Following are the hospitals where mammography tests can be done:
In Mumbai
P D Hinduja Hospital, Mahim: Phones: 24451515, 24449199, 24452222, 24447000
Lilavati Hospital, Bandra: Phone: 26421111
N M Medical, Mulund: Phone: 43427777
In Bengaluru
N M Medical, Bengaluru: Phone 40466464
Passages has a breast cancer helpline in Mumbai: 98202 00300
Please let me know of hospitals in other cities that have this test.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Pink ribbon
I made my first pink ribbon four years ago and wore it through October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month in many countries. Then I began to wear one through October every year.
The reactions I get from people are surprising.
“What is this for? Is it some kind of an AIDS thing?”
Me: “No. The red ribbon stands for AIDS. This is the symbol for breast cancer awareness.”
“Can men wear it?”
Me: Of course, if they want to support the cause, they can. And yes, men can also get breast cancer.
“Okay, but why are you wearing it?”
Me: It’s my personal campaign against breast cancer.
“Does it work, wearing the ribbon?”
But this time a colleague said, “Well, you asked her and she told you about the disease, didn’t she? Now you know.”
But some such reactions only remind me time and again, that much more awareness is needed.
It was in the early 90s that it was decided the pink ribbon would be the symbol of breast cancer. In 1991 the Komen Foundation distributed them at a race. The Estee Lauder company is also said to have had a say in deciding
on the colour of the ribbon.
Over time, the colour pink has come to symbolize breast cancer. Some organizations sell pink merchandise like T shirts to help raise money for research. As the writer of My breast cancer blog at cancerspot.org says, anything pink that reminds you of breast cancer and makes you go in for a check up.
In the USA and the UK, people organize pink days at office. This means they wear something pink to work. Prizes are given to the person who wears most pink, for instance, and the money is given for research. What a simple and beautiful idea.
We Indians love to celebrate our ‘days’. From friendship day, to rose day, to jeans day. We’ve loved to participate in such days through our college years and even later, at work. So why not have a pink ribbon day? You could ask your colleagues and boss if everyone could wear a pink ribbon to office one day. You could ask your gym instructor to wear a pink ribbon. You could ask your group of friends to wear pink ribbons. Tell people about the pink ribbon and its cause. The more pink ribbons worn, the more the awareness created. It is only when people know the reason behind a ribbon will they start to think of it, and go for a check up themselves and tell a loved one about the need to go for a check up for breast cancer. You could also give a certain amount of money contributed by each person who wears the ribbon, to a breast cancer related cause.
And one doesn’t need to wait for October to wear a pink ribbon.
Wear a pink ribbon, and write to me about your experience.
The reactions I get from people are surprising.
“What is this for? Is it some kind of an AIDS thing?”
Me: “No. The red ribbon stands for AIDS. This is the symbol for breast cancer awareness.”
“Can men wear it?”
Me: Of course, if they want to support the cause, they can. And yes, men can also get breast cancer.
“Okay, but why are you wearing it?”
Me: It’s my personal campaign against breast cancer.
“Does it work, wearing the ribbon?”
But this time a colleague said, “Well, you asked her and she told you about the disease, didn’t she? Now you know.”
But some such reactions only remind me time and again, that much more awareness is needed.
It was in the early 90s that it was decided the pink ribbon would be the symbol of breast cancer. In 1991 the Komen Foundation distributed them at a race. The Estee Lauder company is also said to have had a say in deciding
on the colour of the ribbon.
Over time, the colour pink has come to symbolize breast cancer. Some organizations sell pink merchandise like T shirts to help raise money for research. As the writer of My breast cancer blog at cancerspot.org says, anything pink that reminds you of breast cancer and makes you go in for a check up.
In the USA and the UK, people organize pink days at office. This means they wear something pink to work. Prizes are given to the person who wears most pink, for instance, and the money is given for research. What a simple and beautiful idea.
We Indians love to celebrate our ‘days’. From friendship day, to rose day, to jeans day. We’ve loved to participate in such days through our college years and even later, at work. So why not have a pink ribbon day? You could ask your colleagues and boss if everyone could wear a pink ribbon to office one day. You could ask your gym instructor to wear a pink ribbon. You could ask your group of friends to wear pink ribbons. Tell people about the pink ribbon and its cause. The more pink ribbons worn, the more the awareness created. It is only when people know the reason behind a ribbon will they start to think of it, and go for a check up themselves and tell a loved one about the need to go for a check up for breast cancer. You could also give a certain amount of money contributed by each person who wears the ribbon, to a breast cancer related cause.
And one doesn’t need to wait for October to wear a pink ribbon.
Wear a pink ribbon, and write to me about your experience.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Pink October
It is October 1 today. In many countries, October is observed as the Month of Breast Cancer Awareness. Many events are held this month, to make people aware of the disease.
