pain and increase agility of the body.

The women shared their experiences during the course of their illness.

Students and teachers from Queens School of Design, Mysuru, demonstrated different ways of grooming to cope with hair loss and surgical removal of breast. The students did a catwalk  exhibiting myriad head gears that women cancer survivors can use to battle hair loss and be at ease.