The first ever program ‘Anand Mela’ that brought together almost 40 to 50 breast cancer patients in the city has become usual activity for the members of this group. This program is held on every third Thursday of each month. The special feature of this program is that they sing songs from Bollywood, Marathi Films and other regional languages so as to keep their members happy.

The city based Astha Breast Cancer Support Group had organized this program at GL Apte Hall on Apte Road on Thursday. The most important thing here was that all the participants were very cheerful and full of confidence despite being cancer patients.

All the participants were from different age groups wearing traditional sarees and ornaments.

This group has been founded by and for cancer patients. They gather every month on third Thursday. They conduct various lectures and discuss issues.
But the only one thing they never like to indulge in is to talk about their disease. They skip that subject and switch over to some other subject that gives them happiness and respite the daily stress hey suffer. The group of these adventurous women is guided by Dr Shekhar Kulkarni, who also helps them solve problems pertaining to breast cancer.

We celebrate Anand Mela every year. In this program we never speak single word about the disease. Actually rather than physical, breast cancer gives psychological pain to patients. And there are many misconceptions about it. People don’t accept the women who are victims of this disease. So it is important to make them psychologically strong.

says Aarti Halbe, secretary of the group.

More than the treatment, the skeptical eyes of the people give more pain. My cancer was detected at the age of 35. I was very depressed because in my social activity group no one accepted me. Now many members like me are living our lives positively, full of joy. The program like Anand Mela gives us energy which is useful like a medicine

says Aparna Ambike, one of the members.