Sumitra Experience

I am a breast cancer survivor from Faridkot, Punjab. I was first diagnosed with a suspicious lesion in my right breast in 2005 and at the same time my operation was done at a local hospital in Faridkot, but unfortunately it was an incomplete and unsuccessful incision as the lesion appears again in my breast with tenderness. Then my free mammogram was done at roko cancer camp in faridkot inside the mobile unit and it was found on mammogram film that the lesion is Birads 4, then I was recommended chemotherapy by Faridkot Medical College and after some days my surgery was performed. Now I am on regular Doctor counseling. Roko Cancer is doing great job through it's Mobile Unit, by best wishes are with them.

Age: 65 years                       Date of mammogram: 3^rd May 2010

Manjit Kaur's Experience

I belong to kotkapura village Punjab, I am a housewife and mother of two children, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my left breast just a month ago in roko cancer camp held in my village, I am aware earlier that I have a lump in my left breast but because of misguidance I choose to take homeopathic treatment which doesn’t work out for me and aggravate my health further.

And it is when I came to know about roko cancer is organizing free cancer detection camp in my village and done my free mammogram there, which confirmed the lesion as cancer and also doctor advised me FNAC and immediately referred to Bikaner hospital for further treatment .

Now I am on regular visit to the hospital and taking chemotherapy, my lesion has decreased in size up to 75% during the treatment. I am relieved and feeling normal right now.

I want to give my hearty thanks and blessings to roko cancer campaign for their support and apt guidance.

Age: 42 years                       Date of mammogram: 10^th May 2010

Harpal Kaur's Experience

I hail from Faridkot village Punjab, was diagnosed with suspected breast lump in one of the roko cancer camp held in my village, although I have known it before the diagnosis that I got a lump in my breast which is growing day by day, but I never got the courage nor I have the awareness how to get it detected. The credit goes to the roko cancer team that they came here for the camp and my diagnosis made possible through the mammogram. Now I am taking treatment from Bikaner hospital, Rajasthan and feeling fine. Many thanks to roko cancer campaign.

Age: 62 years                       Date of Mammogram: 3^rd May 2010

Manjit Kaur's Experience

I belong to Ubha village, Punjab. I am a housewife and a mother to a 12 year old boy. A lump was discovered by the Roko cancer team during their cancer detection camp held in my village. The FNAC came out negative for cancer but a suspicious lump is there.

The lump was eventually removed at Ludhiana itself and did not need to undergo any radiotherapy.I am currently on medication and on regular Doctor monitoring for my condition.

I convey many thanks to roko cancer team for their kind support and the efforts to make women aware of the deadly disease.

Age: 35 years                        Date of Mammogram: 26th September 2009

Mohinder Kaur's Experience

I am a housewife and belong to the Jhunir Village of Punjab. I was diagnosed with a lesion and the FNAC came out positive for cancer. Since I mainly manage a farm in my village, I am not financially secure. After my diagnosis through the Roko cancer mobile unit, I underwent a mastectomy which led to radiotherapy, since then I am absolutely sound and feeling healthy and fearless for cancer. 

I have monthly check-ups and follow-ups and the treatment so far has cost me Rupees 40,000.

I am thankful to Roko Cancer for my early diagnosis.

Age: 65 years                        Date of mammogram: 18th September 2009

Tej Kaur Experience

I am a house wife and mother of three children. I belong to a traditional Sikh family in the village of Ubha in Punjab. I came across the Roko Cancer bus in my village and was thus diagnosed with a BIRADS 4 (cancer) lesion in my left breast.

Following an examination after this diagnosis, I was operated in a hospital near Bathinda called Bikaner Hospital. I now visit a doctor regularly and total treatment costs me 7,000 – 8,000 rupees.

I am grateful that I was treated in the initial stages of cancer. Left too late, treatment would have been so much more expensive.

Age: 60 years                        Date of Mammogram: 26th September 2009

Satwant Kaur Experience

I am a retired Deputy District Education Officer. I have been childless my whole life, after losing my 2 year daughter decades ago. I have since adopted another girl, who is now a doctor.

It happened on 9^th March 1975 when i was 41 year old, that evening  I felt a hard lump in my right breast, not wanting to delay any action, I immediately consulted a doctor in Bathinda, a family friend,and underwent a minor operation of removing that hard lump which is further sent for biopsy to DMC Ludhiana and Govt. Rajinder hospital patiala,which confirmed it  malignant. However, due to the lack of facilities at the hospital, no chemotherapy was done but radical mastectomy was done on 22^nd March 1975 and at the same time it was decided to remove my ovaries too, which was done on 2^nd April 1975.

Since then i got myself examined from dr. ajmer singh now and then and i never required any treatment as there was no reoccurence, so i am here the lucky survivor for 35 years and an encouraging example for other breast cancer patients.I have tried to be an advocate of early diagnosis in my community. I do not believe that a diagnosis of cancer has to spell the end to life. It can be a start to a new beginning where we women can take care of our own bodies and spread this message to the larger community. I have tried to be strong and courageous in the face of cancer and given my age and knowledge, I hope I have been successful. Early diagnosis can save your life.

