Don't give up hope

'Don't give up hope' was the message they delivered to cancer patients during a daylong river cruise styled 'Sail to survive' from Ashulia in Dhaka on Friday.

They said their mental strength and courage and living with happiness helped them win the fight against cancer.

Sanofi-Aventis Bangladesh, a leading pharmaceutical company, organised the river cruise by Sarina Cruise ship. Apart from the cancer survivors and their family members and friends, doctors, celebrities, officials of Aventis and the media people joined the programme.

Describing the journey as a wonderful experience, Akram Hossain Khokon, the youngest among the cancer survivors, told The Daily Star, "It is sort of a get-together of us. Travelling in the ship dancing and singing and lots of love from all have filled my heart with joy and happiness."

Khokon, who is now taking regular follow-up treatment, said, "When I was a cancer patient, I sometimes felt extremely depressed as many of my near and dear ones avoided me thinking it is a contagious disease." So, mental strength is very important in the fight against such a deadly disease, he added.

Dr Dabir Uddin Ahmed, head of oncology at Sanofi-Aventis Bangladesh, said the main objective of the programme is to provide the cancer survivors an opportunity to enjoy an outing and to hear from them that cancer is not a deadly disease.

"We arrange such programmes every year as part of our social responsibility to encourage the cancer survivors, which also inspires us," he added.

Eminent artist Mustafa Monwar conducted a painting workshop titled 'Healing through painting' for the cancer survivors. They painted vividly coloured flowers, nature, rural scene and the national flag on white canvas.

An exhibition of the paintings will be held soon, said the organisers.

Such workshop is a unique initiative to encourage the cancer survivors and through their artworks they may get the strength and hope they need to fight cancer, said Mustafa Monwar.

Prof Anisuzzaman said the event is a living example that cancer is curable if detected and treated in the early stage.

He also stressed the need to raise awareness about cancer.

Talking to The Daily Star, several cancer survivors said the treatment is very expensive as many tests and supportive medicines are needed for the treatment.

Principal Dr Marufi Khan, a cancer survivor, said the cost of treatment and medicine is too high for middle-income people to afford.

She urged the government to give cancer patients concessions such reduced fares on buses, trains and planes.

Iftekharul Islam, managing director of Sanofi-Aventis Bangladesh, said these cancer survivors have proved that cancer is a curable disease.

He also said a huge advancement in cancer treatment has been made in the country and drugs are also available now.

A book entitled 'Holud Patai Sabuj Rang' (green paint in yellow leaf) by Prof Rowshan Ara Firoz, a cancer survivor, was also launched in the ship. Shirin Akhter, another survivor who has been leading a normal life for the last couple of years, handed over a manuscript titled 'Katha Dilam', to the organisers for publication.

Director (medical affairs) of Safoni-Aventis Bangladesh Rezaul Farid Khan, oncologist Prof ABMF Karim, television actress Dilara Zaman and actors Iliyas Kanchan and Shahiduzzaman Selim also spoke at the programme.

There are more than one million people living with a history of cancer in the country, the organisers said.