- MIOT International Multispeciality Hospital

Counseling in Cancer Care

Oh, my God! It cant be true!
There must be a mistake!
This cant happen to me!
What will I do? Will I suffer a lot?
Im scared.These are the usual responses when the diagnosis is cancer.
Cancer is a dreadful disease and perhaps the worst diagnosis a person can deal with.
This awful disease attacks the patients body and affects his emotions. It also takes
its toll on
family and friends.
Fortunately, most cancers, if detected early enough, can be treated. Advances in
medical,
surgical and radiation oncology have made intervention more successful.

When Science is Not Enough

MIOTs Institute for Cancer Cure is a dedicated Centre of Excellence. We have some of
the best oncologists in India. We are equipped with the very best in technology and
infrastructure.
But, for cancer patients, this is not enough. They need medical expertise as well as
emotional support. Some patients are lucky to have supportive family and friends, but
even they and the not-so-lucky ones need someone who will listen to their fears and
anxieties about cancer. This is where the counselor comes in.
Anika Sidana is our patient counselor in the Institute for Cancer Cure. She says the most
common responses to a diagnosis of cancer are denial, panic and depression.

Denial: Very often, patients do not want to accept that they are afflicted with this disease.
The counsellor helps them come to terms with the diagnosis.
Panic: It is human nature to fear the unknown. The majority of patients do not know
enough about cancer or lack access to correct information about the particular type they
are suffering from. Here, the counsellor explains and helps the cancer patient and his
family understand the disease and treatment.
Depression: The Big C is a bad word and it is quite natural for the patient to feel
overwhelmed and depressed. A patient who is told she has to have a mastectomy, to
have her breast(s) removed feels distressed and insecure about what she perceives is a
threat to her identity as a woman. She needs counselling to understand her situation, to
know that she is more than just her breasts.

Help me, Please

In her role as a counselor, Anika sees herself as the patients friend and offers emotional
support and a willing ear. She listens to them with compassion as they speak of their feelings,
fears and anxieties. She says I understand are important words in counseling.
Our counselors and translators are always available to talk to or help our patients and their
families. Patients from foreign countries need help clearing their doubts or communicating
with their doctors and local caregivers. The disease itself and the prescribed line of treatment
have to be explained to them.

Niar (name changed), a deaf-mute patient with terminal cancer, came to MIOT from Sudan
accompanied by her sister. Anika counselled Niar and her sister in the course of her
treatment, and encouraged them to enjoy whatever time they did have. Much to her
sadness,
she recently received a call from Sudan Niar had passed away.
Another patient, a well-known public figure, was so devastated when he learnt he had cancer
that he withdrew into himself and would not eat. With counselling he came to terms with the
diagnosis and completed his treatment.
Anika says it is particularly sad when a child has cancer. She counsels the child and if
needed, the parents and siblings.

Giving Hope
The counselor is the link between patients and their caregivers and the hospital and its
doctors. Many patients worry that they cannot afford treatment. Anika conveys this to
MIOTs Board who willingly offer assistance in deserving cases.
Counseling plays a vital role with excellent results in the treatment of cancer. With a
positive attitude, patients discover an inner strength and even a sense of humor they never
knew they possessed.
Even in the bleakest situation, with caring and compassion, the counselor is able to infuse
hope for patients who would otherwise give up. And hope takes many forms hope to beat
the cancer, hope to get better, hope to live the rest of our lives in the best possible way we
can.

Issued in Public Interest by

MIOT International Multi-Speciality Hospital
4/112, Mount Poonamalle Road,
Manapakkam,
Chennai - 600 089,
Tamil Nadu,
INDIA
Phone: +91 44 42002288 , +91 44 22492288
Email: chief@miothospitals.com
Website: http://www.miotinternational.com