Battling social stigma, myths around childhood cancers

Lucknow: Battling social stigma caused by baseless fears and myths turned out to be a bigger challenge for survivors of childhood cancer who shared their journey towards recovery during an awareness programme in the city on Sunday.Sugandha Kumari of Begusarai, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer when she was just 11 years old, recalled that she had to face social stigma due to her condition."During the course of treatment, I lost my hair and brows. When I went back, an unexplained discrimination haunted me. My friends were not ready to play with me. Later, I realised that they thought I would spread the disease. I lived like an untouchable due to myths and misconceptions," said Sugandha, now in her early 20s, while speaking at Sankalp – a programme organised by CanKids-KidsCan, DigiSwastha, and Apollo Hospitals to spread awareness on childhood cancers.In the presence of KGMU VC Prof Sonia Nityanand, CMS Dr BK Ojha, secretary, health and family welfare, Ranjan Kumar, municipal commissioner Indrajeet Singh, the organisers pledged to undertake activities to dispel myths on childhood cancers.Head of paediatric oncology and haematology, Apollo, Dr Archana Kumar, who retired from KGMU, said: "Sugandha lends a face to the challenges children with cancer face. Battling disease is still easy, but fighting ignorance requires fortified efforts. But there are winning strategies and success stories that testify that steps taken in the right direction will yield results," she said.Advisor,, DigiSwastha, and former IPS officer AP Maheshwari said: "Children hold the future, and it is for their best interest that such initiatives are socially important."MD and CEO, Apollo Medics, Dr Mayank Somani, said: "While there is need for awareness, the greatest takeaway for the luckier ones (who do not have the disease) is to think of ways to give back to society." A cyclothon and a street play were also organised.