Читать книгу Now lIving The Dream - Daksha Trivedi - Страница 11

Foreword

In writing a foreword for this book about a cancer journey, I wondered how I would word it. Three simple words “You have cancer” finds the darkest place in your heart and hits those loved ones around you. In a moment, your life is thrown into a huge chasm staring into the void.

In reading this tale of surviving cancer, I looked back and could relate to my own oesophageal cancer journey. Daksha’s powerful narrative reflects this in a way that is as personal as can be but is also true for all cancer patients to relate to their journey. Her journey echoes the emotions, the fears and the knowledge of how fragile life is, sadly for many, the diagnosis is too late. This transformative story gives hope and happiness we wish on everyone with cancer and their families who silently suffer along the way.

Daksha’s cancer pathway shows how important those around us all are, our loved ones and friends to support us, our many varied beliefs of someone watching over us, the fantastic National Health Service (NHS UK) with the skills of treatment and compassion and the medical researchers who give us the hope and life we all deserve. In addition, Daksha shares some of her helpful strategies for overcoming both physical and emotional difficulties discovering what truly matters in life. Though she charts her deeply personal experience, the book has a universal reach through her perspective both as a patient and an academic.

My pathway from diagnosis has taken me on a road of discovery into patient support, research for patients to understand the many trials they are invited to join and to Chairing the Oesophageal Patients Association (OPA), all things totally alien to my world of printing! The OPA was founded some 35 years ago as a charity by David Kirby, OBE to support Oesophageal cancer patients. His meritorious effort in promoting patient to patient support was the key in helping patients living beyond cancer. It is encouraging to read that Daksha has addressed the need to support cancer patients and their families, particularly those living in rural areas.

Cancer will not go away but we can reduce the toll on life by awareness, early diagnosis, research, treatment and support right from the start to patients by patients, not forgetting that belief in hope is a big part of the healing.

This remarkable book is a testament to Dr Trivedi’s tremendous courage and faith as she unravels the complexities of this triumphant human journey.

By David Chuter, Chairman OPA; supported by David Kirby, OBE; Founder & Life President, OPA

David Chuter, Chairperson, Guildford Surrey UK Support Group; Representative on The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), contributing to NICE guidance for improving health and social care; Patient Ambassador: National Cancer Research Institute Consumer Liaison Group; World Cancer Research Fund; Cancer Research UK; Governor, NHS Royal Surrey Hospital Foundation Trust; Advisor to patient support groups across Europe for gastrointestinal cancers.