HEALTH

Cancer ‘more prevalent’ in 2-8 age group
By Poonam Batth
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — Anjana was three when she was first brought to the Department of Paediatrics, PGI with symptoms such as unexplained prolonged fever, anaemia and bluish patches on the body. The world seemed to have shattered for her parents when the doctors attending on her diagnosed her to be suffering from leukemia (blood cancer). But that sure was not the end of the road for them, for she was administered chemotherapy treatment for two years and it is almost six years since her disease has remained in remission.

With an increase in awareness about cancer as a disease and the hope that most cancers are curable, nearly 225-250 cases of cancer in children have been reported this year in Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). The number of cases registered earlier were lesser.

An analysis of figures reveals that cancer cases are more prevalent in the age group of 2-8 years and most common is the acute lymhoblastic leukemia (blood cancer). Nearly 40 per cent of all cancer cases are of acute lymphatic leukemia, which is so far the commonest childhood cancer. Besides this cases of solid tumour such as Wilms tumour (cancer of the kidney’s), Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkins lymphoma ( cancer of lympnodes) are also being reported mainly from various parts of the region.

According to Dr R.K Marwaha, Additional Professor, who is incharge of the division of Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, overall survival rate in childhood cancers is 60-70 per cent, thanks to the efforts of a team of doctors in Advanced Paediatric Centre (APC), who are engaged in diagnosing such cases and providing comprehensive care to children afflicted with cancer during the last few years.

Most common symptoms of children suffering from leukemia is prolonged fever lasting more than two weeks, anaemia and skin bleeds. However, the Hodgkin’s disease classically manifests as a progressive, painless enlargement of one group of lymph nodes. And tumours in the abdomen are marked by lumps in the abdomen.

Dr Marwaha pointed out that early recognition and rapid diagnosis is essential to improve survival. Hence it is important to make the parents alert about the early recognition of the disease. They should then refer early to a specialist for preventing delay in management This will not only facilitate in administering the therapy but the complications are also much lesser in the initial stages. While the cure rate in leukemia cases is reported to be 50 per cent , it is 80-90 per cent in case of other solid tumours. Nearly 30 per cent of cases go untreated as people from poor socio-ecomonic strata are not able to afford any kind of theraphy.

The treatment of blood cancer is mostly chemotherapy and lasts about 2 years. For the first three months, it is very intensive and parents are either advised to stay in the hospital or a place close by by so that they can come back as soon as possible. However, later it is administered once in 4-6 weeks. Cranial radiotherapy is given in such cases where the aim is to prevent the disease from progressing to the central nervous system, said Dr Marwaha. In case of other solid tumours, it is a multi modalty treatment with a judicious combination of chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, if needed. And the treatment normally lasts for 6 months to one year. The investigations are aimed at establishing the diagnosis and also at determining promptly the extent of the disease.

Doctors attending on these patients believe that if cancer does not re-occur 2-3 years after completion of therapy, it is unlikely to recur again, and patients can be deemed to be cured. However, even after the treatment is stopped patients must come up for regular follow-ups at the intervals of 2-3 months.

They maintain that parents should have a positive attitude towards this disease as towards other diseases. They should also stop shopping for alternate systems of medicine and instead make a concerted effort with a systematic therapy for achieving a cure. Besides drugs, they should also give psychological support to their children.

The cost of treatment particularly for treating blood cancer is expensive but the hospital authorities and certain NGOs who are working for the cause of such children do provide some financial assistance for the treatment of such cases both in terms of their stay in the hospital and the drugs. The APC runs a cancer clinic every Friday for the benefit of such patients who bring their children afflicted with cancer for blood test and regular check-ups. NGOs like Sahayta Cancer Sahyog have adopted 15-20 kids since the group came into existence last year for treatment. They not only provide parents counselling to cope up with the disease but also give him financial and emotional support.

Civil Hospital functioning hit
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Jan 8 — The supply of power to the local Civil Hospital was disrupted yesterday, affecting patients and work.

The power supply was hit on Thursday also following a snag in the Northern Grid.

Work almost came to a standstill around 11 a.m. when even the single-phase supply being received a little earlier also failed. Doctors and patients could be seen walking about impatiently for the supply to resume. The power had not been restored till the end of the OPD hours.

Dr Tirth Goyal, in charge of the hospital, said three scheduled eye operations had to be postponed. Work in the ultrasound and X-ray wings stopped while it was badly affected in the eye, ENT and dental wings. The hospital generator, he said, could only take the load of the operating theatre and the emergency wing.

Officials of the Punjab State Electricity Board said the power control switches on the hospital premises were “faulty”. When the load increased, the fuse blew. The faulty system could even damage the PSEB transformer feeding the hospital.

