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

Basic Cancer Terms

1. Acute: Refers to symptoms that start and worsen quickly but do not last over a long period of time
2. Benign: Refers to a tumor that is not cancerous. The tumor does not usually invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body.
3. Biopsy: The removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. Other tests can suggest that cancer is present, but only a biopsy can make a definite diagnosis. 
4. Bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue found in the center of large bones where blood cells are formed
5. Cancer: A group of more than 100 different diseases that can begin almost anywhere in the body; characterized by abnormal cell growth and the ability to invade nearby tissues. 
6. Carcinoma: Cancer that starts in skin or tissues that line the inside or cover the outside of internal organs
7. Cells: The basic units that make up the human body
8. Chemoprevention: The use of natural, synthetic (made in a laboratory), or biologic (from a living source) substances to reverse, slow down, or prevent the development of cancer. .
9. Chemotherapy: The use of drugs to kill cancer cells. 
10. Chronic: Refers to a disease or condition that persists, often slowly, over a long period of time.
11. Imaging test: A procedure that creates pictures of internal body parts, tissues, or organs to make a diagnosis, plan treatment, check whether treatment is working, or observe a disease over time
12. In situ: In place. Refers to cancer that has not spread to nearby tissue (also called non-invasive cancer).
13. Invasive cancer: Cancer that has spread outside the layer of tissue in which it started and has the potential to grow into other tissues or parts of the body (also called infiltrating cancer)
14. Laboratory test: A procedure that evaluates a sample of blood, urine, or other substance from the body to make a diagnosis, plan treatment, check whether treatment is working, or observe a disease over time
15. Leukemia: A cancer of the blood. Leukemia begins when normal white blood cells change and grow uncontrollably. 
16. Localized cancer: Cancer that is confined to the area where it started and has not spread to other parts of the body
17. Lymph nodes: Tiny, bean-shaped organs that help fight infection, which is a part of the lymphatic system
18. Lymphatic system: A network of small vessels, ducts, and organs that carry fluid to and from the bloodstream and body tissues. Through the lymphatic system, cancer can spread to other parts of the body.
19. Lymphoma: A cancer of the lymphatic system. Lymphoma begins when cells in the lymph system change and grow uncontrollably and may form a tumor.
20. Malignant: Refers to a tumor that is cancerous. It may invade nearby healthy tissue or spread to other parts of the body.Mass: A lump in the body
21. Metastasis: The spread of cancer from the place where the cancer began to another part of the body; cancer cells can break away from the primary tumor and travel through the blood or the lymphatic system to the lymph nodes, brain, lungs, bones, liver, or other organs.
22. Oncologist: A doctor who specializes in treating people with cancer. The five main types of oncologists are medical, surgical, radiation, gynecologic, and pediatric oncologists. 
23. Oncology: The study of cancer
24. Pathologist: A doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease
25. Polyp: A growth of normal tissue that usually sticks out from the lining of an organ, such as the colon
26. Precancerous: Refers to cells that have the potential to become cancerous. Also called pre-malignant.
27. Predisposition: A tendency to develop a disease that can be triggered under certain conditions. For example, a genetic predisposition to cancer increases a person's risk of developing cancer, it is not certain that the person will develop it.
28. Primary cancer: Describes the original cancer 
29. Prognosis: Chance of recovery; a prediction of the outcome of a disease. 
30. Sarcoma: A cancer that develops in the tissues that support and connect the body, such as fat and muscle. 
31. Screening: The process of checking whether a person has a disease or has an increased chance of developing a disease when the person has no symptoms
32. Secondary cancer: Describes either a new primary cancer (a different type of cancer) that develops after treatment for the first type of cancer, or cancer that has spread to other parts of the body from the place where it started (see metastasis, above)Stage: A way of describing cancer, such as where it is located, whether or where it has spread, and whether it is affecting the functions of other organs in the body. 
33. Tumor: A mass formed when normal cells begin to change and grow uncontrollably. A tumor can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous, meaning it can spread to other parts of the body).

