City lights - Kochi

Two 'mantras' to fight cancer

Gone are the days when cancer meant the end of hope. If Mollywood actor Innocent can live with cancer and keep his humour intact, then why not ordinary folks? At the chemo centre, you come across cancer patients who have stories to tell—many inspiring and filled with humour. This reporter met two such women recently who revealed their secret 'mantras' to fight cancer nightmares and demons. While one was being treated for ovarian cancer and had a relapse recently, the other was a breast cancer patient. For one, the survival 'mantra' turned out to be a Bollywood hit song: "Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho...rekhao ka khel hein mukadaar, tum rekhao se kyun maat kha rahe ho (Why are you smiling so much...your destiny is in the lines of your hand, why are you being defeated by them)." For the other, it was all about proudly announcing that she was fighting cancer. "I proudly announce that I have cancer. After all, I am spending so much of money on treatment!" she added. Now, that's fighting spirit for you.

Online or nothing for everything!

Being a Sunday, it was difficult to find a pharmacy that had specialty medicines of a particular pharmaceutical company. When it appeared that it would be waste of time, I did a google search and made some frantic calls. One distributor who attended the call assured me that he would inform me before 10am the next day. As promised, he rang up the next day and said his agency can deliver the medicine to my apartment. To my surprise, it was the owner of the wholesale pharmaceutical agency who came personally to deliver the medicine. While handing over the medicine, he said, "I deal only in oncology and specialty medicine. If you need anything, I can ensure you of supply." For medicines and everything else, online is becoming the only line.

For KC (Sec), fat is what fat does

A few days back, a youth from Kannur was distributing a pamphlet on natural ways to treat obesity and weight issues in front of the Ernakulam Press Club. Incidentally, the Kerala Congress (Secular) leader P C George, a heavy person, arrived for a press conference then. Both George and his overweight companion took the pamphlet from the youngster. Another party member (overweight again!) intervened and said, "George is looking fit at 100kg. For a politician like George, who is outspoken, requires such a figure. Nobody, will ever physically attack George. His size is enough to silence his opponents!" Fat is what fat does.

(With inputs from Preetu Nair, Greeshma Giri and Shyam P V)