Date:15/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/15/stories/2007101574571100.htm

Tamil Nadu

Students take out rally to promote healthy lifestyle

Staff Reporter

They highlight prevention of breast cancer

Pamphlets on importance of breast self-examination distributed Pictorial representations on causes, prevention and treatment displayed

— Photo: R. Ashok

PREVENTION IS BETTER: Students taking out a rally in Tiruchi on Sunday.

TIRUCHI: Scores of students, along with members from various voluntary organisations, marched on the Cauvery Bridge in the City on Sunday to promote healthy lifestyle and periodical check-up to prevent breast cancer.

Institutions

Participants at the rally came from over 50 schools and colleges and voluntary organisations including Rotary clubs, Lions Clubs, Inner Wheel Clubs and Rotaract Clubs in the city. They took part with enthusiasm and dedication to make people aware of the need for proper care of one’s health.

The ‘Cross Cauvery for Cancer’ rally, which was organised to mark the World Breast Cancer Awareness month by the Dr. K. Shantha Breast Cancer Foundation, culminated at E. R. Higher Secondary School.

Pamphlets that carried messages on the importance of breast self-examination were distributed to the public during the rally.

Flagged off

The procession was flagged off at Mambazha Salai by Mayor Sarubala R. Tondaiman.

Most of the success of the event came from the fact that students from over 50 colleges and schools across the city also came up with pictorial representations on the causes, prevention and treatment of breast cancer at an exhibition held at E. R. School.

Smoking, fatty foods and sedentary lifestyle apart from hereditary factors are important triggers of breast cancer.

Overuse of contraceptive pills can also prompt the growth of carcinogenic cells, it was pointed out.

The multiplication of cancer cells was sketched by various school students, highlighting the increase in incidence of breast cancer among women who were below 40 years of age.

Most of the models displayed brought to the fore the need for periodic breast self examination to detect cancer at its benign stage.

The treatment process – chemotherapy, radiation and surgery – could vary in accordance with the pace of cancer cells’ growth, the charts read.

One of the major attractions in the exhibition was an information tree, eliciting suggestions on healthy lifestyle on its leaves, made by a student from Sakunthala College of Nursing. Specimens of organs affected with cancer were also on display.

Exhibition

Moana Bhagbathi, wife of Collector Ashish Vachhani, inaugurated the exhibition and distributed prizes for the best displays. GVN Hospitals Director and Foundation Project Coordinator K. Govindaraj was present.