Her life was full of miseries and sorrows but now her life is an inspiration to others especially for cancer patients. Yes! Ms Susanna, a 57-year-old woman from Kizhangala is a living survivor of breast cancer who was able to diagnose cancer at the earliest stage. Moreover, her willpower and courage gave her the self-confidence to fight against cancer which gave her a new life. She is a fighter and is now actively involved in Ashakiaranm prevention programs against cancer. She says, “don’t worry about anything, all we need is the confidence and willpower to fight against our enemy”.

Cancer is emerging as a major public health concern in many countries including India. Kerala has the highest burden of cancer in the country. The highest number of cancer cases detected from Kerala is 135.3 per 1 lakh people. A new study shows mortality and disability rates due to cancer are high in the southern state. The death rate for both sexes due to cancer was highest in Mizoram, followed by Kerala and Haryana. With the southern state witnessing 73.5 deaths per 1 lakh females and 103.4 per 1 lakh males, disability due to cancer was highest in Mizoram, Kerala, Assam and Haryana, says the report on ‘The burden of cancers and their variations across the states of India:

Ashakiranam, the Cancer Care Campaign of Caritas India is supporting the cancer patients in Kerala and promoting preventive approaches to health disasters. The campaign that started in September 14^th 2016 in Ernakulam district has spread to all the districts and crossed boundaries. The cancer care campaign is the model created in Kerala which was transformed into a movement to create consciousness and awareness of Cancer and gather support from different walks of life.

Center for Overall Development (COD), Thamarassery is one of the Diocesan partners of Caritas India under the Malabar cluster and are running the Ashakiranam cancer care campaign for the wellbeing of people in need. Ashakiranam is one of the major activities as well as a successful model programme of COD. The campaign which started in Thamarassery District via COD has conducted a range of engagements to reach not only the cancer patients through survey, detection camps, mobile screening, patient support, counselling and rehabilitation but also to the common masses through its innovative activities like public gathering, days of observance, volunteer promotion, and educative sessions.

COD is also providing medical support to families to cope up with their daily financial responsibility. Ashakiranam food support scheme- “Manna card” which gives 500 rupees worth food kits to 146 families in need through SAFE shops of COD every month. Many patients received the financial support of rupees 5,000 and 10,000 in an emergency situation. House visits to Cancer patients helps to recognize problems and understand the family members and also help them to face hard times of their life. It improves family communication, family functioning, resolves conflict, prepares them to face the reality, reduces stress, worries, emotional distress, and mental health problems.

The number of cancer patients is increasing in the Calicut district.  As a safety measure COD in collaboration with Caritas India and M.S.J. St. Thomas province social mission has launched an early Cancer detection centre at Ambayathod, close to Thamarassery. The Cancer detection centre is positioned at Yeshu Bhavan Pain and Palliative care schooling centre.

The detection centre officially launched on 4^th December 2021 in a public function. Fr. Bijo Abraham, Director of COD welcomed all to the programme. Mar Religiose Inchananiyil, Bishop of Thamarassery diocese in his presidential address say, “the detection centre aims to reach marginalized people in the community through community-based mobilization approach. The healing of the mind is through healing the body by psychosocial support to the person.” The mission of the detection centre was defined by Dr. Fins from the community Oncology department, Malabar Cancer Centre Thalassery. Dr. M.K Munir, the M.L.A, Koduvally constituency inaugurated the ceremony.  “The growing number of cancer detection centres indicates the increased cases of cancer patients. The recent study shows diabetics leads to cancer. Cancer treatments including medicines are highly expensive, so it is better to detect the cancer from the earliest stage itself. We can bring back smiles on the faces of poor people through this Ashakiranam Detection centre” said by Dr. M.K Munir in his inaugural address. Followed by Msgr. John Oravumkara the president of COD gave the keynote address to the program. Felicitation given by Rev. Fr. Benny Mundanatt, Chancellor, Thamarassery Diocese, Rev. Sr. Sheela MSJ, Provincial, Kozhikode region, Mrs. Baby Revindran, Ward Member, Kattippara Grama Panchayat and Marikutty Chakkittamuri. Ashakiranam volunteer. Rev. Sr. Sajeeva MSJ, Director, Yesu Bhavan delivered the vote of thanks.

Ashakiranam Detection Centre opens 4 days in a week from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM for check-ups of community people, where trained volunteers provide their services.  A team from Malabar Cancer Center, Thalassery will visit the Detection entre once a month to offer a regular basis service to the community people who approach the detection centre.