Featuring the fighters that are combatting breast cancer with bravery

Breast cancer is a taboo subject for many around us, and the less we talk about it, the less we know. As a result, we've included two survivors below who talk about their experiences dealing with this condition.

Aarti is an ex-banker and a certified nutrition fitness consultant. A mother of two, with a personal motto that can resonate with any and every individual diagnosed with cancer and those who have survived it, “Giving up is not an option as Cancer is only going to be a chapter in my life, not the whole story.” She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in August 2020 and is currently undergoing treatment. The beauty of Aarti’s story is that she walks the talk. With an active social life, fitness expert, and a Mrs. Universe Middle East First Runner-up title, she is living her life on her own terms. “Women, in general, shy away to talk about health issues so battling a serious illness like cancer can be especially daunting as it affects you in every way you can imagine- physically, mentally, emotionally!” says Aarti. Knowing the problem is half of the solution. With that in mind, Aarti helps fellow women undergoing treatment fight, both physically and mentally through fitness against cancer. By doing so, she forges a connection with fellow women to build a network that supports each other. To her, a quote by Melinda Gates does justice to what it means by being a strong woman - A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. By enabling her friends and others who are cancer patients and survivors to feel safe and comfortable to talk and share about their health, journey, and most importantly the side effects of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Accepting hair loss and mental deterioration are problems that must be faced with hope, courage, and inspiration to fight them head-on. For Aarti, the best thing that anyone can do is to enable collaboration between women to build a community based on love and trust, to ensure that no one is alone in this fight against breast cancer.