The report, on actor, politician and cancer survivor, Nafisa Ali, doing her bit to focus attention on the need for early diagnosis is a report that should have been published on the front page. Depression and anxiety are some of the many emotions a person experiences when fighting the disease. Such positive thinking must be encouraged especially when the country is advancing with better treatment facilities (‘Life’ page, January 25).
A.J. Rangarajan,
Chennai
A report that a Chennai-based hospital chain has acquired the capability to offer proton therapy to help fight cancer is welcome, also making India the 16th country to offer this (Chennai, January 25). But a detail in the report, “that the entire treatment would cost ₹25-₹30 lakh per patient”, is startling. Cancer treatment should be made affordable in a country where the disease is said to become a key health issue. Here, the government must take the lead rather than leave it to the private sector, where profit will be the main factor.
Radha Subramaniam,
Chennai