Lack of awareness of cancer symptoms, lack of access to diagnostic facilities and the general apathy among the population further complicate a patient's condition since he reaches the hospital in an advanced stage when the disease is actually curable,'' says Major General (Retd) R S Pannu, president of Global Cancer Concern of India. In fact, one-third of all cancer cases can be reduced by creating awareness and another one-third by taking preventive measures, he adds.

It was to address this dismal scenario that Global Cancer Concern India (GCCI) was set up on March 6, 1998, with the aim of combatting cancer at all stages by seeking its prevention, early detection and recognising palliative care as an integral part of cancer cure management to enable patients live in dignity as long as possible, says Pannu. Former president R Venkataraman is the chief patron of GCCI. Former Miss India Nafisa Ali Sodhi; social activist Padma Venkataraman; chairperson of KFM Hospital, Dr Banoo J Coyaji, and secretary general of Age Care, N L Kumar are its trustees. ``The objective of GCCI is to create and enhance palliative care facilities in India for cancer patients. GCCI also provides support and counselling to the caretakers of cancer patients, who are generally their family members,'' says Pannu.

``We intend to set up a full-fledged institute for training doctors and nurses in palliative care through the Pain and Palliative Care Society (PPCS), Kozhikode, which has been declared as a role model by the World Health Organization. The society clinic provides free palliative services to all poor patients. Besides, it has set up 17 satellite stations across the state of Kerala,'' adds Pannu.

Also, plans are afoot for a joint venture between GCCI and PGI Chandigarh to train doctors and nurses in palliative care. The courses for nurses have already started. These were run in New Delhi, Kozhikode and Chandigarh, he reveals. GCCI is also taking the help of the Dharamshila Cancer Hospital, in Delhi, for training eight or so male/female nursing aides in palliative care. These aides will be attached in batches for short durations with the Shanti Avedna Ashram for extensive practical experience.

GCCI also gives grants to various hospitals and NGOs for providing free consumables to the poorer patients. ``NGOs and hospitals that receive the grants include the Pain and Palliative Care Society at Kozhikode; the Indian Association of Palliative Care at PGI Chandigarh; and the Dharamshila Cancer Hospital and Cancer Support in Delhi,'' says Pannu.

In the current year, the grants are being extended to the Red Cross Society, Chandigarh; Indian Cancer Society, and the Jawahar Lal Cancer Hospital Research Centre, Bhopal.

``GCCI intends to enhance palliative care facilities in India in a sequential and effective manner. Initially, we trained doctors and nurses in palliative care in the UK. Thereafter, we established training centres in India, where the courses were run by the alumni (trained in UK) under the guidance of an international faculty,'' explains Pannu. He adds, ``There is a strong motivational content in the course for doctors/nurses, which elicits a commitment from participating doctors/nurses to alleviate the sufferings of those stricken with cancer. The participants, who have pronounced interest in developing palliative care facilities are assisted even financially by GCCI,'' adds he.