Doctors to decide on Humayun Ahmed soon

Dhaka, Oct 31 — Doctors have said that they will decide on the next course of action after the fifth, or perhaps the sixth chemo on Humayun Ahmed.

Diagnosed with colon cancer, the eminent writer's doctors in New York had previously said that they would be able to decide on the next course of treatment after the fourth chemotherapy session, scheduled for Nov 8. But it now appears that there won't be a decision till late November.

Currently undergoing treatment at New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, Humayun Ahmed has been responding positively to his chemo sessions and reportedly feels quite well. "But he would rather have the thorough screening after his fourth chemo," said his publisher Mazharul Islam who has been living with Humayun in a three-bedroom apartment in Jamaica, New York.

The Anyaprokash chief executive, who has been attending to the writer since he arrived there on Sep 13, told bdnews24.com on Monday that Humayun's writing had also picked up.

"I received even another write-up this morning," said Mazhar who arrived in Dhaka two days ago and is set to fly off to New York around mid-November. "I will be here till after the book fair, marking Humayun's birthday on Nov 13, and will perhaps leave after that."

Mazhar said that Humayun had also developed two plays for two television stations — one for Channel i and the other for ATN Bangla.

Humayun Ahmed's white blood cells had taken a dip, which, according to Mazhar, was apparently a side effect of chemo treatment. Ahmed had been given an injection to lift up the lymphocyte count. "He had been in a bit of a pain till yesterday because of that. But not anymore. He is doing quite well now."

The contemporary writer has already begun writing about his experiences in New York for newspapers, which Mazharul Islam said would be published as a collection in future under the title — "New York-er Neel Akashe Jhokjhoke Rodh"— which translates 'Bright sun under New York's blue sky.' The next instalment, 'No free lunch' is forthcoming in a couple of days, where the writer presumably dwells upon his brush with the typically American saying.

Mazhar estimated off the top of his head that Humayun Ahmed's treatment with the six chemo sessions has cost about $100,000 together with the doctor's fees and other charges.
From:www.bdnews24.com