I learnt many lessons while fighting battle with cancer: Sonali Bendre

Actress Sonali Bendre addressing the gathering. Shital Teli-Ugale, Metropolitan Commissioner, NMRDA, Dr Anand Pathak, Dr Pradnya Pathak, Shailesh Joglekar look on.

Staff Reporter :

NCI celebrates one year of ‘Ayushmati’

Delivering heartfelt and inspiring talk actress Sonali Bendre shared her battle with the cancer and also told audience how she learned many lessons out of that battle. She was diagnosed with high-grade cancer two years back, in 2018. She also encouraged women from different walks of life to come forward and get screened for cancer for early detection and better prognosis. Bendre was speaking during the programme “Ayushmati”, an initiative of National Cancer Institute, for Women’s Freedom from Fear of Cancer completed its one year. A programme to mark Women’s Week in the presence renowned Hindi film actress, Sonali Bendre was held on Thursday. Sonali Bendre, shared her experience of battling cancer and her denial saying, “How can this happen to me? We all have the belief that this is not going to happen to me. But we need to understand this can happen to anybody.”

“Women feel shy, are busy with their lives, experience fear. But if you don’t get screened, you will never know. We need to understand cancer does not mean death and I am a living example of it,” pointed out Bendre. She expressed anguish over the casual approach of people and encouraged the men to send the women of their lives for the cancer screenings. Shital Teli-Ugale, Metropolitan Commissioner, NMRDA; Shailesh Joglekar, General Secretary and CEO of NCI; Dr Anand Pathak, Medical Director, Dr Pradnya Pathak, chief co-ordinator of ‘Ayushmati’ and HoD, Rehabilitation at National Cancer Institute were seated on the dais. Dr Pathak briefed upon the journey of “Ayushmati” and the data trends observed.

He impressed upon the need for cancer screening for women for early detection due to the growing prevalence of cancer among women in India. Shital Teli-Ugale, Metropolitan Commissioner, NMRDA who was present for the function as the guest of honour stated, “A complete household revolves around women and the well-being of the women determine the well-being of the family.

If we save lives of women through early detection, we are saving the complete household and all the members involved”. She encouraged the women to come forward for early detection and appreciated the efforts taken by National Cancer Institute by conducting “Ayushmati”. The programme concluded with the interaction with the ‘Ayushmatis’ where she answered question related to her personal journey, coping mechanism, nutrition, societal stigma and stress management. Women from different strata of the society in the city were present and shared their experiences on how Ayushmati has helped them and the women around them. Dr Pradnya Pathak proposed a vote of thanks.