‘Cancer was like a blessing’
CANCER SURVIVOR DEVIEKA BHOJWANI SET UP WOMEN’S CANCER INITIATIVE A DECADE AGO, AND HAS BEEN RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION OF THE ILLNESS EVER SINCE
Iwas diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. When I received the diagnosis — thanks to a chance mammogram — I was in complete shock. I had no previous experience with any serious health problems. The initial feeling was one of complete devastation — I couldn’t understand why and how this was happening to me. But even then, I realised that I was lucky that the cancer had been detected in its early stages and could be treated immediately.
I began to feel that the cancer was like a blessing: It made me recognise my priorities, it strengthened my relationships and I started taking my health more seriously. I found I had the courage to approach life’s challenges positively. Deepak Chopra (who is a dear friend) guided me through those dark days. I learnt meditation with him. It grounded me, brought me peace, answered so many questions. With meditation, you gain a better understanding of your existence, and I began to find so much more clarity and purpose in my life. Meditation strengthened the connection I felt with a Higher Power.
My mother-in-law is a great believer in (and practitioner of) homeopathy and this is something that helped a lot with the side effects of my radiation treatment. I also consulted a nutritionist who recommended lots of fresh fruits and juices to build up my immunity. Another person who was a great source of strength and healing was my reiki teacher. Reiki helped in balancing my chakras and I found I grew more intuitive and in sync with nature. Of course, while I’m great believer in alternative healing, I also believe in the scientifically
It made me recognise my priorities, strengthened my relationships and I started taking my health more seriously
proven success of modern medicine in the case of a serious health problem. When I shared my story with a magazine, so many women responded, that I knew I wanted to reach out to them, help them in any way I could.
It has now been a decade since Women’s Cancer Initiative was set up (in 2003). Our objective was to create awareness about the importance of regular check ups for women so that cancer can be detected, and treated, early. The foundation also raises funds — courtesy our generous donors — to help those women who can’t afford the high cost of treatment. Over the last decade, the foundation has paid for the treatment of thousands of women.
When I interact with these women and their families at our monthly support group meetings at the Tata Memorial Hospital, I feel humbled by their stories. It gives me the strength to work harder. With events like the Lavasa Women’s Drive and the Pinkathon, we have been able to get across the importance of early detection to so many women. The road ahead entails more awareness and detection events and camps all over Mumbai and Maharashtra. I have a dream of reaching women in even the remotest villages of Maharashtra — many of whom haven’t had the chance to be checked by a doctor, ever — with cancer awareness and detection camps. As told
to Rohini Nair