Neelam Kumar is an author of five books, including one with Mr Khushwant Singh. Her latest book, To Cancer, With Love- My Journey of Joy (HayHouse, 2015) is India’s first humorous book on Cancer. Neelam is a Life Skills Coach, Writer, Corporate Trainer in Soft Skills and a twice -struck Cancer Survivor.
ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD
  
 Â
My name is Neelam Kumar â fighter of two breast cancers. Instead of fuming about how my immunity succumbed to your pollution-ridden air, pesticideâlaced vegetables, growth-hormones-injected poultry, I chose to shift from Victim to Victor.
As a bold, modern Bhartiya Nari, I decided to come out in the open and celebrate life. I chose to talk about the gifts cancer has given meâthick, curly hair, a perspective as vast as the ocean and my wacky sense of humor.
The latter made me write Indiaâs first humorous book on cancer, "To Cancer, With Love-My Journey of Joy" (Hay House , 2015), which readers have lapped up â joyfully.
Since cancer is no longer a death sentence, can we change our attitude towards it please? Can some brave filmmaker please change the stereotype of the powerful classic film âAnandâ, in which the sacrificing, silently suffering protagonist dies in the end? Can he/she make a joyous film on cancer? My book actually has a fun, spunky alter ego who revisits established attitudes towards cancer with her witty banter. Can we cut off the grimness around the word cancer?
Having said that, I would like to clarify that cancer cannot be simply laughed away. According to WHO, cancer is sweeping through India. An Indian dies from cancer every 50 seconds. Cancer treatment drives a quarter of Indian households into poverty. Cancer cases are predicted to double in the next 20 years. India is on the verge of a cancer epidemic.
But whereâs the awareness? Why do I hear stories of village women getting beaten by their husbands for getting "infected" by cancer, before being thrown out for a 'new' woman? Why do I see a father deciding to save his treatment money for his daughterâs dowry? Why do I not see cancer treatment becoming more affordable? Can my government please do something about this?
Dear fellow Indian women, for us, our health is our last priority. Suffering and sacrifice have long been glorified as the Indian woman's virtue. Babe, can you please drop everything and go for your cancer screening today? Early detection in breast and cervical C can save you. Stop being embarrassed about your breast and its illness! Talk about it, seek helpâboldly and selfishly. Please make yourself your first priority.
Dear Indian men (and women), India has emerged as the global capital of oral cancers. Cancer of the head and neck is a killer. There is an increase in cancers among the youth, of which 90 percent is due to tobacco and alcohol. Is a life of excess, progress?
On this Republic Day can you please determine to lay your life down not at the altar of cancer, but for your country instead?
Dear India, as a potential superpower, can you not afford to put stricter laws in place on air-pollution, food adulteration, tobacco ban etc.? Why are as many as 8,00,000 new cancer patients registered with the National Cancer Registry Programme every year? Why not identify and root out the cancer in our very system?
I dream of an aware nation in which the government joins hands with its people to reverse the trend of this rising cancer epidemic. I dream of a healthy country the world can look up to.
My India, perhaps that is the cause I have survived forâ¦.
Your Dreamy-Eyed, Joyous Cancer Survivor and Fighter,
Neelam Kumar
Â
My name is Neelam Kumar â fighter of two breast cancers. Instead of fuming about how my immunity succumbed to your pollution-ridden air, pesticideâlaced vegetables, growth-hormones-injected poultry, I chose to shift from Victim to Victor.
As a bold, modern Bhartiya Nari, I decided to come out in the open and celebrate life. I chose to talk about the gifts cancer has given meâthick, curly hair, a perspective as vast as the ocean and my wacky sense of humor.
The latter made me write Indiaâs first humorous book on cancer, "To Cancer, With Love-My Journey of Joy" (Hay House , 2015), which readers have lapped up â joyfully.
Since cancer is no longer a death sentence, can we change our attitude towards it please? Can some brave filmmaker please change the stereotype of the powerful classic film âAnandâ, in which the sacrificing, silently suffering protagonist dies in the end? Can he/she make a joyous film on cancer? My book actually has a fun, spunky alter ego who revisits established attitudes towards cancer with her witty banter. Can we cut off the grimness around the word cancer?
Having said that, I would like to clarify that cancer cannot be simply laughed away. According to WHO, cancer is sweeping through India. An Indian dies from cancer every 50 seconds. Cancer treatment drives a quarter of Indian households into poverty. Cancer cases are predicted to double in the next 20 years. India is on the verge of a cancer epidemic.
But whereâs the awareness? Why do I hear stories of village women getting beaten by their husbands for getting "infected" by cancer, before being thrown out for a 'new' woman? Why do I see a father deciding to save his treatment money for his daughterâs dowry? Why do I not see cancer treatment becoming more affordable? Can my government please do something about this?
Dear fellow Indian women, for us, our health is our last priority. Suffering and sacrifice have long been glorified as the Indian woman's virtue. Babe, can you please drop everything and go for your cancer screening today? Early detection in breast and cervical C can save you. Stop being embarrassed about your breast and its illness! Talk about it, seek helpâboldly and selfishly. Please make yourself your first priority.
Dear Indian men (and women), India has emerged as the global capital of oral cancers. Cancer of the head and neck is a killer. There is an increase in cancers among the youth, of which 90 percent is due to tobacco and alcohol. Is a life of excess, progress?
On this Republic Day can you please determine to lay your life down not at the altar of cancer, but for your country instead?
Dear India, as a potential superpower, can you not afford to put stricter laws in place on air-pollution, food adulteration, tobacco ban etc.? Why are as many as 8,00,000 new cancer patients registered with the National Cancer Registry Programme every year? Why not identify and root out the cancer in our very system?
I dream of an aware nation in which the government joins hands with its people to reverse the trend of this rising cancer epidemic. I dream of a healthy country the world can look up to.
My India, perhaps that is the cause I have survived forâ¦.
Your Dreamy-Eyed, Joyous Cancer Survivor and Fighter,
Neelam Kumar
0
Audi India is proud to be a part of India’s progressive growth and salutes the spirit of India.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from campaigns
Published: