By VERDEL BISHOP Tuesday, November 3 2009

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Marcia Miranda put Baptist Health Assistant Vice President Lawrence Cole in a dancing mood as she entertained with some of her soca parang hits...

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A FEW months ago, at age 36, cancer stalked television talk show host and Executive Editor of the popular Basia Magazine, Alicia John-Powell. The mother of two fought the disease with treatment and support from friends and family and has now turned her efforts to assisting patients and other survivors of the dreaded disease, through a support network.

The Basia Survivor Network, a support group for survivors and persons diagnosed in the early stages with breast and ovarian cancer, was launched at the Savannah Lounge, Trinidad Hilton. The network, with the theme “Maintaining Happiness”, will function in conjunction with the Basia Sports Foundation and Baptist Health International Centre of Miami and will embrace a holistic, optimistic approach to fighting cancer with a wide range of services to participants including medical sponsorship, therapeutic yoga, inspirational lectures and diet consultations.

Speaking at the launch, John-Powell said never in her wildest dreams did she think she would be diagnosed with breast cancer. She read an emotional letter which was e-mailed to her by her former teacher, who lost her daughter to cancer. As John-Powell read the letter, which was an emotional account, she struggled to keep back her tears.

“That could have been me. This is why it is important to start a support network,” she said. John- Powell said when she was first diagnosed, she had two options — she could either keep her illness to herself or form a dynamic survivor network

“The Basia Support Network is not a personal agenda, neither is it something to raise funds. It is to help my sisters in the Caribbean. Before my diagnosis, I was clueless about the life cancer patients lived.

“The first few days after diagnosis were difficult for me. The best way to explain my state of mind was numb. One minute you are living a normal life and the next you are a cancer patient. That transition can be difficult for many,” John Powell said.

She said this country continues to lag behind in infrastructure and treatment in the fight against cancer. She said she could have joined any other support group, but she realised her purpose was to make a difference in the lives of other women.

“I wanted to form a dynamic survivor network that would pamper women in my country and other parts of the Caribbean, by making a difference in the way they handle diagnosis and the way they fight it,” she said.

John-Powell said the Basia Support Network will partner with other support groups such as the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society. Through the assistance of their sponsor, the Baptist Health International Centre of Miami, women will benefit from lectures from world class doctors and surgeons and a committee will be set up to screen women who are in need of reconstructive surgery but cannot afford it.

John-Powell said enrolment in the Basia Support Network is not automatic and patients and survivors will have to complete an application form for final selection.

“The Baptist Health has agreed to fund these surgeries for a specific number of women through the Basia Support Newtork,” she said

Lawrence Cole, Assistant Vice President of Baptist Health International Center of Miami described John-Powell’s initiative as a noble effort. He said apart from medical support, a patients’ mental and emotional needs are extremely important.

“Cancer is a terrible thing and breast cancer is the number one cancer in the world. Cancer is something that can be conquered by understanding our body and early detection is important. Women need to learn very early about self examination,” he said.

Soca queen, Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez, a good friend of John-Powell, lauded John-Powell’s strength in the face of her diagnosis.

“Alicia has to find time in the middle of everything she is going through to find ways to help others. Most people tend to hide their diagnosis as though it’s a shame,” Lyons-Alvarez said. The soca star said although she is not a cancer patient or a cancer survivor, she is dedicated to the cause.

John-Powell said the Basia Support Network’s weekly sessions will take the form of “happiness classes” to remove the dark cloud that comes from a cancer diagnosis.

“I am living proof that it’s not always that bad, with support and love you can win the battle and that is what the network is about,” she said.n