Mobor: Aakash is excited after having been allowed pizza and noodles for the first time in two years, said his mother Anita (names changed), her face lighting up. Since Aakash’s diagnosis of cancer of the lymphatic system in 2023, the child has been on a strict diet due to the treatment.But on Sunday, their family was one of many with children battling cancer to spend the day together at Mobor, where they felt a sense of support from a shared struggle.The children played games, got their faces painted, shared meals, made friends, received gifts of chocolate and drawing books, as their parents also got a breather from a difficult routine.It was the International Childhood Cancer Day, being celebrated with the families by the department of medical oncology of Goa Medical College, Bambolim, and the Human Touch Foundation.“The commonest cancers found in children are blood cancers, followed by brain tumours and then other tumours of the bones, kidneys, etc. It is fortunate that GMC makes the treatment, which is otherwise expensive, available free of cost. It is not just treatment, counselling is also provided to families to cope with the battle as well as to move on with life once the treatment is complete,” said GMC’s head of oncology, Dr Anupama Borkar.For Anita, 2023 was especially tough as her husband was left partially paralysed following a brain stroke, when Aakash began having unexplained itching on his body. After almost a year, Aakash’s cancer was detected at stage three. Fortunately, GMC offered treatment for cancers, for which one earlier had to travel to Mumbai.“When his cancer relapsed in 2024 and he required a bone marrow transplant in Mumbai, I was afraid that I would be required to spend five months alone in Mumbai with him for the post-surgery treatment. It is at this point that Dr Anupama told me to return to Goa and that she would take care of Aakash’s treatment. I cannot tell you the relief I felt. He is back to school now and free from all cancer cells as of Jan this year,” said Anita.Borkar said that besides treatment and counsellors, GMC provides dieticians, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy with consultation even after treatment has officially been completed.“We teach them about positive imagery, help with charting out the right diet, movements needed. We also offer them access to patient support groups, which helps them cope with the many highs and lows during the treatment like sudden shift to ICU or unexpected infections. It makes them feel they are not alone,” said Borkar.Peter Borges of Human Touch Foundation said that the sense of not being alone in the struggle is the most important for families with children with cancer. “On International Childhood Cancer Day, we are reminded that while medical treatment fights the disease, it is compassion, community and collective care that sustain a child’s spirit. Through this initiative, we wanted every child to feel seen, celebrated and never alone in their journey,” said Borges, as the children celebrated with the nurses, therapists and counsellors involved in their treatment.Rajaram, a daily wage worker, could not work for two years after his daughter Laxmi (names changed) was diagnosed with cancer of the bone.“We had not even heard of cancer, let alone bone cancer. The diagnosis took almost a year. But she was finally operated with donations and is resuming school now. We were shaken to hear about the diagnosis. It all feels like a bad dream now,” said her mother Sunita.Samarth (name changed) from North Goa, 10, also first saw a black patch appear on his body, which turned into a diagnosis of blood cancer. “Dr Anupama and her team have put us at as much ease as possible. Children tend to be noisy in the ward, but they have been incredibly patient with them,” said his mother Shanta (name changed).“I want to tell parents that if they receive a cancer diagnosis, there is a good chance of recovery. Don’t lose hope. Treatment is available free of cost at GMC. We even provide logistics support like stay for the family during the treatment nearby if required. We are also planning to start an education tie-up for these children. We take care of nutrition and supplements too,” said Borkar.
