Children Cancer Stories- 77
I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in Pediatric Oncology unit of a public hospital for several years. The mission of this blog is to bring to you the real-life stories of child patients suffering from cancer. Cancer is still a difficult disease to handle and treat. However, when it strikes the children, some so young that they cannot even speak, their agony is beyond expression and words. Let us pray especially for children suffering from cancer for early and complete remission. May Allah shower His Merciful Blessings upon them. Aameen.
Today’s episode is in continuation to the last week blog post about Sataish and her suicide intention. Her thought and intention made a deep impact on me, and I was not contented enough after writing one blog about her so here is another episode about Sataish and we will try to explore reasons behind her suicidal thoughts.
Cancer related mortality is higher in lower and middle-income countries than in developed ones, there are lot of factors involved in the higher mortality rate. Most of LMICs are already stressed with weak healthcare system and economic infrastructure and, therefore, have unique challenges. Although the WHO acknowledges that the effective management of cancer relies on early detection, accurate diagnosis, and access to appropriate multimodal therapy. However, the priority of early detection cannot be assumed to be effective in LMICs, where limited downstream resources may be overwhelmed by the inevitable increases in number of diagnoses.
We are having same issues, a smaller number of oncology centers and overwhelming increase in new cases are limiting factors in the quality of care for pediatric and even adult cancer patients. This results in lots of personal and social issues for every cancer patient. Not only patient’s quality of life decreases but also whole family is affected by the disease.
There is shortage of specialized cancer centers in the country, not only pediatric but also for adults. The centers which we have are not able to handle the ever-increasing number of patients.
There is also lack of oncology trained healthcare providers, Pediatric oncology is super specialty and requires more dedicated multidisciplinary health professionals. This lacking is causing serious damage to overall treatment success and poor quality of life of patient and their families.
Poor socio-economic status of the affected patient also is another reason for suboptimal treatment outcome and poor quality of life of patients, though treatment is free in most centers, still patients need frequent hospital visits with families and most of the time they have to travel from other cities that requires finances.
Provisions of healthy diet is another contributing factor, though some centers provide quality food and children hospital is one of them but not all centers have this facility.
Last but not the least, long treatment duration and associated side effects with cancer treatment are major causes of stress and agitation among patients and their families. There are other social issues associated with being a patient and fears associated with the chronic disease. Fear of death and fear of late or no recovery is major cause of suicidal tendencies in cancer patients.
Now imagine the stresses on an eight years old Sataish and one can well understand the pressure on her and reason of her negative thoughts.
Let’s try to do something positive for the betterment of these patients in any capacity, Let’s try that no child thinks of dying in such an age of blooming and growing. Let’s take every possible step to make our society better for our new generation.
We pray for the ease of Sataish’s mother and her family. We pray for the health and happiness and dreams of Sataish and her safe and successful future life and ease of her family. Nothing is impossible for our Lord.
Prayers for the complete health and recovery of all other warriors who are suffering with their families. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.
Note: Names have been changed to protect identity
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