HOW TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

On World Cancer Day (4 February), messages of courage, hope and inspiration from those who have defeated this dreaded disease

- Ishani Nandi

Make every moment count

Cancer requires an all-out response as it challenges every aspect of your being. You must marshal resources both within and without, as well as those that are yet to be discovered. I realized during the course of my journey that my strengths were my positive nature, my ability to laugh at myself as well as my personal faith. Growing up in a family that faced setbacks with equanimity was an added asset. I was determined to be happy and not let cancer get me down. My great discovery was that cancer had liberated me. Every minute now was precious and it was up to me to make it count. My advice to those living with cancer would be: Don’t let cancer terrorize you. Look at it as the sneaky and cowardly disease it is. You are so much bigger. Your possibilities are limitless. Go out there and live life your way.

—Harmala Gupta, founder–president of CanSupport, Hodgkin’s-lymphoma survivor

Love yourself