Cancer Crusaders

They whisper hope; they reach out and they care; they8217;re empathetic and aware and they8217;re accessible to you and me. Passages is a ...

They whisper hope; they reach out and they care; they8217;re empathetic and aware and they8217;re accessible to you and me. Passages is a voluntary, non-government and non-profit organisation set up five years ago for guidance, education and support of women. Behind it are a charming doctor who is also a cancer survivor, a director of a hotel and travel agency, a social worker and a homemaker. Each of them is busy, but feels committed on issues concerning women through camps, books, medicine banks and a helpline, too.

It all began when three friends Dr Tarana Khubchandani, Kaya Sewakramani and Valerie Singhvi decided to set up Passages. Soon, 37-year-old Dr Tarana Khubchandani was diagnosed with breast cancer. 8216;8216;I was devastated and kept asking 8216;why me?8217;8217;8217; says this mother of two.



			Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women between the ages of 40 and 55 Risk factors 8226; Smoking 8226; History of breast cancer 8226; Starting menarche at an earlier age or menopause at a later age 8226; No breast-feeding history 8226; Indiscriminate use of oral contraceptives The risk is lower if 8226; You are less than 30 years 8226; Lead a healthy lifestyle Look out for 8226; A painless lump in breast or armpit 8226; A persistent rash around the nipple 8226; Bleeding or unusual discharge from the nipple 8226; A retracted nipple 8226; Any change in the skin over the breast

From her experiences both medical and emotional was born a powerful and empathetic booklet Whispering Hope translated in three languages and given away free at hospitals.

Along with Singhvi, both Sewakramani and Dr Coomi Singh make time from their work at the travel agency and social work to conduct breast cancer awareness camps across the city. 8216;8216;In India, the incidence of cancer in urban areas is one out of 30, while in the West it is one out of seven,8217;8217; points out Dr Khubchandani. One lakh new cases are detected every year and Indian women get afflicted 15 years earlier than their Western counterparts.

The Passages helpline is manned through the day , with their 8216;Medicine Bank8217; providing financial help to the needy. 8216;8216;Our camps are always full up,8217;8217; says Sewakramani. At a recently conducted camp in South Mumbai, where they taught women to self-examine, they detected problems with two women and sent them for treatment. 8216;8216;Leading a meaningful life and helping has finally made me realise 8216;why me?8217;8217;8217; says Khubchandani, laughing.

Helpline 09820200300.
Lady Ratan Tata Medical Center, Cooperage,
Mumbai- 21. Ph 22047823
http://www.epassages.org infoepassages.org