Winners in Life matches our vision: Gautam Khanna

To recognise the bravehearts who not only fought battles with cancer successfully but also decided to set an example and for others like them, dna has organised a first of its kind awards for cancer survivors. While six cancer survivors were selected by our eminent jury members for the 'Winners in Life' award, dna spoke to Gautam Khanna, CEO of PD Hinduja Hospital, which is the supporting partner for the award.

The award function will be held on Thursday at ITC Grand Maratha Hotel in Parel. The event will exclusively capture the heart-touching stories of patients, doctors, nurses and celebrity figures who have battled the life-threatening disease against all odds. The awardees will be 6 patients, 8 doctors and 3 nurses.

What made the hospital support the dna 'Winners in Life' initiative?
PD Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, a multi-specialty tertiary care hospital, has been at the forefront of providing quality healthcare for over six decades. Our belief has been to provide best possible care and also to help people get back their normal lives. dna Winners in Life matches our vision of celebrating and appreciating people who have overcome their struggle.

Do you think there should be compulsory counselling for patients detected with cancer?
Counselling for cancer patients is very important and a crucial element in the overall treatment and is extremely necessary. At PD Hinduja Hospital, counselling is a part of the entire treatment process. Cancer may completely shatter a person and his/her family members. In such situations, counselling helps them get their confidence back and gives them the will to fight the disease.

Do you think such initiative is the need of the hour to help more and more cancer survivors come out in the open and share their stories of courage, grit and determination to beat the disease?
dna Winners in Life is a commendable effort to bring together survivors, patients and doctors under one umbrella and share stories. Initiatives such as these will surely help many who are shy to come out in the open and talk about their difficulty.

How do you plan to carry forward this initiative?
There are various support groups at the PD Hinduja Hospital that bring together patients of similar illness to share, learn and be strong. Oncology department's support group Mahek — brainchild of Dr Asha Kapadia, Chief of Medicine & Head, Department of Oncology, is one such example. Mahek, which means fragrance, is a support group for breast cancer patients and was founded in 2003. Every year the Oncology department acts as a platform and brings together women affected with cancer under one roof to share their experience which can motivate others to fight the disease.

How can the society and government help in making cancer patients Winners in Life?
WHO states that cancer today is considered as one of the major causes of death in the world. An awareness drive from the grass roots level is the need of the hour. The government should undertake awareness drives extensively to demystify certain myths associated with the disease. Maybe the government could look at considering giving medicines either free or at a subsidised rate to the needy. The government needs to formulate programmes and strategies in consultation with hospitals so that benefits can reach all sections of the society.