The journey, life after, and the way to move forward

The month of October is dedicated to observing a disease that is daunting to most and becomes a frightening reality for some – cancer. As part of this year’s Pinktober celebration, there was the annual cancer survivor symposium.

The event was hosted by Recover Guyana in collaboration with the Giving Hope Foundation at the National Library in Georgetown on Saturday. The symposium saw a multitude of doctors, specialists and more importantly, cancer survivors and focused mostly on the parts of the cancer journey that are often overlooked; this includes prevention that could be taken before cancer, and the care that should be taken after.

“The objectives of today’s symposium are to increase awareness among cancer survivors, their families and healthcare providers about the importance of sustainable living and green thinking in post cancer life,” President and Co-founder of Recovery Guyana, Dave Lalltoo told the gathering.

Another major player in cancer awareness is the Giving Hope Foundation, which was founded in 2016 by Dr Latoya Gooding. This foundation is an organisation that is dedicated to raising awareness as well as promoting cancer screening and the importance of early detection.

Dr Gooding was first to deliver her piece on ‘Life after cancer.’ She began by explaining exactly what this well-known disease does to the body.
“Cancer is a word that carries tremendous weight. It is a group of diseases that is characterised by uncontrollable growth and spread of cells in the body.”
“Life after cancer is about embracing a newfound appreciation for the ordinary moments. Watching a sunset, sharing a meal with loved ones or simply feeling the warmth of the sun on our skin,” Dr Gooding stated.

She added, “It is about taking our experiences and deviating for better cancer care, increased awareness and support for those in this tremendous battle.”
Next to take the podium was Mrs. Naudya Hoosein-Majeed, environmental advocate. She touched on the topic of healthy dieting, both post and pre-cancer. Some of the foods Mrs. Majeed suggested are Berries or as she referred to them as ‘little power houses containing antioxidants’.”

Vegetables rich in sulforaphane and lefty greens like spinach and kale where also present on her list. Tomatoes and green tea along with nuts and seeds and the surprising addition, od ark chocolate and soursop. Turmeric was mentioned for its anti-inflammatory properties. She stated, “Remember, there is no magic potion when it comes to cancer prevention. But a balanced diet can certainly contribute to your overall wellbeing.”

Offering a psychological point of view was Will Campbell, a phycologist who had an interesting take on the emotional aspect of dealing with cancer.
“I learned about thing called toxic positivity. And toxic positivity is where people tell you act like it didn’t happen. And that does not work,” Campbell said.
The way to heal, he explained, is to acknowledge but not indulge or give power to the thoughts of struggles associated with battling cancer.

“A big part of healing is learning to sit with your thoughts, feelings and emotions about what you have actually experienced, about what has happened to you. But it is important not to live there.”

Nutritionist, Mrs. Angela Applewhite-Hercules, spoke about the often-overlooked topic of the financial side of healthy eating. She did an exercise with the people present where she asked them to craft a shopping list for a family of four for one week. This proved to be a bit troublesome and Applewhite-Hercules then explained the importance of balance, planning and utilizing what is in season.

Meanwhile, the physical side of the disease was dealt with by Dr. Prasanth Mani, a physiotherapist, who emphasized the importance of exercise pre cancer, but even more importantly, in the recovery stage. He cited that people can either partake in aerobics, strength training or both. A wide array of things Dr. Mani says can be running, jumping or simply playing a game with family.
Anju Vivekanandaraj is another psychologist who walked the audience through a mindfulness exercise. She explained that mindfulness deals with two things, intentionality and consistency. Mindfulness, she stated is paying attention to what is happening in the present moment without any judgement. Practicing mindfulness, she stated is focusing on everything that you can hear, feel, smell and touch; and noticing the thoughts, whether simple, pleasant or unpleasant.

The last speaker of the event was Dr. Omesh Balmacoon, a cancer and environmental advocate, who is also the secretary of Recover Guyana. He spoke on the little-known topic of green therapy, which he described as ‘becoming one with nature’. Green therapy, he stated, is all about treating your body right through the things that you eat. This involves more than eating plants and vegetables, but also finding the time to spend outdoor and with nature.

The event came to an end with the presentation and acknowledgment of the different cancer survivors present. The symposium is just one part of the long list of activities planned for the month of October, including a walk to a sip and paint event. There is much that is being done to raise awareness, support others and living a better life after recovering from the dreaded disease.