World Rose Day is celebrated today in dedication to the welfare of cancer patients.
On this day people around the world work to bring hope and cheer into the lives of cancer patients and their caregivers.
The day is best to remind them that they are not alone in battling the disease.
This day is marked in honour of a Canadian girl, Rose, who was diagnosed with Askin's Tumour, a rare blood cancer.
Having been told that she only had a few weeks to live, she never lost hope and lived for six more months.
She spent time with other patients diagnosed with cancer around her and the world by sharing poems, letters and emails of hope to cheer them up.
Her optimism and acts of kindness serve as a reminder to all of us that even in our lowest moments, hope is what keeps us going.
Cancer treatment is tasking to patients.
Their bodies encounter changes and the mental trauma of being ravaged by the disease is too much to bear.
Dr Ganapathi Bhat, a consultant medical oncologist and stem cell transplant physician at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, says the financial costs associated with cancer are often overwhelming.
Cancer affects a person’s diet and eating habits in many ways.
It causes weight loss, lack of appetite or other problems associated with eating.
Cancer also often affects your self-image and self-esteem.
Possible changes in physical appearance and depleted health can be frightening.
Having cancer can undermine your mental and physical well-being.
Being kind to cancer patients brings comfort, it eases their suffering though it is not enough to cure them.
Cancer is deadly and has claimed millions of lives and left families in misery.
The medical and science research field is yet to get a proper cure for this disease, until then we can contribute in our own ways by cheering up and giving hope to the victims and encouraging them to keep fighting.
Let’s mark this day by offering roses to the patients and their caregivers, by doing this we will extend our concern and offer tenderness to them.
This will act as a gesture of hope for their quick recovery and a reminder that they are not alone.
We, therefore, need to continue creating awareness regarding this day and generally about cancer.
There is a need to support cancer patients because they are alone and many lack resources.
We also appreciate many organisations and charities working around the globe to ensure the less fortunate suffering from cancer get better treatment thus lessening their suffering and that of their families.
Together let’s work for a world free of misery.
Communication and media practitioner
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
