Canspire: A book that tells inspiring stories of seven cancer survivors

Accama Vijayan was 78 when she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Two years later, at an inspiring 80, she is a survivor living to tell her story of fighting the dreaded disease to the world around her.

The retired nursing supervisor is among the seven cancer survivors featured in a book released by a prominent hospital group in Kerala. Aster Medcity, Kochi, has published the book “Canspire – the stories that inspire” with the aim of yielding a change in people's attitude towards cancer and cancer care.

Apart from Accama, the book features the survival stories of Raison, Vijayan, Ranjini, Alikunji, Hyderali and Prakshan. The short articles, both in English and Malayalam, how they came to know about their condition and how they overcame it with timely medical aid and proper awareness.

The seven real-life stories give hope and courage to those battling cancer and their dear ones.

The book was unveiled recently by renowned writer, filmmaker and actor Renji Panicker in Kochi. Copies of Canspire will be freely available from the hospital and E-copies can be downloaded from the Aster Medcity website.

“From famous cycling champion Lance Armsrtrong’s book ‘Comeback from Cancer’ to Malayalam actor Innocent’s ‘Cancer Wardile Chiri’ books that give hope to the sufferers is not small. A very ordinary person can find inspiration in the writing in Canspire. Aster’s Initiatives addressing social causes like this are commendable,” Panicker said at the event.

“The confidence of the patient is more important than medicine and treatment to survive any medical condition. To maintain it, sharing life experiences of people going through similar situations can be an inspiration”, said Farhan Yasin, Regional Director, Aster Hospitals - Kerala and Oman.

The Centre for Day Care Cancer Procedures, a new initiative of Aster Medcity, was also launched at the event. The centre enables cancer patients advised for selected cancer surgeries to complete entire procedures on the same day itself.

Dr Jem Kalathil, senior consultant, Medical Oncology; Dr Ramaswamy, Senior Consultant, Hemato Oncologist; Dr Arun R Warrier, consultant radiation oncologist and Dr Durga Poorna also spoke at the event.