For further reference Visit - http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/cancer-basics/basic-cancer-terms

and www.yoddhas.com 

Yoddhas Publications

In our quest to create a community for cancer fighters, we have received the support and attention of some news channels, organisations etc. Here are the links to some of the appearances made by Yoddhas in the media:

Yoddhas- Who we are and what we do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RdnlnGSEus
(There are a few more videos on the youtube channel)

Links to the write up on the inception of Yoddhas and it's journey thus far that featured in the 
Times of India: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Techies-cyber-battle-with-cancer-wins-UN-prize/articleshow/44936370.cms
http://www.indianfrontliners.com/article/16618-techies-cyber-battle-with-cancer-wins-un-prize/82-notice-board

AAJ TAK:
Did a feature on how Yoddhas has fostered a community for cancer fighters and survivors. Here is the link(in hindi):                                                                                           
http://bit.ly/RahulAajTak                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                   

Next100.org 
is a website that celebrates 100 extraordinary men and women across the globe. They published a story on the founder of Yoddhas, Rahul Yadav two months ago. Read the story by clicking on the link below:
http://bit.ly/rahul100


CNN IBN's Citizen Journalist Show: 
Gives the quintessential aam admis of our country the platform to put forth their stories. On the 22-23 of Novembe,2014, CNN IBN's citizen journalist was Rahul Yadav.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRMVikA6yEw
http://cj.ibnlive.in.com/yoddhas-battle/41019/

Causes.com 
is a website that helps citizens discover, support and organize campaigns, fundraisers, and petitions around the issues that impact them and their communities. Below is the link for the coverage on Yoddhas on this website:
https://www.causes.com/posts/931381

Indiegogo.com 
helps social entrepreneurs raise funds for their cause. You can start a campaign and activate your community through this website. To support yoddhas please visit this page.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/fight-against-cancer-help-and-support-rahul-yadav

Here are some pictures taken at the 
Berlin Entrepreneurship Summit 2014 (Google Share drive):
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B8r0aur626FHeEJJTW0zNDNCWjQ&usp=sharing


The Entrepreneurship Competition held by the UNESCO 
aims at encouraging ideas that make the world a better place. You can express your support for Yoddhas by voting for our initiative on the following web page:
http://bit.ly/yoddhas
https://www.youth-competition.org/groups/entrepreneurship-competition-2013/contests/1/449/


Feel connected to Rahul Yadav via his blog:
http://rahulyadavpark.wordpress.com/


Blogs from Symbiosis Institute of Management Pune.
http://thesimswayoflife.wordpress.com/author/simspune/

Additional links: http://www.pinterest.com/rahulyadavpark/motivations-yoddhas/
http://community.blrstartups.com/u/38572/
http://www.careerride.com/current-affairs-on-awards.aspx
https://showyou.com/v/y-YJ-MCNW3oeI/yoddhas-the-warriors-fight-cancer
http://www.yourepeat.com/watch/?v=kxJ-kISvVs8

Express Yourself!!

What to help. What to express your view point. Want to inspire someone.

Feel free to send us a blog and we would post it here and also spread it around.

Suggested topics:

1. Cancer Information
2. Cancer Patient/ Caregiver/ family experiences and stories
3. Health tips and suggestions regarding Healthy Living
4. Myths and beliefs and Inspirations
5. Artworks related to Yoddhas - The Warriors

Even if you have any other topic in mind, just send it across.

Send an article:

You can send an article at: teamyoddhas@gmail.com

Requirements:

• No Word limit- But a single page is easy to read.
• It can be an anonymous blog (just mention it in the mail) 
• Else: 
• A small bio of yours
• Link to your blog, webpage or online presence
• A picture of yours that would go along with the article

Our Part:

We shall work on a relevant visual for your article at our end, give your article due credits and circulate it on-line so that the idea reaches out to more number of people.

You are free to link the article to your personal blog/webpage.

- Teamyoddhas

www.yoddhas.com