North Riding seniors gather at Hindu mandir to break cancer taboo

A group of 60 senior citizens, including 50 cancer survivors, shared emotional personal journeys and encouraged women to prioritise regular health checks.
Braden-Lee Mokoena

Senior citizens came together for a cancer awareness drive focused on hope and community connection at the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir and Cultural Complex on Tuesday, October 13.

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A total of 60 senior citizens, including 50 cancer survivors, painted the complex pink as they gathered to share personal experiences, reflect on their journeys and encourage one another in an environment where they could feel understood.

North Riding Senior Citizens chairperson Nishani Kishore, who hosted the event, shared that her biggest highlight was seeing the senior citizens come together and speak openly about their experiences with cancer.

“You know, some seniors come from an orthodox background so they feel it is taboo to speak out on their experiences,” Kishore said. “I had to convince them, but watching them speak was so beautiful and special.”

Beyond raising awareness, the gathering celebrated the senior citizens’ enthusiasm for life and allowed for meaningful conversations. Women were encouraged to go for regular check-ups when they feel something is wrong, as they are the only ones who truly understand their bodies.

A survivor’s journey to hope

Breast cancer survivor Debbie Nundhkumar shared that her journey started with a simple minor injury from her underwire bra, which led to a mastectomy, eight sessions of chemotherapy and reconstructive surgery in 2006.

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“I first went to my GP and he said it was not a serious injury, but later in May 2004, on the afternoon of Mother’s Day, the monster was back,” Nundhkumar said. “Once you hear that you have cancer, time seems to stop. The world keeps moving around you, but inside you everything shifts.”

“However, I knew I had to decide if I would let fear define me or lean into hope and fight for my life and future,” she added. “The support of my children, late husband and family helped me navigate the experience and taught me about resilience I never thought I possessed.”

Kishore further praised elders for the role they play in communities, referring to them as custodians whose humility, strength and love help bring people together. She encouraged all survivors and people currently battling cancer to never give up.

“You are stronger than you think. You are supermen and superwomen. Never lose hope,” she said.

The gathering served as a reminder that sharing experiences can help break the silence around cancer while creating opportunities for survivors to support and encourage one another.

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