Cancer Support Group

Times of India
02 September 2010
Mumbai, India

When model–actor Lisa Ray inaugurated Fortis Hospital’s cancer institute in Mulund on Wednesday, she did more than provide the glamour quotient. She provided a blueprint of sorts on how to battle the Big C.

Using emotions positively and the Web 2.0 in liberal doses, the 38–year–old survived her first brush with cancer. In fact, a few weeks ago, her doctors in Canada certified that she is now a cancer survivor as her disease had been in remission for six months. She was diagnosed in June 2009 with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer that is typically associated with the elderly. "I cannot get back to work just yet, but I plan to write a book,’’ she said after the announcement of an annual Lisa Ray Spirit of Life Award for women cancer survivors.

An important ingredient in her cancer battle she said was "sharing". Ray chronicled her battle in a regular blog. "In a strange way, cancer has opened up my life in many ways. I found a mountain of support from people, especially in India. Indians are open. We talk about emotions and this helps the healing process."

"Unfortunately, cancer is on the rise. There is nothing much we can do about that expect address early detection and providing healing for the entire person and not just the disease,’’ she said. The main aim, she added, is to change attitudes. "When people hear cancer, they are frightened. We have change this attitude."