Munnabhai in action

Rebecca*, my friend, is undergoing treatment for Adeno Carcinoma. That, in English, means cancer of the soft tissues. She had a round of surgery and underwent a gruelling Chemotherapy routine in a very 'famous' hospital in Chennai. After every chemo, Rebecca used to call me to share the horrifying stories on how it was administered. She screamed in pain every time that huge syringe searched for her vains in alternate inner-elbows.

After the horrendous time, the tissues vanished and she began a new life.

The Adeno returned last month. Rebecca had a lump in her right shoulder and the 'famous hospital' brushed it aside as 'nothing to worry'. Some good sense prevailed and she went to take a second opinion. This time, from a little known nursing home and an ambitious, london-returned, yet-to-settle-down surgeon called Dr. Narayan* who took up her case.

And how. The lump was surgically removed, dressing is done regularly and now she has to undergo the radiation therapy. All this without a pin prick pain. Today, Rebecca just can't stop talking about Dr. Narayan. He was so caring and affectionate, she started calling him a brother from the past life. In a relaxed moment during a coffee break, Dr. Narayan told Rebecca about how much he hates himself for getting emotionally involved with his patients and how much it hurts when the results turn negative. He was seriously considering changing his attitude.

Two days after the surgery, Rebecca bought a nice big card with flowers, and the inside of the card said, 'For heaven's sake, don't change your attitude'.

The cancerous tissues are still lurking inside her. She still has to undergo god-only-knows how many sessions of radiation and god-only-knows whether it'll
return. But Rebecca is a changed person now. She has Dr. Narayan by her side. He'll somehow make her live. His mere presence in the newly set up clinic is comforting enough for her to battle those treacherous tissues. Various articles on cancer indicates that it's fought more in the mind than in the body. To fight it in the mind one needs strength and 'famous' hospitals don't seem to provide that. Run in an impersonate and clinical way, these hospital are not valuing the need to provide human touch. What is needed is affection and care. And being concerned. I reckon it works not just in medicine. It works everwhere.

Last time we spoke, Rebecca said Dr. Narayanan must have a divine blessing because he has a healing touch. I nodded in agreement. With a pang of pain inside, pitying that it takes a divine blessing to be human.

* - Names changed