Good health, the best deterrent to cancer

On the occasion of World Cancer Day, women who fought the disease and emerged stronger share their stories and advise everyone to get regular check-ups to stay healthy.

Whenever you are faced with a problem, say ‘this too shall pass’
A healthy mind, positive attitude and regular check-ups helped me survive cancer. Life is so beautiful, why mess it up by adding unnecessary burden? I choose my thoughts and actions. Any problems, even if they are physical, mental or family related, can be tackled only by keeping your mind clear and positive.

It is necessary for women to learn how to say no. We tend to give into every situation without thinking about ourselves. I have learnt to think for myself now. I do not compromise on any decision and do only what I feel like. This gives me immense satisfaction. I have started painting and through it I am exploring my talents.
Whenever you are faced with a problem, say to yourself ‘this too shall pass’. Live philosophically. We have to overcome the stigma and physical pain to come out and realise it was just a passing bad phase, which everyone goes through in some way or the other. By keeping this in mind, you learn to tackle everything with courage.

Rama Sivaram, director & trustee, Prashanti Cancer Care Mission

Cancer brought me closer to art; I pour my thoughts into painting
Around one-and-a-half years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. I was traumatised by the thought. However, I slowly realised that there was no use fretting over something that has already happened. I also believed it was a phase that would pass soon. This way of thinking helps you recover faster. There is much more to life that can be celebrated.

I am an artist and cancer brought me closer to my art. I started painting extensively and poured all my thoughts into my paintings. I joined a cancer awareness group and met other cancer patients. After interacting with them, I felt I am not alone. It gave me a lot of strength at a time when I was pondering over the question, ‘Why me?’ I realised that there are many like me and in fact, some with more serious conditions.

Now, when I have come out of the phase, I feel proud to have fought and survived. People should understand the situation and overcome it. Cancer is not the end of the world.
 
Rukhsana Madiwala, artist

A thorough routine check-up is the biggest precaution
During my routine check-up, I was diagnosed with cancer. I make it a point to tell everyone that a routine check-up is not only a necessity, but a cure in itself. Early detection and awareness about cancer are essential. I had never thought anything like this could happen to me. I had no pain or signs that would make me even think about cancer. In my case, early detection and immediate operation helped me cure my cancer.

However, the biggest precaution you can take is to go for a thorough routine check-up and lead a healthy life. Your way of life determines everything. Homemade Indian food is the healthiest of all. Combine that with good physical activity, which does wonders for the body and mind. Nowadays, people prefer travelling by vehicles over walking. This kind of a lifestyle adversely affects the body.

We need to educate youngsters belonging to this fast food generation. Everyone should be aware of their bodies and what they are putting into them. Above all, remain happy to keep your mind healthy.

Seema Dhillon, cancer activist

Early detection and my positive attitude helped me survive cancer
I was always regular with my check-ups. And it was during one such check-up that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Indian society is not as open-minded and it is tough talking about such issues. However, I am not the kind who would just sit and see my life go out of control. I knew it was only my attitude that could help me get through that phase. I decided not to get bogged down and feel depressed.

We called up our relatives and my husband explained everything to them. The moral support I received from my family and friends made me face everything with a smile.

Early detection and my positive attitude helped me survive cancer. My husband suggested getting counselling at the time of treatment, but I did not feel the need for it. I was my best counsellor.

Today, I feel cancer has taught me how to live. I now concentrate only on the good aspects of life; I laugh a lot, share my happiness and feel as fresh as a flower every day. More than the cancer, it is the psychological ups and downs that you need to counter. Once you learn to deal with them, fighting cancer becomes a game. I am spreading this message to other cancer patients and their families now. Being diagnosed with cancer is not the end. In fact, for me it was the beginning of looking at life in a different light.

Aartee Halbe, invitee trustee, Aastha Breast Cancer Support Group

The body gives us signals to warn us, but we neglect them
With the stressful lifestyle, pollution and various other factors, many youngsters are succumbing to chronic diseases like heart ailments and cancer. Early detection, particularly in the case of cancer, can lead to prevention. This is a philosophy we must strongly advocate through awareness campaigns. Any unusual lumps on the skin or breast, unexpected bleeding or patches on parts of the body are indicators that our body gives to warn us. However, we ignore them and postpone check-ups to another day because we are caught up in our work schedules or we are too embarrassed to talk to anyone about it.

A little care and precaution taken now can lead to prevention of diseases that may prove fatal later. Regular and healthy eating, coupled with proper exercise, reduction of tobacco and regular preventive health check-ups, can reduce the occurrence of deadly diseases through early detection. It’s time to wake up to the concept of ‘preventive health care’. ‘Prevention is better than cure’ should be replaced by ‘Early detection is better than cure’.

Kanchan Naikawadi, director, Indus Health Plus

Correcting your diet to get required nutrients is essential
Lifestyle corrections are the best preventive strategies for cancer control. While dealing with lifestyle corrections, limiting the habit of smoking and tobacco consumption in various forms is generally popularised, but there are other preventive measures like correcting your diet and nutrition intake, wherein you avoid eating fast food, packaged food items and other foodstuffs that contain preservatives, synthetic colours and anything that is non-organic.

These foodstuffs can lead to cancer of the digestive system, which includes the stomach, intestines and oesophagus.
Another suggestion I would make is to drink adequate water; it should be able to flush the system clean. Not doing so can lead to irritation in the kidney, which could develop into cancer of the kidney in the later stage of your life. Drinking alcohol while smoking is also a huge risk factor.

Environment related working conditions, like working in a factory, can be a big factor that can lead to cancer. For example, there are many women in slum areas who roll tobacco beedis. They are prone to lung cancer due to prolonged exposure to tobacco. We receive many such cases at our centre.

Indian dietary habits are simple and we are not used to the kind of fast food people consume in the West. It is always better and healthier to include high fibre, grains and green leafy vegetables in our diet.      
 
Col (retd) NS Nyayapathi, founder trustee, Care India Medical Society

Breast cancer is curable in early stages
Cancer is a leading cause for death around the world. The body gives us various signals and symptoms like persistent cough, lumps in the skin or breast, abnormal bleeding in urine or stools, change in voice and so on. These prompters indicate we should get ourselves checked.

Cervical or breast cancer are most prevalent among women. Women must take a regular PAP smear test to detect early precancerous cells. The newly launched Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is also available to protect against HPV-related diseases, one of which is cervical cancer.

Breast cancer is completely curable in its early stage if you pay a little bit of attention. My advice to women is that self-examination of breasts should be carried out regularly and in case of any abnormal lump, skin change or discharge, consult a doctor immediately. It’s highly recommended to undergo sonomammography if you are under the age of 30 or X-ray
mammography for those above 30 years.

Dr Arjan Bhatia, senior consultant radiologist

Wrong lifestyle choices are the main cause
Over 72% of cancer cases are due to wrong lifestyle choices. The maximum number of cancer cases you find in India are related to head, neck, cervix, breast and colon. The cancer of the head and neck are mainly due to habits of chewing tobacco and smoking.

Cervical cancer occurs mainly due to poor hygiene and promiscuity. Breast cancer is a result of lifestyle changes like eating junk food, late pregnancy, tendency to avoid breast feeding, no exercise and taking hormonal pills. The right way is to change our eating habits, lead a stress-free life and ensure hygiene.

Dr Minish Jain, oncologist, Ruby Hall Cancer Centre