Battling cancer, and surviving it is one of the toughest tasks, especially when it comes to finding the strength to take on the disease that was once considered incurable.
Taking care of cancer patients, treating them, and helping them find the courage and strength to take on the disease and come out victorious, has been something that Dr Vijay Anand Reddy has been doing for 30 years.
In an interview, Dr Reddy who published a compilation of the stories of cancer survivors, speaks about his experiences on this front.
Excerpts:
What prompted you to compile this book?
I have been an oncologist for over 30 years and I have seen first-hand the struggles that cancer patients go through. It is a life-altering journey that can be full of ups and downs. I have seen patients lose their hope and their sense of self. I have seen them go through painful treatments and deal with the fear of death. But I have also seen them fight back, find strength and come out the other side.
I wanted to compile the book to share the stories of cancer survivors. I wanted to show the world that cancer is not a death sentence. It is a challenge that can be overcome. I wanted to give hope to those who are currently facing cancer and show them that they are not alone. Listening to the experiences of cancer patients who fought successfully would immensely help them to gain strength and courage to fight cancer. This book is a compilation of stories of survivors told in their own words and about the challenges they faced and lessons they learned. It talks about hope, courage and resilience.
A young 25 year old man walks in, and says, "Sir, I just started my job! I have to take care of my parents. There is no one to take care of them! They will die — if I die!! Please do something; I have to live! I do not want to die!”
The treatment is done and he is happily living with his wife and children and also taking care of his parents.
A 14-year-old girl walks into my clinic with her widowed mother and asked me: “Doctor uncle, everyone in the family are crying! Am I going to die? Is there no treatment for me?” My eyes were welled with tears.
She has gone through the toughest treatment with a smiling face and she emerged victorious! She is now pursuing her dream of being a fashion designer.
A 33-year-old lady diagnosed of cancer was unstoppable. She was crying relentlessly stating: "Yesterday, I thought of committing suicide. Any way I am going to die. Why should I undergo this horrifying and torturing cancer treatment, and then die!"
Now she is enjoying her life while working in a software company. She went on a cruise for a holiday with her family and recently went for trekking in the Himalayas too. She has become a good counsellor for the new patients
There are several such emotional, touching and powerful stories seen and felt throughout my career. The morale of these endless stories is — the minute they hear the news that they have cancer, immediate thought in their mind is nothing but death. They start losing the battle before they actually begin to fight.
I thought there should be some way to deal with this fear from cancer — cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment and fear of not getting rid of this disease.
When a doctor tells a patient that everything would be fine, it doesn't appeal to the patient in total. But when it comes from a patient who has gone through this journey successfully, it will work wonders. It certainly makes a significant impact on the newly-diagnosed patient. It prepares them well. They see a hope, and will start thinking positively and fight the disease with vigour.
Keeping this in mind that I started talking to patients who come to my office even after they are cured for many years — will they be okay sharing their journey? Normally, the answer is often a no. But most of my patients were kind and brave enough to share their stories. Within six months, we could collect 125 stories, which shaped into a book — "I am A Survivor".
There are thousands of survivors in my journey but we have captured some of the best stories to tell — 108 of them —for you to see through the disease, powerfully and say it loud and read on, "I am A Survivor"!
It's not easy to pen down notes of a survivor. What was your state of mind by the time you finished the book?
When I opted to be an oncologist, I never knew that it is going to be tough. I never knew that it is going to be so sensitive and I never knew that some days my eyes would well up with tears. I never knew that I would be treated as saviour and, I never knew that I would be prayed as God!
Going through this journey I realised what cancer cannot do. It cannot shatter hope. It cannot corrode faith. It cannot silence courage. It cannot cripple love and cannot steal eternal life. It cannot conquer the spirit.
It all started when I had an opportunity to work and assist my uncle Dr P. Ananth Reddy, who is an oncologist. He is the one who suggested me to take up oncology as a speciality. He said that this speciality is challenging and it suits a compassionate person like me. When I joined MD course, my senior colleagues suggested me to leave the speciality as it will be frustrating and disturbing. In fact, two of my colleagues left the course within two months but I stuck to my goal.
