Padman Karamil

I was a carer for my wife, Rathi, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in mid-2014 until she reached remission in early 2015. I continued to support my wife during her after-cancer-care including treatment for lymphoedema and diabetes.

My special interest is how the Hindu religious practices and beliefs bear influence in Hindu’s approach to their health and well-being, and also divergent approaches to palliative care, including restrictive/unacceptability of medicinal use in palliative care. 

I am hopeful that by raising this aspect with the IMPACCT team it would appropriately include those aspects in their policy development and implementation.

As a consumer representative with IMPACCT I have contributed to the research by putting forward the cultural and traditional perspectives from a Hindu religious perspective and also a broad multicultural perspective gained from being associated with organisations like Ethnic Communities Council, Hindu Education and Cultural Centre, Sydney Malayalee Association, United Indian Association, the Lions Club of Sydney Indian and Gandhi Peace Centre Australia.

I am currently being treated for prostate cancer and my exposure to the NSW Health system as well as experience of being engaged with IMPACCT, Cancer Institute, Breast Cancer Foundation, and Cancer Voices has helped me immensely in navigating through various options, for example, surgery vs radiation, incontinence, and pain management. I understand that my cancer was detected early enough since I had been monitoring my PSA every six months, which highlights the importance of regular monitoring from the experience gained mainly as a carer and consumer representative. 

I believe that the IMPACCT team is pioneering post-doctoral research activities focused on improved quality of life for severely impacted patients and that they consider consumers input valuable. My biggest learning from being involved with IMPACCT is understanding the patience and empathy required while dealing with unimaginably difficult and sensitive situations.