Anchal Sharma & Meals of happiness seem synonymous today. A foundation that has fed 2,000,000 hungry people during this pandemic alone.
Things were not the same way back on January 15, 2017, when she was diagnosed with third-stage cancer in her right breast. She is a role model being a Cancer fighter, cancer influencer, Founder of MOH, a Social worker, Entrepreneur, Josh talk speaker & Founder CANHEAL.
On World Cancer Day, February 4, Women Fitness feels proud to share an interview with Anchal Sharma, who continues to motivate cancer patients to fight it out.
Namita Nayyar:
You were diagnosed with third-stage cancer in the right breast, in 2017. Share your emotional state looking back as of today? Also when & how did you come to know about the same?
Anchal Sharma:
If you talk about my current mindset, I don’t look back. The reason is I always believe in moving forward and living in the moment and accepting my situation, no matter where I am and what I am doing, and what situation I am in. So I think that is the only thing that become my strength at that time, also that I never focused on my problems and pain, because that is more painful, and I don’t want to increase my pain. And yes, that’s the only reason, I always believed to move forward and embrace your pain, so that that pain will embrace you.
And about how I came to know so I noticed in 2016 that there was a lump but it was peanut size so I was told by people that it can’t be cancer and I went on for homeopathy treatment for the same, however, that was the most harmful and mistake I did that worsen my situation, however later due to increase in symptoms I started to doubt that it was something else and went for allopathic treatment and test that confirmed the same. However Cancer is not the ultimatum, you are, and you have the power to win the battle. Here’s to never giving up.
Namita Nayyar:
How did you go about the treatment process? Women lack considerable awareness on when & how to go about the therapy. Please throw some light on the same?
Anchal Sharma:
So, Yes I started with the treatment immediately after I was diagnosed and the main thing was that at that time my brother was getting married so I couldn’t tell anyone in my house I was going for all the treatments alone, blood test, biopsy, CT scan and Xrays and at the same time even being part of the functions and rituals at my home.
Regarding the awareness obviously, there is a lack in that not only in small villages but in metros as well and sometimes even though people notice something they choose to ignore I would suggest to not do so and be scared, and even though if you are diagnosed with cancer consider it a disease only and not the end of your life.
When I was diagnosed with the same, I was going through a lot more tough times but I choose to rather ignore it and embrace the pain I was even fighting for justice for my younger sister murder case, going through domestic violence but I rather choose to fight it all with grace and trust me the power is within you.
Namita Nayyar:
The strength that helped you stay on through the pain, trauma, and challenge.
Anchal Sharma:
So cancer is not the only thing that happened to me. I think my previous event make me stronger. Whatever happened with me because of that, I become day by day, stronger and stronger. And being financially weak I worked 10-15 hours even during that time and the only thing I kept in my mind was that this was a disease and it will go and something more beautiful is out there waiting for me
Namita Nayyar:
In one of your interviews, you shared ” I am still fighting. And I am now helping others fight,” Please elaborate on the same.
Anchal Sharma:
So right now on post-cancer treatment and artificial menopause, the treatment is to only avoid the relapse also the trauma was definitely losing the hair but I was very headstrong that I have to cure myself and that really helped me fight it all along and come out as a winner!
Besides that I am working with Max hospitals by counseling the patients on how to be strong and how to look graceful and stylish during these tough times, I teach them to wear stylish bandanas and much more so yes I have worked with over 500 cancer patients.
Namita Nayyar:
Present-day fitness routine you follow? How do you like to kick start your day?
Anchal Sharma:
I begin my day with a prayer to God, then I do some sort of exercise either yoga or light cardio to remain active and then I go to my office.
Namita Nayyar:
Lifestyle & diet modifications you have adopted for a better living.
Anchal Sharma:
The best thing I promote is to eat healthily, reduce your sugar intake exercise regularly that is really important more than that have a positive outlook towards life that is a key to anything.
Namita Nayyar:
In 2020, you started CanHeal- making chemical-free skin care products and gift baskets people could gift to cancer patients. Throw some light on this initiative.
Anchal Sharma:
In 2020 I was doing research on how to find products or gadgets that could make it easy because I recall my personal experience of using a wig and I realized it to be extremely uncomfortable I got a severe headache during a conference so I pulled down my wig and tied a bandana and henceforth the concept came up so basically there weren’t any products available for cancer patients and hence I came up with the concept!
So that’s the whole idea that we created a One-Stop shop for the cancer community and for the Survivor and people for the prevention. So we come up with zero chemical skincare products, special chemo clothes, bandanas, healthy snacks, made with jaggery. So we are trying our best to add more and more and more products so that we can make this one-stop-shop for the cancer community.
Namita Nayyar:
You hit the headlines during lockdown for serving 2 million meals. Share insight with our audience about https://mealsofhappiness.org/. How successful has been the campaign & what are your future plans?
Anchal Sharma:
Meals of happiness started to post my diagnosis initially it was 5 meals a day and which lead to 50 and has been increasing every day. During covid times it reached to different parts of India even the remotest, days when we can’t provide fully cooked meals we provide the raw materials to the unprivileged ones all through the support of people and their love!
So regarding the future plans, there aren’t any at the moment because there are no funds from the government no CSR, so the only hope is to receive that so that there are sufficient funds and we can feed enough people.
Namita Nayyar:
Motivational quote you live by? A memorable incident that has stayed with you over the years.
Anchal Sharma:
There is nothing impossible to they who will try.”
— Alexander the Great
Namita Nayyar:
Today in 2022 as a cancer survivor your piece of advice for young girls & women. 5 key tips.
Anchal Sharma:
1. Know Yourself
2. Be courageous
3. Prepare to fail and learn from it
4. Self-advocate
5. Stay humble and be kind.
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