I feel blessed being an oncologist and immensely thank God for giving me enormous strength to deal with this tough disease and give my patients the love, strength, care and comfort.
I pray God to continue to give me the strength to be resolute, unstoppable, and indomitable to deal with the disease, which is Emperor of all Maladies!
Victory is not always in our hands but it is essential to play the game well and with all our might, and that’s what I do with all sincerity.
Cancer has taught me more than what life has and my patients have taught me more than what my books have. Patients have taught me more than what my books have and the cancer has taught me more than life has!
Cancer has become as common as a cold. However, given the painful treatment methods, it is not easy to live with the disease. How does one remain hopeful amidst the despair?
Cancer is a difficult disease to live with, but it is possible to conquer it. I spend good time with my patients listening to the problems and then assure them of a positive outcome. I encourage them to stay positive, and never give up the fight while facing the ill effects of treatment. Same time I counsel the family / friends to encourage and support the patient and create a positive atmosphere around them.
When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, the first reactions are almost always shock and denial. Oncologists double up as counsellors. How do you motivate your patients to not give up?
Patients are often in shock and denial when they are diagnosed with cancer. They may feel like their world is ending and that there is no ray of hope.
As an oncologist, it is important to be understanding and compassionate during this time. It is important to provide accurate information about the cancer and treatment options available.
i. I motivate my patients by setting realistic goals and help the patient to set small, achievable goals that they can work towards. This gives them a sense of accomplishment and progress.
ii. Celebrate successes: This helps to boost their morale and motivation.
iii. Getting them connected to cancer survivors with similar cancer.
How do you handle patients with extreme emotions?
The first time a patient walks into my office what you see is nothing but fear, fear and fear. I am sure what is going in their mind – ‘why me?’, ‘How long will I survive?’, ‘How much suffering that I have to go through?’ ‘Is it worth going for the treatment?’, ‘Is there any treatment available?’, ‘What will happen to my family?’ etc. Hardly anyone believes that they are going to come out or conquer it!
The first interaction with the patient and the immediate family is very important. I spend good amount of time, explaining the disease status, various treatment options, treatment process. Allaying their doubts, responding to their anxieties and to their inherent fears requires several sessions of patience and understanding. Explaining them the possibility of cure is exhausting but extremely heart-warming when, at the end of it, you see that tiny spark of hope in their eyes. I do my best to instil a sense of self-belief, and a sense of positivity in them. Giving examples of successful treatments and making them meet the survivors helps them immensely. Under the trying circumstances I have often found the wonders of the magical powers of a smile that calms and reassures anxious hearts. A smile can do what words cannot. I, therefore, make sure that I always greet my patients with a smile and make sure they smile before they leave my office!
Tell us about one of your most challenging cases
Three years old child with severe breathlessness was brought to my office by a weeping mother all the way from Kakinada. She was inconsolable. She said “They told my child has advanced cancer and cannot be cured”. I heard about you sir. I have come all the way with a hope. Please save my child”. She had no money. I took it as a challenge. She had stage four cancer called PNET (Ewings Sarcoma) of the Chest wall. Entire treatment of Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy was taken care under CURE Foundation. She was successfully treated and cured of cancer. She is now a beautiful grown up 12 years old child. She comes to my office every 6 months smilingly with her mother.
This is one of my most challenging and gratifying child cancer patient in my career.
You deal with cancer patients day in and day out. Does the sadness and disappointments of the patients affect you in any way? How do you handle that stress?
I do my best to make them believing in self, Believe in doctor and to be positive. It would make a huge difference in dealing with the disease and the positive outcomes.
It is very disturbing when you come across advanced and incurable disease. I have to do my best to make them as comfortable as possible.
We win some and we lose some. It is so difficult to avoid feeling bad when I become helpless while dealing with advanced stage disease. It affects so much so that I skip a meal or even silently unknowingly get tears into my eyes/cry!
However, there are equally joy filled moments with hundreds and thousands of patients paying their gratitude in millions of ways. There are several unforgettable touching moments in my life that the survivors have shown their gratitude for being taken care. Many feel that I am next to God and they strongly believe that I saved their life. Gave them second life!! It is so gratifying and fulfilling. This is unmatchable with any gift in my life.
