Facing a life-threatening ailment, a senior journalist has become a beacon of hope and resilience for countless individuals battling cancer, raising awareness and fostering care.

JHARKHAND: Living with stage-IV lung cancer for the past three-and-a-half years, Ravi has dedicated his life to raising awareness and supporting other patients navigating this challenging journey. His remarkable efforts have earned him this year’s Patient Advocate Educational Award from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), a prestigious recognition he will receive at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in San Diego, California, on September 7.

The IASLC, a globally renowned organization committed to lung cancer research and patient advocacy, selects only five individuals worldwide each year for this honour. Ravi Prakash stands out as the sole recipient from India, highlighting his exceptional contributions to patient advocacy.

Ravi’s journey with cancer began in January 2021, when he was diagnosed with the disease at an advanced stage. Despite undergoing 68 sessions of chemotherapy and facing an uncertain prognosis, Ravi has not only fought his own battle but also emerged as a vocal advocate for others.

Through his social media presence and his role as a director of Lung Connect India Foundation, a voluntary organization for cancer patients, he has shed light on the high costs of treatment and the emotional and financial challenges faced by patients.

Prakash has undergone 68 sessions of chemotherapy after he was diagnosed with cancer at a very advanced stage in January 2021. Despite battling for his own life, Prakash has tirelessly been advocating for cancer patients, raising awareness about their struggles and the high costs of treatment.

Recalling his journey, Ravi Prakash said that after he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer suddenly in 2021, he was informed by the doctors about the uncertainty of his life, which could be no more than 19 months.

“After I was done with the medical tests and put on cancer protocol, I started understanding cancer by reading books and doing a lot of research by visiting related sites on the internet. Once I understood the high cost of the medicines prescribed by the doctors, the emotional and financial challenges faced by patients, and the outcomes of the disease, I started making people aware of cancer through social media platforms,” said Ravi Prakash. “BBC also podcasted a series, ‘Kahani Zindagi Ki,’ on my life in eight episodes, which received a very good response from the people,” he added.

Deepak Prakash believes that one who has taken birth on this earth will die, which is a process of life. He questions, “Why spoil that process as one has to accept the ultimate truth… that is death?”

“One has to accept the fact that they will have to die, and if someone does not accept this fact, they will not be able to manage the disease efficiently and fight it effectively. It will lead to deviation and seeking alternative medications, hoping to cure the disease,” said Prakash. His efforts to educate and inspire others have taken him to numerous platforms, including the SAARC Federation of Oncologists’ conference in Kathmandu, where he highlighted the obstacles faced by cancer patients.

Reflecting on his journey, Ravi recalls the shock of his diagnosis and the grim prognosis given by his doctors. However, he chose to channel his energy into understanding the disease and making others aware of the realities of living with cancer. “Understanding the high cost of medicines and the overall challenges faced by patients motivated me to raise awareness through social media,” Ravi said. However, his undaunted belief in conventional medical treatment underscores his belief in proven medical protocols.

Matter of life & death

Ravi’s perspective on life and death is both profound and practical. He believes that accepting the inevitability of death allows patients to manage their disease more effectively. “One must accept the ultimate truth of death,” he believes. “I have deep faith in medical sciences and its procedures”