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Time of India
01-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Project Pink Alert launched in Kolkata: Empowering youth for a cancer-aware future
In a significant step towards creating a cancer-aware generation, the Institute of Breast Disease, Kolkata, in collaboration with the Asian Medical Foundation, launched Project Pink Alert—a youth-focused cancer awareness initiative—at Presidency University. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The project was unveiled during a dynamic three-hour workshop held at the PCM Auditorium, engaging over 100 students from the university's Department of Mathematics. The interactive session focused on key areas, including cancer prevention, early detection, lifestyle risk factors, and debunking myths, aiming to equip young people with life-saving knowledge. This marks a new chapter for an initiative that previously reached over 1.8 lakh school students across 1,800 schools nationwide. With its latest expansion, Project Pink Alert seeks to engage college and university students as cancer awareness ambassadors within their communities. 'India's biggest challenge is not the lack of treatment facilities, but the late detection of cancer,' said Dr. Soumen Das, Director of the Institute of Breast Disease. 'With Project Pink Alert, we are planting the seed of awareness among today's youth, so they become informed, proactive, and responsible citizens.' India faces a mounting cancer burden, with one in every 22 women at lifetime risk for breast cancer. Over 70% of cancers in India are detected at advanced stages (Stage III or IV), significantly reducing treatment success rates. Project Pink Alert aims to change this narrative by promoting timely detection and reducing avoidable deaths. The launch event featured engaging talks by key medical professionals, including Dr. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Kanad Basu (project lead), Dr. Tanmoy K. Mandal, Dr. Sayantan Mukhopadhyay, and Dr. Anowar Ali Mallick. A vibrant Q&A session followed, during which students asked thoughtful questions about genetics, symptoms, and societal stigmas. The team extended their gratitude to Professor Avishek Adhikari and the Presidency University faculty for their support, as well as to Sanjoy Chatterjee, Chairman of the NASSCOM Regional Council, for his continued encouragement. Following its successful kickoff, Project Pink Alert is poised to expand across colleges and universities in multiple states, with an ambitious goal to reach 1 million students in the next two years.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Cancer ‘winners' turn guides for new patients
Kolkata: When college teacher Kamalika Hazra was detected with breast cancer, she did not waste a single day in planning her treatment. Now a cancer winner, she is ready to take on the role of a guide to new cancer patients as part of a project called ' Jiboner Sathi ', a cancer patient navigator programme. Launched on Friday, individuals like Hazra have been enlisted to be friends, guides, and morale boosters to new cancer patients. An initiative of the Institute of Breast Disease, Kolkata, a team of cancer doctors, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, and cancer surgeons, who are part of the Cancer Care and Cure Society of Bengal, have enlisted 22 cancer winners for the project. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "The fight against cancer is physical, mental, social, and financial. As a cancer winner, it is my responsibility to lend help to new patients," said Gayatri Chatterjee, another survivor. Doctors said that due to misconceptions and financial strain, many patients drop out of treatment. "The idea is to build a trust factor with new patients when they hear it from the survivors themselves, giving them confidence in the treatment protocol," said cancer surgeon Soumen Das. At present, Bengal registers about 2 lakh new cancer patients each year. "Many cancer patients fall into depression, and our goal is to ensure that they have people to boost their morale during the process," said medical oncologist Tanmoy Mondal. Senior surgical oncologist Gautam Mukhopadhyay said the organisation will also provide guidance to patients who are facing financial crises for treatment completion.
