Within a span of five days, dna received over 200 entries. The heart-rending stories were inspirational at the same time, making the primary selection process extremely difficult. The stories were shortlisted based on the intensity of the ailment, resilience and contribution to the society.
Starting today, dna will be featuring 20 shortlisted stories sent by cancer survivors about their journey against the disease. Eminent jury members, including ad guru Alyque Padamsee, former DGP P S Pasricha, former national badminton champion Aparna Popat, chairperson of the Cancer Patients Aid Association Y K Sapru, chief of medicine and head of department of oncology at PD Hinduja Hospital Dr Asha Kapadia and assistant professor at the Tata Memorial Hospital Dr Jyoti Bajpai scrutinised the entries.
Within a span of five days, dna received over 200 entries. The heart-rending stories were inspirational at the same time, making the primary selection process extremely difficult. The stories were shortlisted based on the intensity of the ailment, resilience and contribution to the society.
The Winners in Life function will be held at ITC Grand Maratha hotel in Parel on February 18. The event will exclusively capture the heart-touching stories of patients, doctors, nurses and celebrity figures, who battled the life-threatening disease against all odds. The awardees will be 6 patients, 8 doctors and 3 nurses.
Name: Anita Vesuvala
Age: 61
Type: Breast cancer
Place: Mumbai
Anita's breast cancer was detected 22 years ago. The Dadar resident was shattered, but then decided to fight with a smile. In 1994, after conquering the disease, Anita decided to help other patients like her, by setting up Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic in Mazgaon's Prince Aly Khan Hospital.
"My onco-surgeon Dr Sultan Pradhan encouraged and supported me to set up this clinic, which is solely devoted to breast cancer patients. We get patients from across the country as well as abroad. Today, we are a bunch of happy volunteers who believe that when you volunteer, you give a part of yourself, your time, energy, skills and feelings," said Anita.
She added that this contribution brought her immense self-fulfillment. "We know what we are doing is like a drop in the ocean, but every drop counts. We know we have made a difference. A battle against cancer is a story of courage, strength and determination. We respect all those who have fought this battle," said Anita.
Name: Malthi Yogeshwarar
Age: 22
Type: Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML)
Place: Mumbai
Malthi's cancer was first detected at the age of 13, when she was in Class VII. Her father, a florist by profession, could not afford the costly treatment and decided to admit her to KEM hospital.
"My fight against cancer was very long. Class X-XII was a difficult period. My doctor advised me rest as there were a lot of chemotherapy sessions and I could not cope. Initially, I was in a private hospital but since my father could no longer foot my medical bills, I was admitted to the KEM hospital," said Malthi.
She added that her father started selling garlands at the temples to make some more money. "With this earning, he would provide for my medical treatment, treatment for my mother's asthma, education of my siblings, as well as other household expenses," she said.
Today, Malthi has a job and is leading a normal life. "I look back at the days gone by as stepping stones to a new life, which have given me an opportunity to feel proud of my family," she said.
Name: Rekha Dudeja (nominated by son Vishal)
Age: Not given
Type: Throat cancer
Place: Mumbai
Vishal Dudeja nominated her mother Rekha for successfully beating the disease. He said her mother had a general discomfort in the throat region, which gradually worsened so much that she was unable to swallow food or water. After a few screening tests, it was confirmed that Rekha had throat cancer.
Vishal said, "We met many doctors, because of whom my mother succeeded in beating the cancer. It is only because of their expertise, experience, faith and unconditional emotional support that my mother is with us today and we are a happy family. We feel blessed and truly humbled with God's strange ways of teaching us how life can suddenly turn bright and beautiful."
Name: Shweta Chawre
Age: 23
Type: Osteosarcoma
Place: Mumbai
Shweta Chawre can never forget the date on which she was diagnosed with cancer in her bones. "I was just 15. On September 12, 2008, doctors confirmed that I had Osteosarcoma, an aggressive type of bone cancer in the growing stage," said Shweta, who was a basketball player, sprinter and an artist. Her ambition was to become an animator but the diagnosis poured water on her dreams.
"It's hard to hear anything after the words, 'You have cancer'. It sounded like thunder to me and my family," said Shweta. Because of the cancer, she had to undergo a knee replacement surgery, a lot of chemotherapy, and 9 months of physiotherapy. Her treatment was finally completed in September 2009. "I was able to walk independently soon afterwards. In April 2011, I cleared my HSC exam with first class and in July 2014, I completed my BA in animation and visual effects. I am now an animator by profession," she said.
"Cancer can do two things to you – make you stronger or make you insane. I believe I've tasted both. But if God did this for a purpose, it's going to be pointless if I don't figure out a way to make the experience useful," added Shweta.
Name: Sangeeta Dubey
Age: Not given
Type: Breast cancer
Place: Delhi
Sangeeta Dubey's diagnosis came in while she was expecting her first child. "It was a routine check up. My gynaecologist detected a lump in my right breast and suspected malignancy. Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) were very helpful and they immediately performed a lumpectomy on me, which confirmed cancer," said Dubey.
In another blow, her in-laws boycotted her after the detection of cancer. "I delivered a boy before starting the treatment. I had no money to buy drugs. With the help of an NGO, I managed to get funds and complete my chemotherapy sessions successfully," said Sangeeta.
Her world came crashing down again after she lost her child to diarrhoea and high fever. Still, Sangeeta found strength to move on in life by helping others. She is currently working as a playroom teacher at Cancer Patients Aid Association, the NGO that helped her during the crisis. She is also working in the field of cancer management and manages a playroom for child cancer patients at AIIMS.
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