5 REASONS THAT CURB PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT CANCER AND 5 TIPS TO OVERCOME THEM!

Every 1 in 10 cancer patients feel reluctant in talking about cancer and related symptoms which can be stern most of the time. Here are reason and tips so that there is a good way to bring in confidence and be the one you want to be!

       WHY NOT TALKING ABOUT CANCER? 

• People expect that they are never getting this disease 

Most of the people in the world think that they are the last ones to procure this disease.  In the gender category of men, almost a quarter of men have never told to their relative or a friend about the cancer in them 

• The word Cancer is believed to be a ‘Taboo’

Even in the 21^st century taboo still exists and one of taboos would be cancer (which is a myth) and when they are diagnosed with the disease, they tend to freak out because they think they are ‘unclean’.

• It is my body and what happens to it is my business

      This attitude might bring in the selfish element whereas in reality it results in depression. There is a no-use-talking-to-anyone feeling that gives birth in some people because everyone around them seems useless to them.

• Fear of being isolated

      Most of the cancer patients do not talk to others about cancer because they fear that they would never be understood instead be judged.     
  

• Fear of posing as a sympathy figure in the society

There is always a fear that they would be figured as a sympathy symbol and that he or she will not be able to lead a normal life ahead.

WHY IS THERE A NEED TO TALK ABOUT CANCER?

1.       None of us are immune to cancer

There wouldn’t be anyone who is completely immune to the disease and accepting that fact would bring a confidence and positivity.

2.       Talk about it and the taboo will be diluted

Only by opening up a dialogue can the taboo surrounding it be diluted and can get more people will feel like talking more about and be aware of those facts.

3.       Everyone will help you, just give it a try!

Talk to the people who you trust and believe in (can also be someone who is in the same state) .

4.       Need not always be a hero

Even when people look up to you as a hero, there can be times when you have to remove the mask of being a hero and let your feelings flow. Be who you are because sometimes we all need a support and be proud to accept it!

5.       Ignorance is never bliss!

Ignoring symptoms will not help you in any way; it can only push you down. Talk about symptoms and how you feel every day.

Silence always comes in with fear and being a hero is not to be silent but talking about it and bringing up a change. It doesn’t matter if you don’t talk…..but imagine if your one talk can make even a small difference…..it will even save a life…BE THE CHANGE!

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Author: Shruti Manmadhan Nair                                         Co-authored by Rahul Yadav

                                         

AN EARLY DIAGNOSE CAN BE AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE

A swollen feet and a bulging tummy...that’s how I remember my uncle during his last stages of cancer as. “ I am not hungry anymore, its hard to walk for a long time and I don’t know why”, my kaka (uncle) would say with a fear in his eyes and a stammer in his speech.

It was 2 years ago when my uncle passed away due to ‘ignorant cancer’ and that’s what I would love to call it as. My mother and I would tell maushi(aunty) and kaka to check out with a doctor and diagnose the problem as soon as possible.  Both would reply negatively and carry on with their lives monotonously.  Since my mother is a paramedic, she would understand certain symptoms that were giving birth on my kaka’s body. A know- it-all kaka would not bother on such “small symptoms” as he ‘feels’ active while he is not. The sudden weight deterioration would catch hold of my attention and I would try convincing on the same but stayed adamant on his decision of ignoring it.

Later, a blood vomit made it all obvious about the whole scenario of cancer and the stages. He was diagnosed with third stage liver cirrhosis and some days to live on it. A storm of confusion and fear struck the whole family even then there was hope that someone would carry the situation up and everything would be fine. Chemotherapy was out of the remedy list we had.

The hope shattered in a few weeks when he was bed ridden for a couple of days. There was very little expectation on his survival and was just a result of a late diagnose that had crawled into the dooms day. Doctors had to clean their hands off from the situation when a helpless hurricane struck in. We had to just wait for him to die and not try to get any help on his survival when early diagnose could have been an angel in disguise for him rather than letting the cancer grow on his body. I couldn’t force him much because he was the Mr. Know-it-all to me and it was hard to digest the fact that something unknown had grabbed him from me.

