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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 7 June 2020

7th June is National Cancer Survivor's Day and we celebrate 7 cancer survivors who brought a fresh perspective to life after cancer. They inspire, they explore, they celebrate, they bring hope.  

Parimal Ghosh, Cancer Awareness Crusader, War Veteran, Multiple Myeloma and Prostate Cancer 

The pain, agony and sufferings of cancer treatment that I had undergone motivated me to get involved in cancer care mission. Interactions with highly experienced cancer experts, cancer survivors and social workers helped me understand that cancer awareness is very important and will help people overcome stigma and fears attached to cancer, so they are motivated to go ahead for prevention, detection and treatment.

Vandana Gupta,  a Lymphoma cancer survivor for 26 years   

Vandana is the powerhouse behind V Care, a support group for Cancer patients in Mumbai. Her motto:

"Never Ever Give Up. I have a second chance in life and I will make it beautiful. Life becomes different and you will never be the same person you were. "

Shekhar Jha, Cancer Free for 25 years

He is passionate about Ugam, cricket and early detection of Cancer 

“Cricket is actually a medium for us to spread awareness about childhood cancer and how a child can be made totally cancer free with timely intervention and appropriate treatment,”

 

 

Rashmi Sachade, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour (GIST) 15 years ago

"I want to tell people that Cancer does not mean Cancelled. Early detection and good doctors can treat cancer easily. My aim is to remove the fear of cancer from our society. When I recite my own story, I tell people that my tumour is like a paying guest in my liver. I tell the tumour to behave and not go anywhere and in return feed it a pill every day. Laughter is a great medicine! It keeps you strong and make light of any situation." 

Tulsi Chikhal, Breast cancer survivor trekked to Everest Base Camp as a personal challenge 

I feel like I now have a purpose in life as a Breast Cancer survivor who can reach out to other patients. Additionally, I want to live my life completely, do everything I want and do it now because tomorrow may be too late.

Pranay Rangra, Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor 

  • I take care of my health more. 
  • Don't think so much and don't let things affect me as much
  • Started concentrating on the NOW. 
  • I realised I must make myself happy. Don't look outside for happiness.
  • I work with a cancer NGO
  • I write about South Africa and am planning to travel to South Africa to make a documentary.

Listen to Pranay Rangra in this webinar on how young adults adapt to new realities after cancer

 

Vibha Rani, Breast Cancer Survivor on the use of poetry and theatre as a source of inspiration and solace

"I took it all in my stride. In fact, I started the concept of Room Theatre, during this time. People got to know that I am suffering from cancer, and this is the chemotherapy phase. It is not a permanent state."