A cancer diagnosis is devastating, not just for the patient but for the family as well. It is frustrating and depressing, and it feels unfair. I speak to patients who tell me, “but we did everything right. We ate right. We slept well. We took the right vitamins; why us?”The fact is that Cancer affects people, even healthy ones. Does that mean there’s no point in taking all the care we can?

Patients go through the stages of grief, including anger, and the questions of ‘why me, why this’ are expected, but the bottom line is that as more and more research unfolds, we’ll understand why Cancer works the way it does. But that doesn’t mean we give up on caring about our health. My sincere appeal is that, as a society, we move toward healthier lifestyles. A healthy lifestyle isn’t a guarantee against diseases but an assurance that you are giving yourself a fighting chance.

This isn’t just a thought; in my experience, anecdotally and with data, we’ve seen outcomes improving among patients with previously healthy lifestyles. Dealing with Cancer is a battle for the body and mind, and keeping the body and mind healthy is vital. So yes, you need to quit smoking, and you should continue sleeping on time and eating right. 

The worst thing about adopting a healthy life is that you might have to work a little bit harder at the gym, do a little more yoga, meditate more, drink a little more water, and get screened more often. Those are compromises worth making. 

At Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, the most technologically advanced cancer hospital in India, has been trusted by people from around the world. The zeal and fight that each of our warriors have in them keep us motivated in our endeavours to provide the latest in technology and the best clinical outcomes to our warriors. Our expert oncologists and other healthcare teams work together to help patients win over Cancer.