Chennai: The Cancer Institute, Adyar, here will be made one of the apex cancer institutes in the state and about Rs120 crore has been earmarked for improving the infrastructure and for providing equipment, health secretary, Dr J. Radhakrishnan, has said.Participating in a reunion function for cancer survivors, organised by the institute here on Sunday, he said,“Dr V. Shanta, chairperson of Cancer Institute, has been persistently following up and I am sure within a week or 10 days, the final approval will be given.”
“Today, not only the inspiring stories of the cancer survivors should be celebrated but their stories should inspire those diagnosed with cancer to muster courage and recover,” he said. A few cancer survivors shared their stories on the occasion. Geetakrishnan, a retired IAS officer in his seventies, detected with cancer thrice - in 1994 for prostrate cancer, in 2004 for thyroid cancer and in 2012 for lung cancer.
He said, “I am afraid of the traffic on Chennai roads but I am not afraid of cancer.” He added that all the cancers were discovered by accident. So, one should go for regular check-up, he advised. Another survivor, V. Shriraman, 70, said he was detected with throat cancer in 1990.“I took treatment for two months in this institution and was cured. Again, in 2006, there was a recurrence. I took chemotherapy and radiation and finally recovered. Now, I am fine.” He also added that his brothers and brother-in-law were extremely supportive.
