Aastha, a self-help group, helps women with breast cancer come to terms with their condition, discovers Kaumudi Gurjar
Aastha, a self-help group, helps women with breast cancer come to terms with their condition, discovers Kaumudi GurjarAastha, which means faith in Hindi and Marathi, is a breast cancer support group comprising 150 members formed in 2002 by Dr Anil Avchat, Dr Shekhar Kulkarni and researcher Mugdha Yardi. "After one is diagnosed with cancer and soon after the chemotherapy, patients need maximum support. We meet members at their homes to counsel them, and handhold them through stages involving biopsy, operation, radiation and chemotherapy. The fact that at the end of a successful fight, the hair they lose to chemotherapy grows back, gives them the strength to fight the disease," cancer survivor and founder member Aaparna Ambike.u00a0
The group meets on the third Sunday of every month at the Nivara Old Age Home in at 4.30 pm.
Positive attitudeAarti Halbe, an Aastha trustee, said, a positive attitude went a long way in putting up an effective fight against cancer.
"In September 2005, I was diagnosed with breast cancer during an annual health checkup. My husband and two teenage children helped me cope with the shock in a big way. It also helped that retained a positive attitude, even when I went under the knife, as my doctor, Dr Shailesh Puntambekar, told us there was no need for radiation or chemotherapy," said Halbe, who says Aastha members Aaparna and Madhavi Sagade helped her at every stage of her struggle with the disease.
"Every one who has to face cancer asks 'Why Me?'.u00a0 We tell our members that Godu00a0 chose them because he believes they have the strength to face the disease," she added.
