Manipal Hospitals hosts “The Power to Heal”, Honouring cancer survivors

Team Udayavani, Aug 1, 2024, 8:37 PM IST

Bengaluru: Manipal Hospitals hosted a heartwarming and inspiring event, “The Power to Heal,” today, honoring cancer survivors who have successfully beaten cancer. They shared their diverse experiences, highlighting the significance of maintaining a positive mindset through the ordeal. They collectively emphasized that determination and a will to live play a pivotal role in overcoming such a challenging journey.

Considering the success rate of Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road in cancer care, the hospital hosted a platform that gathered cancer survivors from different specialties under Oncology to share their experiences and express their gratitude towards their doctors.

The event witnessed survivors of different cancers such as Tissue and Bone Sarcoma, Breast Cancer, Leukemia (a form of blood cancer), Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (cancer in the lymph system), and Retinoblastoma (eye cancer that begins in the retina). Among them, a notable case to highlight was of baby Nicole from Indonesia who was just six months old when she was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, affecting both her eyes in the year 2014. Her family travelled to India for specialized treatment, beginning their journey at Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore. Initially assessed by an ophthalmologist at a different hospital, baby Nicole was referred to Dr. Poonam Patil, Consultant – Medical Oncology for further care.

After a thorough evaluation confirming her condition, a treatment plan was devised which included chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to address the cancer. Dr. Poonam Patil, Consultant – Medical Oncology, oversaw her chemotherapy treatment, and Dr. Sindhu Paul Kavalakkat, Consultant – Radiation Oncology managed her radiation therapy. Due to Nicole’s young age, a central line was placed to administer chemotherapy. She underwent six cycles of chemotherapy over six months with each lasting for two days, which resulted in a positive response.

Now 10 years old, Nicole has been cancer-free for the past six years and leads a normal life, attending school and enjoying her favourite activities like playing the piano. She continues to attend regular follow-ups to monitor her health. Her story is one of resilience and hope, inspiring others facing similar challenges. Her journey emphasizes the importance of staying positive and strong in the face of adversity.

Today’s event concluded with survivors sharing their journeys of fighting cancer and reclaiming their lives. Cancer is no longer the dreaded word and you can conquer cancer.

About Manipal Hospitals:

As a pioneer in healthcare, Manipal Hospitals is among the top healthcare providers in India serving over 7 million patients annually. Its focus is to develop an affordable, high-quality healthcare framework through its multispecialty and tertiary care delivery spectrum and further extend it to out-of-hospital care. With the completion of the acquisition of Medica Synergie hospitals and AMRI Hospitals Limited (acquired in Sept 2023), the integrated network today has a pan-India footprint of 37 hospitals across 19 cities with 10,500+ beds, and a talented pool of 5,600+ doctors and an employee strength of over 18,600.
Manipal Hospitals provides comprehensive curative and preventive care for a multitude of patients from around the globe. Manipal Hospitals is NABH, and AAHRPP accredited and most of the hospitals in its network are NABL, ER, and Blood Bank accredited and recognized for Nursing Excellence. Manipal Hospitals has also been recognized as the most respected and patient-recommended hospital in India through various consumer surveys.