Opinion
By Panayiotis Kaparis
The specter of cancer has reached even the ''semigod'' King Charles of Britain, sending shockwaves through the British populace and beyond. Once more, the belief that endless preventive measures, impeccable diets, and ideal living conditions serve as impenetrable barriers against cancer has been shattered. Unless, of course, one possesses Greek ancestry and undergoes "mutations" akin to his father, whose genetic makeup differed. While grand declarations about waging war against cancer resound throughout Europe and Cyprus, the toll of this dreadful disease continues to rise unabated.
As theories clash and contradict, oncology departments find themselves inundated with desperate patients, while the efficacy of costly medications is called into question time and again. In Cyprus, recent announcements heralded the establishment of a National Cancer Institute and the consolidation of existing Oncology Departments. While commendable, the true imperative lies in implementing substantive preventive measures and bolstering the ranks of doctors and nurses who valiantly combat this insidious malady.
According to esteemed physicians, the root cause of nearly all afflictions, particularly cancer, lies in stress, fear, and environmental pollution—be it from residual nuclear arms, vehicular emissions, or industrial pollutants. Modern-day medical practitioners echo the wisdom of Hippocrates, who espoused that a sound soul begets a healthy body. Despite Cyprus's idyllic landscapes of sea, mountain, and endless summer, bureaucratic red tape, deceit, rampant egotism, and unrelenting inquiries mar the collective soul and undermine physical well-being.
A mere few months ago, parliamentary experts revealed that for every 200 CT scans conducted, one individual succumbs, and 20 others face the specter of cancer or illness. The proliferation of CT scan facilities across Cyprus, courtesy of GESY, is marred by the precarious reliability of aging machines. Similar concerns surround the prescription medications disseminated under GESY's auspices, often accompanied by cycles of side effects.
In a bid to ease congestion, "well-paid" specialists have saturated urban thoroughfares with traffic lights and interminable right turns, inadvertently exacerbating atmospheric pollution. The prevalence of ubiquitous speed bumps, particularly near schools and residential areas, serves as a lamentable source of environmental contamination. Likewise, the trend of narrow streets forces drivers into a perpetual dance of braking and swerving, leading to potential tragedy and gridlock in the event of an accident.
Amidst this tumult, solace is found in the words of sages, who attest that those who traverse the crucible of cancer, the ordeal of modern-day martyrdom, ascend directly to paradise. Saint Porphyrios, in his wisdom, articulated that cancer often afflicts troubled souls, beset by anxiety and turmoil. Conversely, Saint Gavriilia implored believers not to question the vicissitudes of life but to seek divine enlightenment and acceptance. For in the grand tapestry of existence, all is part of a divine plan, elucidated by celestial wisdom.
[This article was translated from its Greek original]