Early diagnose is a necessary factor as it would be a real life saver element to every cancer patient. No one knows what can kill us and being over confident over it cannot mend things up. There are certain things that are out of our box of knowledge and we should be alert enough to know what is going on in our body. Google and Quora may not be the answer to everything and it is a necessity to see a doctor in certain intervals. The cells in our body may not act the way we want and that may not be a result of drinking or eating something. It is also not necessary that an alcoholic or a drug addict falls prey to Cirrhosis. It maybe a luck in game for anyone and there are no final destination ghosts playing on us. Cells and tissues may not be in favor of us and we should accept the fact. Kaka wouldn’t have even thought of such diseases till he was a victim himself. Knowledge may not help us to such an extent because it can sometimes blindfold us to the unknown and that was exactly what had happened to my uncle. Knowing the symptoms can help us tackle the disease much faster and safer than others knowing about our diseases apart from us.

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 

Lastly,

Praise the Yoddhas; Support the Yoddhas ; Love the Yoddhas!

Cheers!

Author: Shruti Manmadhan Nair

EVERYDAY HEROES: MRS. VANDANA MEHTA

Cancer is a taboo in itself. A positive outlook and a never give up mentality can bring back any individual from the clutches of cancer to the real world once again. Mrs Vandana Mehta has proved this statement in every way possible and has emerged to be a true Yoddha.

Mrs. Vandana Mehta, a computer programming school teacher in Delhi was living her normal smooth life, balancing between work and family, raising her two sons and getting them settled. After fulfilling her responsibilities towards the society and as a mother, she set out sailing with her husband, a Merchant Marine Captain. She traveled all around the world enjoying a care free life.

Mrs. Mehta managed to maintain a good health and exercised regularly even while traveling. Being a connoisseur of health related topics herself, she was careful about her weight and diet. But fate had something else in store for her. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Faith is a very potent weapon they say, which helped her become a YODDHA.

She went through 6 months of aggressive chemotherapy and was very particular about the weekly doses. She practiced yoga throughout the therapy to manage stress as it was building up due to hair loss and Neurotherapy in her feet. The fear of death was no less to deal with since even the doctors had admitted that there was no cure.

The love and support of her family was like a glowing lamp in darkness, which helped her pass through this phase of her life. Also, reading spiritual books and faith in God kept her strong and motivated.
Today she is more self-aware. She says “My level of self-awareness medically and spiritually has increased by leaps and bounds”.

However, she often finds herself mentally preoccupied with the alternative solutions to her quest against cancer.
Although Cancer has taken away the carefree attitude from Mrs. Mehta, it has given her life a new direction.
She has discovered her love for nature and has become much more peaceful.
Small things make her happy and she has learnt to be grateful for everything.

It’s true that the best lessons can be learnt from the worst situations.
Mrs. Mehta has started believing in the unknown and feels closer to God.
She doesn’t feel the need to judge people instead she wishes to help those who are going through the same condition.

Mrs. Vandana Mehta, through her struggle has shown how positively, affectionately and spiritually a person can overcome any obstacle in life.

Your motivation and positive outlook is sure an inspiration to many, you are a true YODDHA...

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 

Lastly,

Praise the Yoddhas; Support the Yoddhas ; Love the Yoddhas!

Cheers!

Author - Vaibhavi Kardale

Engineering student at VIT,Pune.Yoddhas Ambassador at Yoddhas - Indians Fighting Against Cancer

EVERYDAY HEROES : Pranjali Pande.

The word cancer itself gives us goosebumps. But when cancer casts Its dark shadow, there are few courageous people with warrior spirits who leave everyone awestruck. 

One such warrior is  Mrs Pranjali Pande, a very simple Indian housewife and a motherly figure. She thought her life would pass off as a mediocre, like most of others. But after what she has had to endure, having contracted cancer a couple of years back, she has emerged strong. 

With a very positive attitude she considers this life as her second birth and that God has a bigger plan for her. She is now living life to the fullest, fighting, winning and relishing every moment. She no longer has the urge to ask God 'Why me? ' .

Mrs.Pande who got married at an early age was always an art enthusiast and an avid reader. Currently , pursuing her masters in Sanskrit for the love of the language, she dreams of teaching it in a professional course. 

She also counsels cancer patients and lights in them the hope of a new beginning on recovery.
She serves as an inspiration not only to cancer patients but to everyone around her.

We salute you Mrs. Pranjali , you are a true Yoddha !

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 

Lastly,

Praise the Yoddhas; Support the Yoddhas ; Love the Yoddhas!

Cheers!

Author - Vaibhavi Kardale, 
Yoddhas Ambassador at Yoddhas - Indians Fighting Against Cancer