Celebrating life beyond chemo!

metro india news  I hyderabad : The end of chemotherapy marked the beginning of a day filled with smiles, laughter and hope for children who had completed their treatment at the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute (BIACH&RI), Hyderabad.

As part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the hospital organised its quarterly ‘No More Chemo Party’, bringing together children who had completed chemotherapy, their parents, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. The gathering provided a much-needed break from the hospital environment and offered the young patients an opportunity to celebrate an important milestone in their treatment journey.

Organised by the Department of Pediatric Oncology & Hematology, the event featured entertainment and activities designed to create a cheerful and positive atmosphere for the children and their families. For many young patients, completing chemotherapy represents a significant phase in a long and challenging treatment process.

“Completing chemotherapy is a very important milestone in every child’s treatment journey,” said Dr. Veerendra Patil, Consultant – Pediatric Oncology & Hematology, BIACH&RI. He said the initiative was aimed at making the occasion happy and memorable for the children, while recognising the courage and determination they had shown throughout their treatment.

Dr. Kalpana Raghunath, Associate Director – Academics, highlighted the importance of early recognition of childhood cancer, timely diagnosis and access to appropriate specialised treatment. She also stressed the need to provide children undergoing cancer treatment with emotional support and a positive environment.

Medical Superintendent Dr. K. Phani Koteswara Rao said cancer care extended beyond treating the disease and included addressing the emotional well-being of young patients. Moments of normalcy, he said, could help children and their families cope with the challenges associated with prolonged treatment.

The event was attended by members of the Pediatric Oncology team, nursing and paramedical staff, caregivers and families of children who had completed chemotherapy.

The hospital also acknowledged the contribution of caregivers and Team Saadhaka for supporting the quarterly celebrations. The gathering ended on a note of hope, celebrating the resilience of the children and reminding everyone that every child deserves the opportunity to heal, grow, dream and, above all, simply be a child.