Effects of cancer don’t simply end when treatment does

• The 7th CAN – SUR – VIVE program educates survivors

CAN – SUR – VIVE Trust conducted the seventh support group forum on 15 October for breast and gynaecological cancer survivors. The program was interactive which included a workshop with training and integrated motivational discussions. 

Clinicians, occupational therapists, nutritionists, sociologists, and counsellors participated in educating a house full of survivors. The main issues and challenges faced by the survivors were discussed with active participation from them. 

CAN – SUR – VIVE Trust’s main objective is to form a community-based cancer support group within Sri Lanka and actively educate, support on medical, physical, financial, psychological, societal, spiritual and other related issues pertaining directly to a cancer survivor’s well-being. It also aims to empower the survivor and family members. Its focus is on female cancers, which includes the breast, ovarian and womb cancers.

The National Policy and Strategic Framework on Cancer Prevention and Control document of Sri Lanka, which was published in 2014 by the Ministry of Health, includes expanding rehabilitation, survivorship care and palliative care facilities for cancer patients and support to their caregivers at institutional and community levels. 

Further it has emphasised on empowering the community and family members to support cancer patients from point of diagnosis and during survivorship by establishing networks among government and non-governmental organisations. ‘CAN – SUR – VIVE Trust intends to follow these National guidelines and work in collaboration with the Ministry of Health fulfilling their objectives as well.

CAN – SUR – VIVE Trust Secretary and Founder Dr. Naomal Perera, Consultant Oncological Surgeon, stated that the next utmost challenge of the Trust is to establish a CANCER SURVIVORS’ CENTER to attend on certain medical and non-medical issues of cancer survivors. The establishment of the Centre needs lot of hard work, commitment and funding. The CAN SUR VIVE Trust has confidence that there will be many corporates and well-wishers who will join hands in making this a reality.

The next CAN – SUR – VIVE workshop/ seminar will be conducted in February 2018, and the Trust invites all breast and gynaecological cancer survivors to call on 0713 161616 to register immediately.