Battling a life threatening illness like cancer is not easy for anyone. It takes tons of resilience, courage and faith to go through it and come out disease free. A few women have turned their cancer journeys into inspirational stories, with not just their healing process but their personal development too. Deccan Chronicle brings to you four real-life heroines from across the city, who not only beat cancer, but did it in style embracing every opportunity that came along.
Neerja Malik's bubbly personality and chirpy self will never let you believe that her life has been an uphill climb, leave alone be a two time cancer survivor. After a series of miscarriages in her marriage, she conceived twins with great difficulty.
So when she was diagnosed with cancer in her left breast in 1998, the first thought that came to her was the future of her children who were just 7 years old then.
"One day I felt a little bump on my left breast which grew bigger over the next few days", reminisces Neerja. Her doctor made her undergo the necessary tests. " I did not react initially. When my husband uttered the word cancer, I could not take it. It hit me hard and I broke down."
She lied to her kids through the treatment saying she had to go out of town. But the ordeal was not over with this. "In 2004, it hit my right breast too".
After her treatment in Mumbai, she came back to Chennai and started the Apollo cancer survivor group. The author of the book 'I Inspire' and now a TedX speaker, Neerja is sunshine personified. "There are 10 treasures that I have found through my journey of life which define me- love, fund and laughter, God, faith, miracles, death, acceptance, gratitude, abundance and living in the here and now".
Her infectious smile and friendly demeanor will make you warm up to her instantly. The heart of every party and face of every cancer themed marathon, today Neerja is seen at city's every important event.
"I would like to be known as a cancer conqueror and not a warrior or a survivor," laughs Neerja. "I turned the illness into an opportunity and that opened up so many avenues for me. My fear of cancer to winning it- that phase metamorphosed me into an inspirational speaker. Now I give counseling to not only the patients but their parents and caregivers too, as it is a joint effort to win a battle and for that they need to be in a happy place- physically, mentally and most importantly emotionally".
The heart of every party and face of every cancer themed marathon, today Neerja is seen at city's every important event.
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