Some organizations hold events like pink ribbon breakfasts or dinners to raise money for research. Many monuments and buildings are light up in pink lights, after a campaign started by Estee Lauder. These include the Eiffel Tower, the White House, the Sydney Opera House and even the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers hotel in India. The pink ribbon is the internationally recognized symbol for breast cancer. It is also worn in memory of those who lost their lives due to complications from this disease.
Some years ago, the company that does Post-its, created pink ones for the cause. The money from the sale of those post-its went to research.
Some well known companies like Avon and Reebok hold special sales and races to raise money for research.
This year too, many events are being held across the world. But perhaps being in the newspaper business, what I think is most significant is what The Herald News is doing. The Herald News has been printed on pink newsprint on October 1. The newspaper and its owners GateHouse Media New England, together with the American Cancer Society and We Got Soccer, will “paint the town pink,” to help raise awareness for breast cancer. It will also focus on locals affected by the disease and feature new developments in research. They will donate 10 cents from each pink newspaper sold, to the American Cancer Society.
In India too, a few organizations hold events to create awareness about this disease. The incidence of breast cancer in India is expected to increase by over 200 % by the year 2020. On October 2, over 75 women are getting behind the wheel at the Women’s Car Rally 2009, in support of The Forum for Breast Cancer Protection, and NGO. Fleximoms is supporting the event. The rally will be from Delhi to Agra.
On October 4, there is a walk in Chennai, ‘One Walk One Hope,’ to express solidarity with patients but also to raise awareness.
Everything to make women aware and go for that mammogram and physical examination.
Statistics: epassages.org
Some organizations hold events like pink ribbon breakfasts or dinners to raise money for research. Many monuments and buildings are light up in pink lights, after a campaign started by Estee Lauder. These include the Eiffel Tower, the White House, the Sydney Opera House and even the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers hotel in India. The pink ribbon is the internationally recognized symbol for breast cancer. It is also worn in memory of those who lost their lives due to complications from this disease.
Some years ago, the company that does Post-its, created pink ones for the cause. The money from the sale of those post-its went to research.
Some well known companies like Avon and Reebok hold special sales and races to raise money for research.
This year too, many events are being held across the world. But perhaps being in the newspaper business, what I think is most significant is what The Herald News is doing. The Herald News has been printed on pink newsprint on October 1. The newspaper and its owners GateHouse Media New England, together with the American Cancer Society and We Got Soccer, will “paint the town pink,” to help raise awareness for breast cancer. It will also focus on locals affected by the disease and feature new developments in research. They will donate 10 cents from each pink newspaper sold, to the American Cancer Society.
In India too, a few organizations hold events to create awareness about this disease. The incidence of breast cancer in India is expected to increase by over 200 % by the year 2020. On October 2, over 75 women are getting behind the wheel at the Women’s Car Rally 2009, in support of The Forum for Breast Cancer Protection, and NGO. Fleximoms is supporting the event. The rally will be from Delhi to Agra.
On October 4, there is a walk in Chennai, ‘One Walk One Hope,’ to express solidarity with patients but also to raise awareness.
Everything to make women aware and go for that mammogram and physical examination.
Statistics: epassages.org
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Nancy Brinker
A few days before my sister passed away, I would maddeningly search the Internet. I was looking for a cure. But looking back, it was more than that. Perhaps it was hope that I was looking for. Or something that would offer assurance or consolation. That is when I came across the site of the Komen Foundation. It is now Susan G Komen for the Cure.
Nancy Brinker started it in memory of her sister Susan, who died of complications from breast cancer. It is the largest private donor in the US for research into a cure for breast cancer. One of the ways they raise funds is through the Race for the Cure. What struck me was how similar our stories were, though 20 years apart.
Since that day, I have followed its work. I was fortunate to meet Nancy last October when she came to the Tata Memorial Hospital for a seminar.
Nancy has worked tirelessly for more than 25 years to raise funds to find a cure for this disease. She started Komen as a promise to Susan, who asked her to do everything in her power to find a cure.
Today, many organizations in the US raise funds for Komen. Nancy has made a difference. And she worked really hard to bring about the change. She started at a time when people in the US thought cancer was contagious. People crossed the road when they saw her sister walking. When she asked a lingerie store owner for help in creating awareness about breast cancer, she was told we don’t want our customers to think about breast cancer. We want them to buy lingerie.
She soon realized that she would have to start a movement. She said, “I realised the organisation would have to work at the grassroots level. I would have to change the culture, create a movement. I tried to hold some national events. I was appointed to the National Cancer Advisory Board. I tried very hard to learn about the subject.”
Komen not only raises money through its races, it also gives grants and awards for research. They fund the college education of students who face financial problems after having lost a parent to breast cancer. They have also created a postal stamp, funds from which are given for research.
I asked Nancy if she ever felt like giving up. She said, “In the first 15 years, I felt like giving up at least thrice but I had mentors who taught me a lot. My former husband was one. The first 10 years were very difficult to keep everything together. I felt perhaps I should have left it to someone more talented than me. However, my role has evolved. But I am just a messenger. It was my sister who did the work.”