Age: 76 years

Rekha's Experience

I had been in a car accident that had left me with bruises on my left side due to seat belt. Just after 2 weeks, I was just checking my bruises on my breast and felt a pea like cyst.

On visiting doctors, I was immediately referred to the hospital and had my surgery within 10 days, followed up with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. With no cancer history in the family, I would have never dreamed of having cancer. I would like to stress the importance of early detection and request every woman to make regular checks and take liberty to visit doctors if any doubt. I endorse the efforts of "Roko Cancer Campaign" by MKC Trust for awareness of breast cancer leading to early detection.

Tara's Experience

I came across ROKO cancer during my normal day to day routine. I had never had a mammogram before and decided to get one done because it was convenient and I was free during that afternoon. The date was 7th of July 2008. The mammogram found that I had a massive lesion in my left breast. I have undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy at AIIMS and Safdarjung hospital. The total cost of treatment has been 15,000 rupees.

I am grateful to ROKO cancer for its campaign of awareness. It is extremely important – I am a widow and have 2 daughters in laws. Both of them do regular mammograms since my diagnosis.

Age: 55 years.                          Date of Mammogram: 7th July 2008

Amritpal Kaur's Experience

Since I turned 40, I did routine breast self-exams. During the course of this, I felt a lump in my right breast and had been taking traditional treatment to dissolve it. It did not work however.

I first was made aware of the ROKO cancer campaign during its camp in Vikaspuri. I had a mammogram done and Briads 4 lesion was found in my right breast. I had it removed in October of 2008 from Agrasen Hospital.

I thank ROKO cancer for its mission to make women aware of breast cancer in India. I have since told many of my friends about it as well.

Age: 42 years.                          Date of Mammogram: 18th May 2008.

Chameli Devi's Experience

I have always known I had lumps in both my breasts. I am a widow and at 76 years of age, I did not take the lumps seriously. I was diagnosed last ear in 2008 and was advised urgent surgical consultation. I am scared of surgery and decided to take homeopathic medicine to manage my illness. The size and severity of pain has not increased since I found out my condition. I have already lived such a long life and I don’t want to feel any pain. I was told that chances of recurrence are always possible and I do not wish to take that chance at this stage in my life.

I do however have a daughter in her 50’s and because of ROKO cancer, she now routinely goes for mammogram checks and does her own self-exams as well.

Age: 76 years.                         Date of Mammogram: 10th August 2008

Gurijit Kaur's Experience

During self-examination, I could feel that I had lumps in both my breasts. Since I am only 38 years old, I never took the initiative to see a doctor.

I had come to Rajiv Gandhi to see a friend of mine at the hospital and came across the ROKO cancer bus which was conducting a camp in Rohini. I became extremely curious and had a mammogram done. I was diagnosed with non-cancerous lumps. I decided to take homeopathic medicine to treat the size and they have since reduced. It has now been 18 months since the treatment. I cannot afford surgery so decide to pursue this line of treatment till I can.

Age: 38 years. Date of Mammogram: 26th March 2008.

Renu's Experience

I had a mammogram done at one of the ROKO cancer camps because I was fairly certain that I had cancer. This is because I was aware of the lumps in my breasts for many months prior, but was too scared to have a positive mammogram result. My fear was confirmed.

The lumps in my left breast were operated upon at the Rajiv Gandhi Hospital. I am currently undergoing additional treatment from AIIMS. I have also undergone 3 sessions of chemotherapy since my diagnosis, because of which I lost all my hair.

I think awareness of breast cancer is so very important in a country like India. I am a housewife and though it is me who got cancer, the entire family suffered. ROKO cancer has provided this country with an excellent platform for women to know their bodies. They are doing very meaningful work.

Age: 41 years.                       Date of Mammogram: 29th May 2008

Paramjit Kaur's Experience

Through the mammogram conducted at a ROKO cancer camp, I was made aware of the disease growing inside me. My mammogram came back positive for cancer and when I consulted doctors after my diagnosis, I was told that I was in a fairly advanced stage of cancer. I did not even know!

I immediately got operated in October 2008 at Rajiv Gandhi cancer care and have been regularly monitoring my health ever since. I am now as healthy as I can be post my surgery. I am not afraid of cancer. I like the fact that ROKO cancer emphasizes the need for HEALTH awareness along with CANCER awareness. It is not just bout diagnosing a disease. Their message is about empowering women with knowledge about their own health. I am very thankful to this organization.

Age: 51 years.                      Date of Mammogram: 9th October 2008

Swaranjeet Kaur's Experience

I fit the classic profile of a woman in India. I was not at all aware of cancer before I attended a ROKO cancer camp in February of this year 2009. During the mammogram, my diagnosis came as positive for non-cancerous lumps in my left breast. I went through a short treatment at Rockland Hospital, which is close to my house, and have since had no problem at all. I do regularly monitor my progress now.

Without ROKO cancer, I would not have been able to get mammogram done. I have been completely unaware and uneducated about cancer before this diagnosis. Thank you

Age: 47 years.                      Date of Mammogram: 21st February 2009