“Even after a long 12-hour operation, I was made to believe that I was only suffering from jaundice. But I was very inquisitive about the treatment being unfailingly given to me for the last several months. Post recovery from the surgery, I simply asked my husband to tell me the truth. It was then I was told it was liver cancer. I was shocked for a few seconds but reconciled with the fact that the disease had finally left my body,” says Karuna with an unmatched verve.

But the tryst with the disease was far from over, it had just begun. Within months in the same year, her husband V K Puri, an ex-chief Navy engineer saw his hemoglobin count dip to half for no apparent reason. “We went for elaborate tests only to discover that cancer had struck us again. I was diagnosed with colon cancer which led to bleeding,” says Puri.

Unlike Karuna, her husband needed 25 rounds of radiation therapy, during which they met a number of other patients battling the same disease.

“Meeting small children at the radiation therapy department made us realise that there are several others going through the same struggle. Seeing those children bravely take the painful treatment was what acted as a trigger for us to opt for charity,” recalls the couple in unison. The charity, which began as a hefty cheque to an NGO for cancer patients, Sahatya Sahyog, soon developed into a life membership with the organisation. The couple then became active members of the organisation and started counselling others.

“It is important to fight your own battle successfully. Then, one must lend a helping hand to those in need,” says Karuna.

Daman Mangat, also an active member of the NGO, narrates a similar tale.

When Mangat was diagnosed with cancer, way back on February 11, 1994, she was alone and had to arrange for the treatment all by herself.

“I don’t know how I mustered up so much courage but I always felt God was at my side at every stage,” she says. With support of friends and well-wishers, Mangat recovered only to realise there were others like her waiting to learn from her experience.

“I took to social work in 1999 and now it gives me a sense of fulfillment. I like going to hospital to counsel patients and help them in every possible way that I can,” says Mangat. “There has been no looking back after fighting cancer successfully. I have become more positive,” says one of the most visible faces at the organisation.

Renu Saigal, former chief architect, UT, who herself battled lymphoma, now heads the affairs of the NGO after her sister Neelu Tuli succumbed to the same disease recently. Tuli, in fact had founded the NGO seeing her sister, Saigal’s battle.

“We began with less than 10 members in 1997 but the number of regular members has now touched 40. Adding to it, there are several other transient members who lend in their support from time to time,” says Saigal. She now emphasises on early detection of the disease along with rehabilitation of the patients.

“I am now working towards rehabilitating at least the earning member of the family who has to often switch profession after the treatment. This is true for those who are engaged in active physical work. The goverment should pay attention to such people by finding avenues like job reservation etc,” she says.