Bangalore, India:
Girija, 60, who lost one of her breasts due to breast cancer, has been practising yoga for the past five years.
“If you have the will, nothing is impossible. I was overweight and could not even raise my hand. In the late 1980s, I lost a toe, and in 2003, I lost a breast to cancer. But I stood firm and have been practising yoga for five years,” Girija explained.
Stories about breast cancer survivors gave hope to participants at the `Yoga therapy awareness program organized by Pink Hope Breast Cancer Support Group, part of Healthcare Global, on Saturday. The support group is a patient-led initiative. Among the founder-members of the group, Roopa Venkatesh, a chartered accountant, has instilled courage to many persons.
“Nearly 15 years ago, my elder sister Rajini died of breast cancer at 33. She was diagnosed late. She left behind two kids, and her death shocked my parents,” Roopa said. “Then I was diagnosed for breast cancer in 2003, and I can’t afford to let my parents down. So I fought against the disease and recovered in 11 months,” she added.
Reena (name changed), a civil servant, who recovered from breast cancer after six months of intensive treatment, said every time she took chemotherapy, she suffered side-effects. “But I didn’t give up,” she added.
Treatment cost is another concern among patients. Yoga therapy consultant Ragavendra Rao said cancer is not a deadly disease. “It’s the fear of the disease that kills patients. They can reduce stress by practising yoga,” Rao said. The support group meets on the last Saturday of every month. A yoga therapy demonstration will be held on Sunday.
