Hyderabad, 14th December, 2019: The Laryngectomee Society of Apollo Hospitals, celebrated its 20th anniversary with Para-Badminton World Champion, Ms Manasi Joshi, as the Chief Guest, on Saturday at the Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills. Radio Mirchi RJ Shezzi, conducted the show and Dr Umanath Nayak, Consultant Head & Neck Cancer Surgeon, Apollo Cancer Hospital & Founder President, Laryngectomee Society of Apollo Hospitals, was also present on the occasion. The Laryngectomee Society of Apollo Hospitals, is a voluntary self-help rehabilitation group of cancer survivors who have undergone surgery for the removal of their larynx (voice box) as treatment for advanced cancer of the throat.
On the occasion, RJ Shezzi conducted a live chat-show with the laryngectomees. They shared the ordeal they undergo, the challenges they face in their daily lives and how they overcome them. In unison they sent a strong message that despite all odds, it's possible to lead a normal life as cancer survivors.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Umanath Nayak said, Ms Manasi Joshi, is a huge inspiration for all the Laryngectomees, who live with the disability of not having voice box. She has overcome the challenge of disability and went onto excel to become the Para-Badminton World Champion. We are celebrating the anniversary of the Society, as a tribute to the fighting spirit of these indomitable laryngectomees. It is a loud and clear message from them on how to overcome adversity and still be able to laugh and make others laugh. These survivors have overcome cancer and are normal persons like any one of us going about with their routine. Since they are free from cancer, they should no more be associated with the stigma of cancer. The Laryngectomee society of Apollo Hospitals, which has over 500 members across India and abroad, has become a role model for similar self-help groups in cancer rehabilitation, he said.
According to Dr Umanath Nayak, throat cancer is a common cancer in our country; mainly due to the rampant and indiscriminate use of tobacco in all forms. Overall about 12% of all cancers in India are related to the throat. About 1 lakh new throat cancers are diagnosed annually in our country, majority of which are in the advanced stages. Twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad alone account for approximately 1,200 new throat cancer patients every year, he said.
About Laryngectomee Society of Apollo Hospitals
The Laryngectomee Society of Apollo Hospitals is a voluntary self-help rehabilitation group of throat cancer survivors who have overcome the disease and are in the process of rehabilitating themselves to return back to the mainstream of life. The Society, started in the year 1999, currently has a membership of over 500 cancer survivors from all over India and a few abroad and aids these survivors in overcoming the effects of the disease and its treatment. Patients suffering from throat cancer undergo a surgery called total laryngectomy involving surgical removal of the larynx or the voice-box, which remains the best modality of treatment in advanced stages of the disease. Since the voice box is removed, these patients, called as laryngectomees, cannot speak in the normal way and are trained to speak using a special voice prosthesis. The Laryngectomee Society provides guidance and support to these laryngectomees for voice restoration and is also involved in their physical, social, vocational and psychological rehabilitation. The Society meets on the second Saturday of every month at the Apollo cancer Institute. Some of the guests who participated in the celebrations of the Society in the past are Jwala Gutta, Sania Mirza, Gopichand, Mr. A.K. Khan, Mohd. Azharuddin, V.V.S. Laxman and several others.
