Surviving Cancer

Till one evening, four years ago, I meet Esther, wearing a cap at a rakish angle. In response to my 8216;how are you?8217;, she replies matter-of-factly, 8216;8216;I have cervical cancer in the third stage8217;8217;.

She is in the midst of radiation and chemotherapy and has lost all her hair but not her spirit. It is then that I truly get to know this brave and generous woman, who not only undergoes her treatment with a smile but carries on with her life with a touching faith in God and life. She reaches out to cancer patients, helps organise the Terry Fox run where the proceeds go to children suffering from the disease and instead of wallowing in self-pity, spreads joy and hope.

Slowly, her lustrous hair returns and her health is restored. A true cancer-survivor? Not really! A cancer-winner. How did she do it? What advice does she give those who call her and there are thousands who do? Here8217;s an attempt to encapsulate what she has to share:

8216;8216;When I took the biopsy report to my doctor, he said 8216;Esther what have you done to yourself?8217; It occurred to me that if I had done it to myself, then I could undo it too.8217;8217; So Esther systematically went about looking after her mind and body took chemotherapy and Brachi8217;s treatment under Dr Katy Dinshaw, ate properly and exercised.

8216;8216;I always explain that cancer is not a killer disease and that the cure lies in your own mind, I have experienced it, so I say this with total confidence,8217;8217; she says. Esther firmly believes that one shouldn8217;t harbour any negativity and that resentment and anger are the worst emotions. 8216;8216;Most importantly, I believed that I was well8217;8217;.

Meditation and yoga also help. 8216;8216;The most important thing is to continue your normal life and not make the disease the focus,8217;8217; Esther points out. She made sure that she took her chemotherapy appointments in such a way that they didn8217;t interfere with her aerobics class where she still teaches or her lunches with her girlfriends or her cooking.

8216;8216;I never did eat too many fruits and veggies before,8217;8217; she admits frankly, 8216;8216;but now I love them and I believe that brightly-coloured fruits watermelons, papayas really helped me.8217;8217;

8216;8216;If you are ill, then please do not fall into the trap of soothsayers and godmen,8217;8217; Esther cautions. 8216;8216;That is the worst thing to do to yourself.8217;8217;

She never second-guessed her doctors, trusted them and, most importantly, realised that the 8216;8216;trauma is in one8217;s own mind and so is the healing.8217;8217;

She continues to teach aerobics and manage her life with aplomb and sensitivity. She is always there to give a helping hand. 8216;8216;It8217;s so sad how lonely people are,8217;8217; she points out. 8216;8216;Sometimes all they need is to talk to someone and I am always there,8217;8217; she smiles.

Is it any wonder that all her mail is delivered to her even when it is only marked 8216;8216;Esther Daswani, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.8217;8217;