They said the hospital power load had increased over time but the internal system was old. The control switches needed regular maintenance but the hospital had no arrangements for this.

SPORT

Jha XI beat Soni XI
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — Chandigarh I Commissionerate of Central Excise and Customs, led by S.S. Jha, Commissioner, outplayed Chandigarh II Commissionerate, led by I.R. Soni, by 21 runs in a cricket match played at PCA Stadium, SAS Nagar, today.

After winning the toss, Soni XI put Jha XI to bat. Jha XI scored 174 runs for seven wickets in the stipulated 25 overs. Rajesh Dhara scored 42 runs off 43 deliveries, while Varinder remained unbeaten with 47 runs. Ishwar and Sanjeev Rawat scored 17 and 14 runs, respectively. Jaswinder Virk bagged three wickets for 18 runs, while V. Moudgil and A.S. Saini took one wicket each.

In reply, Soni XI had a good start, with V. Moudgil taking the score to 85 runs in 13 overs, when he was declared out. He scored 38 runs. Jaswinder Virk scored 38 runs. Rajiv Kapoor was bowled for four runs. Virk’s dismissal made the way for the victory for Jha XI. Soni XI made 153 runs.

Ranji players, Rakesh Jolly and Sharanjit Singh, did not play. B.S. Nunwal, P.S. Pruthi and Rajesh Dhara took two wickets each. Later attractive prizes were given to the players.

The teams were: Jha XI: Sanjeev Rawat, Ishwar, Rajesh Dhara, Sanjeev, Virender, S.S. Jha, P.S. Pruthi, H.K. Mittal, B.S. Nunwal, Sunil Bains, Rakesh, Vijay Mohan and R.S. Guleria; Soni XI: I.R. Soni, P.K. Sirohi, S.J. Singh, P.S. Sodhi, Rajiv Kapoor, R. Sodhi, V. Moudgil, Trilochan, Jaswinder Virk, A.S. Saini, George and John.

Tushar enters under-14 semis
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — Tushar Liberhan of St John’s High School moved into the last four of under-14 boys section of the Lake Club Tennis tournament, being held at Lake Club courts, here today.

In girls under-16 section,Neha Singh, Sanya Judge, Isha Toor,Mallika Malhotra, Amanpreet Kaur, Bahar Paul and Simer entered the quarterfinals of the tournament.

In boys under 12, Sanam Singh,Gursher Singh, Simer and Kinshuk Sharma entered the last eight. Nearly 130 boys and girls in three age groups — boys under-12, boys under-14 and girls under-16 — are taking part in this three-day tournament.

Results: boys (under-12) pre-quarterfinals — Sanam K. Singh b Kuldeep Chugh; Gursher Singh b Udai K Singh; Simer V Singh b Vijayant Malik; Kinshuk Sharma b Sadeev S Kang.;

Preliminary rounds — Sanam K Singh b Mansimran Singh; Kuldeep Chugh b Dhruv Ghai; Udai Punia b Pragun Mohan; Gursher Singh b Awan Chibber; Andrew Roy b Harry Amor; Pritam Singh b Uday Sandhu;Viraj Gandhi b Anirudh Mitra; Prabhat Mallik b Anshul Kadian; Vijayant Mallik b Mehtab Chima; Simer Singh b Manit Dani; Harkamalpreet b Aditya Malhotra; Shiva Sangwan b Deepinder Singh; Jaspreet Singh b Inderjot Singh; Abhinav Singla b Inderpreet Kang.

Boys (under-14) prequarterfinals —Tushar Liberhan b Mayank Kaushal; Izreek Singh b Sanzog Kapoor; Yuvraj b Digvijay Sharma; Harneet b Varun Bhatia; Simranjeet Cheema b Sandeep Kumar; Rohan Bhandari b Manjeet Singh; Ardaman Sidhu b Ramandeep Gill; quarterfinals — Tushar Liberhan b Izreek Singh; Yuvraj Chaudhary b Harneet Singh; Ardaman b Paras Thakur.

Girls (under-16) prequaterfinals — Neha Singh b Shaleen Chouhan; Isha Toor b Alipt Sandhu; Saniya Judge b Prabhleen Sandhu; Mallika Malhotra b Ragini Ghai; Amanpreet Kaur b Amarpreet Shalu; Bahar Paul b Mehak; Simer Singh b Mahima.;

Preliminary rounds — Shaleen Chouhan b Neha Munshi; Alipt Sandhu b Ujala Joshi; Isha Toor b Prabhleen Chouhan; Sanya Judge b Shradha Singh; Prabhleen Sandhu b Nibha Kapur; Ragini Ghai b Trisha; Amanpreet Shalu b Vatsala Singal; Supreet b Inayat Khosla; Mehak Singh b Sheeba Singh; Mahima b Aanchal Sharma.

