Yoga, pranayama and breathing techniques help in detoxifying the body
The grandparents were in possession of a ten-year visa for their annual trips to Europe and they were undergoing a medical check-up to be insured. An inconsolable mother rang up her sons in England and Holland to communicate that their father was suffering from cancer. The sons to rushed to assuage the emotionally distraught parents. But where is the visa to combat cancer?
The father is currently undergoing chemotherapy and braving radiation therapy. The mother has been impacted psychologically and is a victim of innumerable ailments such as hypertension, high sugar levels, intermittent cough and has become a virtual nervous wreck.
“Why me?” Any patient will ask this question and it is gut-wrenching for the family to break the news. Cancer, also known as a malignant tumour or malignant neoplasm, is a group of diseases involving abnormal growth with the propensity to spread and ingress to other parts of the human body. The sun sign becomes an ailment!
The Geneva-based Union for International Cancer and Control, has around 800 members spread over 155 countries. The body emphatically alludes that early detection of the disease and palliative measures can challenge the sickness. WHO has analysed that there are around 7 lakh cancer deaths in India and around 10 lakh people contract the disease every year. Among women, claim oncologists breast cancer, cervical and ovarian cancer is extremely prevalent. Consumption of tobacco, smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol are other contributory factors which are leading to widespread increase in cancer.
The United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention describes tobacco use as ‘the single most important preventable risk to human health in developed countries and an important cause of premature death worldwide’. Several countries have adopted stringent measures to control the consumption of tobacco with the usage and sale restrictions as well as bold warning messages printed on the packaging. Smoking causes cancers of the larynx and the mouth and hypertension, besides polluting the environment. Secondary smoking is equally debilitating for the passive smoker. WHO argues that cigarettes sold in underdeveloped countries tend to have higher tar content and are less likely to be filtered, potentially increasing the vulnerability of tobacco and smoking-related diseases.
An anxious patient prays and hopes that the growth is benign. Sometimes, however, they are misplaced and the tumour is malignant. How is the news to be broken to the patient? It requires enormous skill and dexterity to reveal the truth to the patient and the family since both are under tremendous distress. Dr Ranjana Shrivastava, an oncologist from Australia, belabours that the news should be broken with extreme care, caution and a human touch. Apart from early detection and early cure, a change in lifestyle is fundamental in tackling this lethal disease.
Doctors arguably say no to smoking and advise the patient to refrain from alcohol. Individuals need to draw up a schedule of diet and exercise. Exercise releases endorphins that have an analgesic effect on the human body and mind. Practice of yoga (under a qualified practitioner), pranayama and breathing techniques such as Sudarshan Kriya help in detoxifying the human body. Whether diseased or healthy, humans should be surrounded by positive company and thoughts. Managing the mind to remain calm and contented provides roots to be mentally strong and sturdy. Reading inspiring literature of cancer survivors and their life stories acts as a lifeboat.’Time is shortening. But every day that I challenge this cancer, is a victory for me,’ said the talismanic actress Ingrid Bergman.
(The writer is the CEO of Chhattisgarh East Railway Ltd. and Chhattisgarh East West Railway Ltd. He is a faculty of the Art of Living; views are personal)
