Indo -American News

A reprint from the issue dated Friday, August 21 2009 | Vol. 28, No. 34
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Inauguration of IACAN Emotional, Informative
By Kalyani Giri
HOUSTON: It was an afternoon of grim statistics, emotional
experiences, and outstanding
bravery. The panelists included
an oncologist, a spiritual leader, a
social worker, a cancer survivor,
and an extraordinary caregiver.
A capacity audience alternately
laughed and cried; they also received a plethora of helpful information, resources, faith-based
ideology, and an insider’s guide
to surviving against seemingly
insurmountable odds.
The Indo American Cancer
Network (IACAN) was formally
launched this past weekend at the
Madras Pavilion Restaurant in
Sugar land. IACAN was founded
by a group of caring and committed Indo Americans who recognized the urgency and relevance
of an organization that would
address the distinct cultural and
psychosocial needs of people of
South Asian descent living with
cancer as well as the needs of
their caregivers. IACAN basically is a network of doctors, social
workers, healthcare professionals,
caregivers, and cancer survivors
who have come together to help
and provide services to South
Asians stricken with cancer.
The event began with a brief
overview of the organization by
President of IACAN Gayathri
Kongovi. She said that South
Asians diagnosed with cancer
often face cultural issues such as
linguistic and dietary differences,
which isolate them in their lonely
journey as patients. Secretary of
the foundation Dr. Anu Rao told
of the missions and goals of IACAN and informed gatherees
on how they could possibly help
further the vision of the organization. Serving as keynote speaker
at the inaugural function was Indian Consul General Hon. Sanjiv
Arora.
A diverse, articulate, and knowledgeable panel discussed The
Unique Needs of Indo American
in the Cancer Journey. Moderated by Joint Secretary of IACAN
Dr. P. G. Parameswaran, panelists
shared their distinct viewpoints
on the various aspects of the disease in their capacities as caregivers and survivors. Dr. Sewa
Legha, a medical oncologist at St.
Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, meted
out statistical information: one in
three people will develop cancer,
he said. The median age for diagnosis in India is at 40 years of
age, and in the USA, 60 years. Indians in India also face a different
From left, Gayatri Kongovi (President); Dr. Parmeshwaran (Joint Secretary); Mitali Paul (Board Member); Dr. Sewa Legha (Board Member); Dr. Anu Rao (Secretary); Dr. Sunil Krishnan (Vice President);
Alpa Shah (Treasurer); and B.N. Murali (Board Member). Board Member Pallavi Bharat Mehta was unable to attend the event.
Photo: Krishna Giri
spectrum of the disease.
“Indians are highly educated
and have bookish knowledge, but
when it comes to health issues,
they lag behind. When they’re diagnosed, fear and pessimism sets
in, yet cancer has a 66% of cure in
the USA,” said Dr. Legha.
He said that treatments for cancer are evolving constantly and
that there are excellent drugs to
curb the after-effects of chemotherapy that wasn’t available 15
years ago.
“Indians in India just tend to
give up and go to spiritual advisors, or try Ayurveda, or change
their diets. This won’t kill cancer
cells. There’s nothing wrong with
Ayurveda, it’s non-toxic, but it’s
not documented for use by physicians,” added Dr. Legha.
Lakshmi Naik, a social worker
at the M. D. Anderson Center,
informed gatherees that concerted community effort in making a support system effective is
crucial as Indians are “culturally
group-centric” and generally do
not make decisions regarding
their treatment on their own.
“The difference between Indians
who immigrated to the USA and
those born here is that the latter
are less secretive about their illness. Indians don’t like to ask for
help,” said Naik. “Patients need
support as the diagnosis is always
devastating and shocking, leaving
them vulnerable to depression,
and suicidal thoughts.”
Through IACAN, said Naik,
patients would have access to
Amita Shah is a three-time survivor of cancer and underwent
several surgical procedures and
extensive aggressive treatments
over the years. Her illness often
saw her husband feeling “lonely,
burdened, and drained”, with
worries about their finances,
insurances, and fatigued from
navigating through the various
systems.
“The caregiver is 50% the survivor,” said Dr. Ketan Shah. “Not
a lot is in your hands, and very
often it’s hope versus uncertainty.
Trying to keep balanced is tough
as you’re driving your loved one
to her various doctor appointments, taking care of her at home,
keeping the family centered, and
everything else. Spirituality is
important – and caregivers need
to remember to go for check-ups
and not neglect their own health,”
he added.
The Vice President of IACAN
Dr. Sunil Krishnan said that initially, the fledgling organization
IACAN panelists from left, oncologist Dr. Sewa Legha; social worker Lakshmi Naik; spiritualist Acharya
Gaurang Nanavati; caregiver Dr. Ketan Shah and cancer survivor Mona Bangia.
resources, renewed hope, and a
culturally sensitive powerhouse
system that will provide transportation and perhaps even a hot
cooked meal if needed.
Chinmaya Mission’s spiritual
leader Gaurang Nanavati spoke
from a transcendental point of
view.
“When we hear about cancer,
we think our lives are being cancelled. We question it, why me?
What have I done in my past life
to deserve this?” said Nanavati.
“Once the mind calms we realize
that decay and death is inevitable.
But we can postpone that if we
trust god with full faith. Say, I
will not die now!” he added, as he
urged the audience to engage in
karmayog, or helping others.
Mona Bangia was diagnosed
with cancer and is undergoing
chemotherapy. She said her illness became a project that galvanized her husband and family
into researching the disease and
finding out treatment options.
Very often, she said, she could not
make decisions and turned to her
husband for support and encouragement. She urged gatherees to
join IACAN’s mission.
Relating his experiences with
humor and poignancy was scientist Dr. Ketan Shah, who was the
primary caregiver to his wife Dr.
Amita Shah for over nine years.
would serve as a “triage system”
through the phone line.
“We’ll have a volunteer on a
hotline taking down information and making the patient assessment. We’ll have medical
support, doctors deconstructing
medical jargon, and guiding the
patient through the system,” said
Dr. Krishnan. “We’re also keen
on instituting a caregiver/buddy
system and we need the community’s involvement in IACAN.”
IACAN is a non-profit organization. For more information about
being a part of IACAN’s mission,
or to donate funds, call (713) 370
3489 or visit www.iacannetwork.
org