| Abstract: |
Presents an obituary of Aruna Tole (1939-2013). It would be hard to estimate the thousands of patients with cancer in India who benefited from Aruna Tole's remarkable commitment to improve life after cancer. At a time when the stigma against cancer was so pervasive that no rehabilitation was undertaken and patients were banished from work and often family as well, Aruna took up their cause-and showed the world the difference that one person can make. Aruna gave no thought of limiting herself to the traditional role she had been taught. She began to address the disabling effects of treatment as she encountered them in her daily work with patients-problems that were not considered within the purview of oncology care. Her optimism and cheerful outgoing personality likely also helped. She devoted her life to this cause which meant confronting barriers from all sides-economic, social, and political. But she continued with a level of purpose and concern for humanity which made her the outstanding figure in psycho-oncology and rehabilitation: respected pioneer in rehabilitation of patients with cancer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved). |