Komen has raised more than $630 million for research towards finding a cure for breast cancer. Nancy is also herself a breast cancer survivor.
I am glad I was able to talk at length to Nancy. One of the things that she said made a tremendous impact on me. She said the bonus from her hard work is when someone comes up to her and says, “Oh, I participated in a race, became aware and it saved my life.” I would like to think similarly. Even if one woman above age 30 somewhere reads this blog and goes for a mammogram and a physical examination and is saved, the blog has served its purpose.
Nancy Brinker started it in memory of her sister Susan, who died of complications from breast cancer. It is the largest private donor in the US for research into a cure for breast cancer. One of the ways they raise funds is through the Race for the Cure. What struck me was how similar our stories were, though 20 years apart.
Since that day, I have followed its work. I was fortunate to meet Nancy last October when she came to the Tata Memorial Hospital for a seminar.
Nancy has worked tirelessly for more than 25 years to raise funds to find a cure for this disease. She started Komen as a promise to Susan, who asked her to do everything in her power to find a cure.
Today, many organizations in the US raise funds for Komen. Nancy has made a difference. And she worked really hard to bring about the change. She started at a time when people in the US thought cancer was contagious. People crossed the road when they saw her sister walking. When she asked a lingerie store owner for help in creating awareness about breast cancer, she was told we don’t want our customers to think about breast cancer. We want them to buy lingerie.
She soon realized that she would have to start a movement. She said, “I realised the organisation would have to work at the grassroots level. I would have to change the culture, create a movement. I tried to hold some national events. I was appointed to the National Cancer Advisory Board. I tried very hard to learn about the subject.”
Komen not only raises money through its races, it also gives grants and awards for research. They fund the college education of students who face financial problems after having lost a parent to breast cancer. They have also created a postal stamp, funds from which are given for research.
I asked Nancy if she ever felt like giving up. She said, “In the first 15 years, I felt like giving up at least thrice but I had mentors who taught me a lot. My former husband was one. The first 10 years were very difficult to keep everything together. I felt perhaps I should have left it to someone more talented than me. However, my role has evolved. But I am just a messenger. It was my sister who did the work.”
Komen has raised more than $630 million for research towards finding a cure for breast cancer. Nancy is also herself a breast cancer survivor.
I am glad I was able to talk at length to Nancy. One of the things that she said made a tremendous impact on me. She said the bonus from her hard work is when someone comes up to her and says, “Oh, I participated in a race, became aware and it saved my life.” I would like to think similarly. Even if one woman above age 30 somewhere reads this blog and goes for a mammogram and a physical examination and is saved, the blog has served its purpose.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Reading on Cancer
I have been reading a lot on breast cancer and cancer.
I read so much that I went through it all – thinking I could get it, thinking I couldn’t eat such and such and not get it, or that I could eat something and not get it, etc. Then I reached a point where no article mattered.
What you eat or not, whether you are old or young, it doesn’t matter. A perfectly healthy person like Lance Armstrong could get cancer. As recent reports show, a 103-year-old woman in Mumbai developed breast cancer, for the second time! So there’s really nothing about age also.
It’s been some time now since I stopped getting affected by journalistic articles about cancer, unless it’s about research or a new treatment.
But having seen a person I love suffer so much, there is one thing that I can say. As far as possible, one must try and lead a healthy lifestyle. There’s no need to get obsessed and eat or not eat certain kinds of food. But one should take care and not eat or drink in excess what common sense tells us could be harmful. Like alcohol, or too much fried food, or too much sugar. Along with this, one only needs to exercise a bit regularly.
Watching one’s diet and exercising is not just to avoid cancer. It will obviously help steer oneself from certain other diseases.
The bottom line is, let’s not worry. But let’s keep an eye on ourselves.
As for the articles, don’t let them get to you.
I read so much that I went through it all – thinking I could get it, thinking I couldn’t eat such and such and not get it, or that I could eat something and not get it, etc. Then I reached a point where no article mattered.
What you eat or not, whether you are old or young, it doesn’t matter. A perfectly healthy person like Lance Armstrong could get cancer. As recent reports show, a 103-year-old woman in Mumbai developed breast cancer, for the second time! So there’s really nothing about age also.
It’s been some time now since I stopped getting affected by journalistic articles about cancer, unless it’s about research or a new treatment.
But having seen a person I love suffer so much, there is one thing that I can say. As far as possible, one must try and lead a healthy lifestyle. There’s no need to get obsessed and eat or not eat certain kinds of food. But one should take care and not eat or drink in excess what common sense tells us could be harmful. Like alcohol, or too much fried food, or too much sugar. Along with this, one only needs to exercise a bit regularly.
Watching one’s diet and exercising is not just to avoid cancer. It will obviously help steer oneself from certain other diseases.
The bottom line is, let’s not worry. But let’s keep an eye on ourselves.
As for the articles, don’t let them get to you.
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