Our Patient Advocate of the Month for June 2021 is Tushar Kanti Ghosh.
Tushar hails from the town of Naihati, on the banks of the Hooghly River in West Bengal. He grew up here together with his parents, two siblings and his extended family. He finished his schooling from Narendra Vidyaniketan High School.
Tushar was diagnosed with cancer in the second year of his college. But he got in touch with a kind-hearted CML patient, Gitanjali. Gitanjali was receiving free supply of Glivec from Novartis, and invited Tushar to meet Dr Tapan Kumar Saikia, Medical Oncologist at Prince Ali Khan Hospital, Mumbai. It was Dr Saikia who guided him to The Max Foundation office in Mumbai.
Tushar has been an active City Chapter Leader of Friends of Max’s Kolkata Chapter. He has actively participated in every Patient Support Group Meeting organized in Kolkata and the All India Meets organized by Friends of Max and The Max Foundation. Most recently, he performed “Ek Pyaar ka Nagma hai” at the Friends of Max Leadership Summit 2021.
But his involvement in social service does not end there. Tushar also works with the local political organization and club in doing yeoman service for the people living in his vicinity.
When asked about the significance Friends of Max holds in his life, he proudly states, “My association with Friends of Max over the last 18 years has broadened my outlook. The motherly love I have received from Viji Amma has moved me. This organization has shaped not just my life, but also that of thousands of other cancer patients all over the world.”
Today, Tushar lives with his mother, brother, sister-in-law and nephew. He runs a small business and also enjoys singing as a hobby.
Tushar shares a very important message for all his fellow CML patients- “Always have a positive thinking. Be a fighter against any obstacles and stand by other patients dealing with this illness. Caregivers are the most important figures in helping a patient move ahead in life.”
