A path-breaking film on breast cancer by top specialists has cameos by three leading small screen actors, writes Nag Mani

Shweta Keswani: Role model for many women

For the country’s best known cancer specialist who has treated and given hope to thousands, this operation took four years of meticulous work. She does not hesitate to add that it has been her most important as well as most precious project.

But Dr (Ms) Ramesh Sarin has not worked alone on the project. The 14-minute film on breast cancer awareness is the brainchild of leading cancer specialists.

Interestingly, it has cameos by three leading TV stars, Apara Mehta (Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi), Sakshi Tanwar (Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki) and Shweta Keswani (Des Mein Nikala Hoga Chand).

But the real stars of the film are women like Poonam Bagai and Shagun Chaudhry, both cancer survivors who tell women the importance of self-examination for telltale signs of breast cancer and the importance of periodic visits to a specialist. Simply titled Guide to Breast Self Examination, the film is being distributed to women’s organisations and NGOs. The film would also be available at all leading chemists and can also be ordered on www.forumforbreastprotection.com.

Dr Sarin explains that it was a painstaking job right from conceptualizing to scripting and from finding real-life and TV actors to the final shooting and editing. None of the three TV stars took any money for their appearances.

Sakshi Tanwar: All for a worthy cause

Dr. Sarin feels the film will get a lot of value addition from these TV stars.

"The family soaps they work in are very popular and have a great fan following among women. So, if these stars give a message then the common woman would definitely listen. That’s the philosophy behind the hugely popular pulse polio ads done by Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.

The script was vital as it had to deal with the basics like mammography, the importance of a doctor’s examination and what are the cancer warning signals. The challenge was to hold the attention of a common woman for 15 minutes.

According to medical statistics, in India breast cancer has overtaken cancer of the cervix among women. Nearly 80,000 women die from breast cancer annually. The reason for the poor prognosis and high incidence of fatality is late detection.

When breast cancer is identified in the early stages and treated early, women`A0not only have the chance of complete recovery but have more treatment options.

Specialists say self-examination is very important, especially after 40 years of age. Breasts should be checked frequently to feel for any lumps, thickening or anything unusual in the breast or under the armpit. This can be followed by a medical breast palpation. A doctor can understand a lot about the size of the lump, its texture.

Apara Mehta: Felt passionately for the subject

Take the case of advertising professional Shagun Choudury who discovered through self-examination that she had a lump. When a mammogram confirmed it, she was admitted to hospital and a surgery was performed on her and she recovered. "That was in 2001. I feel completely fit now. So it is very important to seek early medical care," says Shagun, one of the real life actors of the film.

Poonam Bagai, an officer of the Indian Railways and another cancer survivor, says: "It was not so difficult doing the film because I am proud of my body, as a creation of God. I believe the film is a great tool in helping Indian women guard against the menace of breast cancer."

Says Dr. Sarin: "Though these women were more than willing to spread the message of cancer awareness, we thought it would be great to have celebrities who would work free for us as we didn’t have the budgets to pay them."

Apara Mehta, Sakshi Tanwar and Shweta Keswani came forward voluntarily to do their bit as they all felt passionately for the subject. And their presence is paying rich dividends as many women who see them on popular serials consider them their role models. — NF

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