What's her mistake? - 42

The class was conducted below the peepul tree which was just at the entrance to Jaaji. The green leaves with their pointed edge were swaying due to the gentle wind blowing.

There were 4 new students, two boys and two girls.

They were very eager to listen to Nammamma as they fondly called her.

 “Dear children, we were speaking about hygiene yesterday and two of you mentioned the two most dangerous diseases. One of them is Aids. The other is cancer”

“Children! Do you know what cancer is?” Nammu Aunty asked.

“We know it is a disease Nammamma!” said the bold girl.

“It is a disease. But dear children, there is a saying that prevention is better than cure. If we prevent something bad from happening, we are saved. If we, unfortunately, still contact the disease we have to take steps to cure it”

Now there were quite a good number of men and women who were the parents of the children who had come to attend the classes and also parents of very small kids.

“We have to take steps to keep ourselves clean in our habits. We should not indulge in vices like smoking and drinking even for the first time. I have seen people saying we do it only for curiosity. Why curiosity? If you want to have curiosity, have it in finding out something new. How things work? How a plant grows? How a flower blooms? How does it rain? Why we should have more trees in our surrounding? Questions like these will help in expanding our knowledge”

Nammu Aunty went on talking about so many things. Kids were very happy to listen to the talk. They even asked very apt questions and got replies. When the questions were not answerable, Nammu Aunty asked me to note down the questions so that she could get prepared the next day with the replies.

“I am not an expert in anything. But I have studied some important points. I would like to share with you. Is it ok?” She asked.

The kids said ‘yes’ in chorus.

“What Is Cancer?” started Nammu Aunty and continued, “Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the spread is not controlled, it can result in death. Cancer is caused by both external factors (tobacco, infectious organisms, chemicals, and radiation) and internal factors (inherited mutations, hormones, immune conditions, and mutations that occur from metabolism). These causal factors may act together or in sequence to initiate or promote carcinogenesis. Ten or more years often pass between exposure to external factors and detectable cancer”

There was silence in the crowd. I could see that the kids did not completely understand what has been told. But there were a few elders who were showing expression of shock and fear.

“Don’t worry. There are some curing methods too. Cancer is treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy. You may not be able to absorb all these words. But you should remember that we could avoid what can be avoided. Right?” Nammu Aunty smiled.

“For example, if a father keeps the child on his shoulder and goes to a store and smokes a bidi or cigarette, the kid gets affected from a very small age. Is it not avoidable?” she asked.

“Yes!” said one or two men from the crowd. They were shamefaced. May be they were carrying their child on their shoulder while smoking.

“Can cancer be prevented?” She asked and replied herself. “All cancers caused by cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol could be prevented completely.”

“Smoking causes lung cancer. The drinking causes liver cancer. When we have so much of responsibility, is it not our duty to shoulder them without getting sick? The kids are dependent on us. If we fall sick, we cannot take care of the family. We even need extra money for cure. Avoiding is the best method. I am telling all this because like I said earlier even immune conditions etc. could bring cancer to a person. Even though that person does not indulge in bad vices. So, should we not take care to prevent this unwanted, dangerous disease?” Nammu Aunty asked earnestly.

“Yes Nammu Amma” shouted a young man from the back

Nammu Aunty gave some horrifying figures. “55000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in India. Studies show a direct link between increased urbanization and childhood cancer worldwide. Only 5 percent childhood cancer is hereditary. 95% of the causes are external factors viruses, pollution, radiation etc. In 2009 India had only 55 paediatric oncologists. 15 are in Mumbai. Balance Oncologists in cities only. Pediatric oncology not recognized as a specialty in over 250 medical colleges across the country which is alarming. Commonest childhood cancer is leukaemia, lymphomas, brain tumors, bone tumors and soft tissue rank next. Hence please take care of your children. They are the future of this country and all I ask you is that please prevent your kids from diseases as much as possible”

A  person in the crowd asked, “Have you seen anyone who does not have bad habits but still suffering with cancer?”

“You are looking at one!” Nammu Aunty said pointing to herself. There was a gasp among the audience.