Cancer patients who lived

What is it like to battle the deadliest and the most dreaded disease, and live to tell the tale? Cancer survivors say that a “strong will for life” was their only weapon to fight the disease. On the occasion of Cancer Survivor’s day, the Vasanta Memorial Foundation Trust honoured over 300, women and children who have emerged victorious over cancer.

Tanmay Ghadi was merely two-and-half-years-old when he was diagnosed with blood cancer. As his father was working as a watchman and his mother was a domestic help, the family was afraid that they would not be able to afford his treatment. But a doctor from the hospital directed them to the trust that took care of the medical expenses of Tanmay’s cancer.

Now, Tanmay is nearly 11 years and studying at RM Bhatt School, Parel, and has not had a relapse. ‘’I enjoy going to school. My favourite subject is Maths and I want to become a pilot. I am happy that I have recovered but I still need to be careful every day,’’ he said.

Another heroic tale is of Pramila Mathur, who at the age of 72, survived breast cancer. Mathur says that life had always dealt her a heavy hand.  Just when she was recovering from the shock of having lost two daughters who were born ‘’mentally challenged’’, she found out that she had breast cancer. ‘’But I did not let it get me down. I fought back, alone and strong. And I have emerged a victor,’’ said Mathur.