Personal Voices

Breast Cancer
Rita Banik on the left in a red dress and beige jacket with her husband on the right with a blue shirt and black jacket standing by the gate of a building and a garden in the background
I Have Actually Forgotten My Pre-cancer Life
Rita Banik, founder of RACE to Rein in Cancer has been living with cancer for more than 12 years. She reflects on her journey, the ups and downs and what keeps her going as the fear of relapse stays in the mind forever. The milestones and key…
My Motto : Live Life King Size Every Single Day
Anita Nanda, 58 who resides in Mauritius, battled breast cancer with a positive attitude, which was, of course, aided by the loving comfort of her family. She recalls those difficult days in this personal account. What was the emotion uppermost in…
Choosing a Life of Independence Over A Cure For Disability
Prof Anita Ghai, a leading disability rights activist and academic reflects on her own life, her life with polio,  rheumatic heart disease and breast cancer and her persistent struggles with undesirable societal attitudes towards…
Defeated Cancer, One Push At A Time
Shilpa Aneja, 34 is a Stage 3 breast cancer survivor from Jaipur and credits her recovery to proper maintenance of a physical exercise routine and an unbeatable attitude and positive mindset. Here, she shares her gutsy life principles, strong…
Image: A woman's left arm is visible, attached to a diagnostic machine in a hospital setting
I Cried Bitterly The Day I Lost My Hair
Dora Mukherjee went through the entire battery of tests and procedures after being detected with a Right Breast Carcinoma. She recalls her pain and anguish as well as the love she received during the critical period. The beginning with a diagnosis…
Image: Suparna, caregiver of mother with cancer in a scenic setting
Journey As A Single Caregiver To My Mother with Cancer
Suparna Mazumder has been a single caregiver for her mother who was diagnosed with metaplastic carcinoma of the ducts. She recounts her journey  – as an organizer of treatment, as a physical and mental care giver, as the only earning…
The Best Tips Come From Cancer Patients and Survivors
The Best Tips Come From People Who Have Beaten Cancer
This World Cancer Day, cancer survivors and PatientsEngage contributors share advice based on their lives experience on how best to deal with a cancer diagnosis. #WeCanICan #WorldCancerDay #WCD2018 What would you tell a person who just learned of…
When Cancer Strikes, You Find Out Who Your True Friends Are
Cancer affects and changes family and societal relationships. How are interpersonal relationships impacted when a woman is undergoing treatment for cancer? How do priorities change? We spoke to a cross section of breast cancer patients and survivors…
I Wrote a Diary and Solved Math Puzzles During My Cancer Treatment
Cancer is not a death sentence. There is no rule that says a person who has cancer will die before one who hasn’t. Nandita Muralidhar, who had breast cancer, recounts how her cheerful and positive approach eased the gloom. Cancer. The very word…