Health Minister released the book "MY TRYST WITH CANCER"
published by Business Publications Inc., Mumbai

The book " My Tryst with Cancer" was released by Mrs S Aruna, Minister for Health and Family welfare, Govt. of AP, India on 28th November.

Briefs from Newspapers:-

THE HINDU, Wednesday, November 29, 2000:
Minister releases book on girl's battle with cancer - Too often it is a form of relief and the ultimate finality. Death ends a lifetime of joy and struggle, but some like Ms. Amritha Madhavan emerged victorious even in death. Determination, grit and courage of conviction - that is the story of a bright girl who fell prey to the killer cancer. How she fought those terrible moments when she slipped in and out of death, is now available in a book form, "My Tryst with cancer"..............

DECCAN CHRONICLE, Sunday, November 26, 2000:
Girl pens her cancer trauma - It's a book with a difference. My Tryst with cancer is a book based on the trauma underwent by a young girl. Basing on her expressions, her father brought her feelings in the form of a book to create awareness on cancer and drive home the point that alternative medicine could bring better relief to the patients than allopathy........

INTRODUCTION

I am very fond of stories. So are we all, whether they are fiction or about real life. But some stories touch our hearts, stir our souls deep within and awaken the primeaval emotions in the reader.This is one such story - the story of a family, which fought cancer, the story of an extraordinary girl whose life was snatched away in its prime, a jovial and fun-loving girl, who had just left behind her teens, a great performer and a fighter. Her life was snatched away not by the dreaded disease of cancer but by so-called cancer therapy, in the name of treatment.

In the first place, how she contracted cancer was itself a mystery. She did, belying all theories of carcinogenic habits and agents, disproving everything that is written or believed to be true about cancer. We however, do know now that many people contract cancer without any apparent outwardly reason. Equally mysteriously she fought and almost won her battle against the disease. Her battle and the near-success, set in a very uniquely Indian cultural backdrop with the whole family standing behind her like a rock, should give hope to millions of patients and their relations round the world.

This book is also the saga of the emotions and the pathos creeping in an exploding so unexpectedly in the lives of hapless people. This is a treatise on the way the persons involved dealt with and came to grips with the situation, and how people similarly affected could face it, if ever.

In fact, this is a story of cancer itself, and how one should deal with it or react to it. This is a lesson in what one should not do about cancer therapy, while at the same time learning about what one should. What is contained in this book is applicable equally to any other situation of great calamity, which an individual could face and fight bravely, with the whole-hearted support of the family.

While the core of the book deals with the human side of the story covering the gripping emotions, the drama, the pathos and the bravery associated with this tale, we have also dealt in a small way with the clinical and medical aspects of the story. It is hoped that it carries some important lessons especially for those associated with the suffering and treatment of cancer.

This book has no claims to the narration of something unique for humanity. However, it is certainly a most catastrophic event of unfathomable magnitude in the lives of Amritha and the Madhavan family. To the individuals involved, they represent events of epic proportions, singular and hopefully never to be repeated herein or hereafter. To all others, like the people involved or likely to be involved in similar events, cancer patients, their families and the medical profession, it provides a valuable lesson in the eternal struggle between the forces of life and those opposed to it.

The authors believe that it is certainly a step forward in the eternally developing and constantly unfolding process of evolution and up-gradation of human life, and the mitigation of its negative impacts. And that this work is a small contribution taking the process of human evolution forward a bit - the process of overcoming the odds against which the human body has to fight perennially. What the family achieved was certainly a small step of advance in the struggle against the menace of cancer.

It is hoped that this book will be a guide to people on how to stay together as a family and manage periods of calamities of the greatest magnitudes, on how to react to such situations, and how to face and fight such diseases calmly and with fortitude... And win... if it is within their grasp. Every fight even with the best of efforts and marshalling all possible resources may not result in victory. But one can still learn lessons from each one of them, even if one loses the battle against impending death... Learn lessons on how to face death calmly and with the necessary strength of mind and resolution... Learn lessons on how to manage the transition from life to death... How to manage the separation... and... How to deal with death as the individual facing it and as the family and friends whose near and dear one is on the way out.

The book deals not merely with the struggles at the physical, mental and emotional levels, but at the deepest levels of the conscious. And at the level of the opposing forces involved in the struggle, at the level of Purusha and Shakti, where such forces are unleashed. This book is to be experienced from this perspective.

Told in first person by the members of the family, with commentaries from some of the doctors involved in the gripping drama, it was the desire of Amritha, who is no longer in this world, that it should essentially be a book of learning. In her own way she would have contributed to reduce the sufferings of people if this book finds acceptance among readers, cancer patients and people close to them.

The main actors in this drama are Amritha, the cancer patient, Padma (Amma) - the mother, Madhavan (Appa) - the father, Usha - the elder sister, Rahul - the younger brother. The names of the doctors involved have been changed to protect their professional interests.

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