Top News Desk: Today, September 22 (Thursday) is World Rose Day. Every year the day is observed as World Rose Day or Rose Day or the day for the welfare of cancer patients. The day is observed around the world in memory of Melinda Rose, a 12-year-old cancer patient from Canada. She died in 1996.
Around the world, millions of people every year are diagnosed with cancer. More than 18 million cancer cases were registered in 2020 alone. Among these reported cancers is Askins’ tumor, which Rose suffered from. It is an aggressive and rare form of blood cancer that mimics the symptoms and signs of common diseases such as tuberculosis, lymphoma, neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma and is often detected late.
When Rose was diagnosed, doctors gave her only a few weeks to live because the cancer had spread so far. She lived six months after diagnosis. During these six months Rose wrote poems, letters and talked to other cancer patients. The act of a dying 12-year-old girl inspired many other cancer patients. And so Rose Day is celebrated on September 22 every year in his memory.
On this day flowers, roses, special messages and other gifts are sent to cancer patients. Although the patients suffer more physically when they are diagnosed with cancer, the disease can affect them more psychologically. So this small gift exchange can calm him down. This day also raises awareness about cancer, raising funds for cancer research.
Edited by: Habiba Sultana
