In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Tata Trusts launched ‘Gaanth Pe Dhyaan’ a unique event in Ranchi, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed the world over, in October every year. Director, Meherbai Tata Memorial Hospital and HOD Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur, as Chief Guest, Dr Sujata Mitra,.

A part of the larger ‘Kaise Ka Cancer’ campaign, ‘Gaanth Pe Dhyaan’ aims to build awareness, encourage open conversations, and drive community action towards breast cancer by building the importance of breast self-examination among women at the grassroots through the insightful metaphor of ‘lumps in food’.  Breast cancer disproportionately affects women in India, with over 50 percent of breast cancer cases in the Country being diagnosed in the late stages. This delay in diagnosis and treatment comes from a lack of awareness and can be fatal, if not detected early. Tata Trusts is dedicated to turning the tide on the issue by engaging with women directly to educate them on the importance of early detection.

The launch event for the ‘Gaanth Pe Dhyaan’ initiative was held at Ranchi Cancer Hospital and Research Center (RCHRC) in partnership with leading Jamshedpur Chef and Entrepreneur, Priya Gupta. It witnessed an all-women audience from local communities and featured an interactive culinary demonstration. Throughout the demonstration, she discussed how lumps in food preparation can ruin the taste and texture of a dish and highlighted that the same applies to breast cancer lumps as well.

Chef Gupta was also joined by Chef, Laiba Ashraf from the Vivanta, DN Square, Bhubaneswar, who not only reiterated the need for checking for lumps in breast but also shared her story of hope from her grandmother’s survival of breast cancer due to early detection.

Medical Oncologist, Ranchi Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (RCHRC) said, Dr Rajanigandha Tudu, Director, Meherbai Tata Memorial Hospital and HOD Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur, Dr Sujata Mitra were also informed the gathering about the programme.

Tata Trusts has always been committed to driving cancer care interventions and further strengthened its support with the launch of a comprehensive Cancer Care Programme in 2017.

The ‘Kaise Ka Cancer’ campaign is a national level undertaking from Tata Trusts and is a part of its continuous efforts towards reducing India’s immense burden of cancer cases. The campaign comprising 3 compelling films, was launched in Feb this year, garnering over 20 mn views across social and digital media.

Ranchi is a key region of focus in this effort, where RCHRC, a unit of Tata Cancer Care Foundation, supported by Tata Trusts, was inaugurated earlier this year by the  Chief Minister Jharkhand, Hemant Soren in the presence of Noel N Tata, Trustee, Tata Trusts and Siddharth Sharma, CEO, Tata Trusts. The hospital is committed to providing compassionate, quality and affordable cancer care in the region.