GCG-11 win: Government College for Girls, Sector 11, beat Panjab University Campus by five goals to three via tie-breaker in the PU Inter-College Zonal Football Tournament for Women at PU ground here today. The teams were locked 1-1 in the normal time and even after extra time, no team could score. Then the tie-breaker rule was applied.

Billiards tourney: The Chandigarh Billiards and Snooker Association will organise the 17th Senior Billiards and Snooker Championship from January 18 at Chandigarh Billiards and Coaching Centre, Sector 22. Entries close with Mr R.K. Duggal, Secretary of the association, on January 15.

Sidhu memorial polo match
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — To observe the first death anniversary of an internationally famed polo player, Lt-Col Sukhjit Singh Sidhu, a memorial Polo match was organised at Patiala, where his family members were also honoured.

A brave, bold and daring sportsman from the Army Service Corps, Lt Col Sidhu had the distinction of representing his regiment as well as the country in national and international events.

He had died in a road accident on February 10 last year while returning to his unit in Ambala from Patiala. He is survived by his parents, wife and two children, four and eight years old.

Hailing from a service family in Poanta Sahib and an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Military Academy (IMA), he had been commissioned into the Army in 1979. As a cadet at the NDA and IMA, he captained the respective academy teams and was the joint winner of the junior championship trophy, presented by Gen Kumaramanglam in 1978 as well as the Thimmaiya Cup from the then Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt-Gen O.P. Malhotra, in the same year. Twice, he won the world’s tallest polo trophy, the Kolanka Cup, as an instructor at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai.

A key member of Indian Polo teams to the United States, Britain and Argentina in the 1990s, he had scored three goals when the Indian Army team defeated the US Army 5-1 at Washington in 1996

In fact, a London-based newspaper (Werribee Park) wrote : ‘’Sidhu is riding like a wind to win the game of kings.’’ His own views about the game was : ‘’In India, Polo is a part of the armed forces and a soldier’s performance on the polo field indicates his performance on the battlefield. You need the same kind of qualities, courage and quick decisions.’’

ADMINISTRATION

Rail ticket counter fails to materialise
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — The opening of a railway ticket reservation counter at Panchkula has once again run into rough weather. This is not the first time that the project has failed to take off.

Originally planned almost 3 years ago, the project has been delayed several times due to hurdles created by the powers that be. The problem now is that the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is asking for market rates from the railways for a site offered in Sector 8, Panchkula, for a reservation office. This is a built-up shop-cum-office (SCO).

In turn the Railways is not keen on it, saying that this facility is for the people of Haryana and it cannot bear the burden of paying market rents. Railways officials have cited the example of space allotted at the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Chandigarh where a nominal rent is charged.

The new counter in Panchkula was to benefit residents of Panchkula, Pinjore, Surajpur and Chandimandir. A place was earmarked in Sector 8 in Panchkula almost 4 months ago and a final agreement between the two parties was to be signed before the Railways took over the place. The Railways was also preparing to start the counter, work for which has been sanctioned by the ministry.

Then it was being understood that the rent would be nominal . Now the HUDA authorities have once again asked the Railways to pay as per the prevailing market rates if the counter is to be opened. In return, the Railways has expressed its inability.

A couple of years ago, a site at the Panchkula bus stand was earmarked for the reservation counter, however, several hiccups prevented the facility from starting. Even then the Haryana Government had asked for money that was turned down by the Railways. The proposal was revived and the new site in Sector 8 earmarked but not handed over.

Interestingly , on lines of a reservation counter in Panchkula, the Punjab authorities have sought a reservation counter in SAS Nagar also. The Railways authorities are also known to be keen for the same as it would reduce the rush at the main booking counter at the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), Sector 17.

Now it remains to be seen if Panchkula’s loss will be SAS Nagar’s gain.

Traffic week from Jan 11
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 8 — The traffic police will organise traffic week from January 11 to create awareness among the people about the need of obeying traffic rules. The Traffic Warden Cell of the department would also take part in the event.

According to Mr Alok Kumar, ASP, Traffic, various competitions for people, including school children, will be organised. Pamphlets on the need to follow rules would also be distributed in the city.

Besides this, a blood donation camp, painting and declamation contests for students will be held. A cycle rally of school children carrying placards will be taken out.

A brisk walk contest for senior citizens will be a central attraction. A week-long exhibition at the Bridge Market will also be held.

Mr Amar Manchanda, Chief Traffic Warden, said another feature would be a scooter rally by women to motivate others to wear safety helmets.

A tableaux depicting accident victims will lead the cycle rally, he added.