Cancer can strike in many ways. For 77-year-old Lakshmi R (name changed), her tryst with this much-dreaded disease was through lymphoma of both her eyelids, which resulted in vision loss and intense pain and suffering.
Her family’s underprivileged background and financial condition further compounded Lakshmi’s suffering, and hindered her timely access to healthcare. As a result, her family struggled to get the necessary tests done and found it difficult to continue her treatment for long.
Lakshmi soon fell into depression, and was left entirely dependent on her son. She slowly turned a recluse and would refuse to meet even her relatives and neighbours.
Even as things began to get worse for Lakshmi, her family learned about the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Cancer Care and Advanced Research (SVICCAR) in Tirupati. Lakshmi’s son brought her to the SVICCAR day-care centre, where she was referred to the Consultant Radiation Oncologist. After diagnosing her condition, the team counselled her and referred her for radiation therapy.
SVICCAR is guided by the National Cancer Grid (NCG) treatment guidelines. With the help of technology, unique cases are discussed and treatment pathways are planned.
The treatment plan helped Lakshmi. Soon enough, her swelling and pain disappeared, and her vision was eventually restored. A happy and confident Lakshmi then returned to her village and now leads a normal life. Icing on the cake is the entire treatment was affordable and the patient and her family did not have to travel far to access it.
