Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women world­wide with more than 0.5 million new cases and 260,000 deaths per year (2002 data). Of these more than 80% cases occur in less developed and low/middle income countries. It is estimated that if proper preventive measures are not implemented soon, more than 1 million new cervical cancer cases will be diagnosed annually by the year 2030. In India cervical cancer is the most com­mon cancer amongst women account­ing for over 134,000 new cases and more than 72,000 deaths annually. The reported-age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of cervical cancer from population based cancer registries in India show a range of 13.1 in Nanded (Maharashtra) to 39.2 in Pondicheri (TN) per 100,000 women. However, when cervical cancer data from urban regis­tries are compared with the rural can­cer registries located in Barshi (Maharashtra) and Ambillikai (Tamil Nadu), a high incidence is observed in rural areas and among low economic population groups.

Unlike many other human can­cers, the pre-cancer stage of cervical cancer is better understood. This pro­vides a wide window of opportunity through periodic check up (cervical screening), for detection of pre-cancerous early lesions and successful treat­ment. If not treated, nearly one-third tohalf of the high grade early lesions (CIN II and CIN III) progress to invasive cervical cancer.

In most developed countries, with better health care systems in place, the early detection of asymptomatic pre­cancerous lesions by cytology followed by effective treatment has resulted in a significant drop in the incidence of in­vasive cervical cancer and death among young women from cervical cancer. However, in developing and low resource countries including India, in the absence of any national policy on prevention of the disease by way of screening of asymptomatic women, the situation remains as grim as ever and no significant reduction in cervical cancer incidence is expected in foreseeable future.

It is now fully established that cervical cancer and its precursor lesions are caused by persistent infection by one or more of the 15 oncogenic types of human papillomaviruses (HPV). The 15 oncogenic virus types are: HPV 16,18,31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58, 59, 68, 73 and 82, which are also called the high-risk HPV types. HPV 16 and 18 account for over 70% of cervical cancer cases and the remaining due to other high-risk HPV types.

The identification of most common HPV types as etiological risk factors for cervical cancer has also led to the development of vaccines against specific sets of HPV genotypes as preventive strategy against the disease. The   rationale   for  developing  the preventive HPV vaccine against cervical cancer and the use of HPV testing as a method for cervical cancer are two major clinical implications of the research work of Prof, zur Hausen for which he was awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008.

Two prophylactic HPV vaccines are now available in the market for prevention of HPV infection and thereby reduce the risk of cervical cancer in women : Gardasil, manufactured by Merck and Co., Inc. USA and Cervarix developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), USA. While Gardasil has been designed against infections of HPV types 16,18, 6 and 11, Cervarix is against HPV type 16 and 18 infections which account for over 70% of cervical cancers globally. Thus Gardasil, in addition to protecting against infections of HPV types 16 and 18 is also effective against HPV 6 and 11 which are responsible for 90% of genital warts. Both HPV vaccines have undergone clinical trials among girls aged 9-26 in Asia Pacific, Europe Latin America and North America for at least 5 years and claim success in preventing infections from HPV 16 and 18. The HPV vaccines are given at 0, 2 and 6 month intervals. The vaccines have been shown to offer 100 percent protection against the development of cervical precancers and genital warts caused by the HPV types in the vaccine, with few or no side effects. On the basis of such results, HPV vaccines have been licensed in more than 60 countries for use in control of cervical cancer. Both vaccines have been licensed to be sold in India since 2008.

Thus, in addition to cervical screening by cytology, VIA (visual inspection) and HPV testing, the HPV vaccine has been added to the armory for defense against cervical cancer. It also brings us face to face with the challenge to decide whether to develop a nation-wide cost-effective method of cervical cancer screening programme or go for HPV vaccination as part of our National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), or both complimenting each other depending on the affordability and viability of the national campaign.

It' s August again! Twenty years ago I was diagnosed and operated for breast cancer. That's a pretty long time to be able to live after mastectomy. God has been very kind. But what about those who had helped me to overcome my trauma? Who had helped me to think ahead positively, to be creative and so­cially committed?

Today, as I put pen to paper, among the people crowding around down my memory lane, a particular face comes to mind-that of Uta Deb.

It was a hot hot afternoon when I returned home from one of my radiation therapy sittings in Medical College Hos­pital. One look at my dining table where the remains of a snack and tea lay, told me I had a visitor. I was hot, bothered and in no mood to see a visitor. Keya, my sister in law, coaxed me to go and meet my unknown guest.

I walked into my tiny sitting room-and there she was-who looked up, smiled and said, "Hello, I'm Uta Deb, Kemon acheen?"

Uta Deb? Never, heard of her. And what was she doing here? And how come she knew Bengali?

Slowly, the mystery dissolved. I dis­covered we had a common friend who had confided in her since Uta herself was a breast cancer survivor of German descent and married to a Bengali. Uta decided to come and see me and give me emotional support. I was deeply touched by her concern. As Uta shared her story with me, I no longer felt like a freak. Uta was a bilateral mastectomee but oh, she was so comfortable with her body image.

But that did not stop her from be­ing concerned with my emotional up­heaval centring round my mutilated body image after mastectomy. She was a fre­quent visitor to my house and once she brought me a large supply of synthetic cotton wool with which only imported safe toys were made at that time. That was the first time I saw how a pocket could be sewn into a brassiere filled with synthetic cotton wool. Uta gave me back my dignity and confidence on that day.

Uta was the one who told me to have lots of yellow fruits and vegetables. She brought down for me a medicine from Germany with which to boost my immune system. And when I shifted to Salt Lake, our families too became close.

When she was in Germany she used to write to me regularly. I used to wait for her letters. Yet, such a letter revealed Uta's Cancer had returned. I felt like weeping. She had encouraged me through her letters as I created and nurtured Hitaishini to life. She was over­joyed to know how I was building up my organization, how I was interacting with doctors, how I was training and induct­ing volunteers to my fold.

But the courageous lady that Uta was, slowly succumbed to her disease. It left a void in my life. I miss her even today. For she was the one who showed me how one can forget and rise above one's suffering and extend one's hands to similar follow sufferers.

Genuine human kindness, love and understanding flowed in waves towards me one day in the distant past. And it helped to shape my thoughts as I cre­ated and tried to mould Hitaishini with the same love that Uta had given me. Hitaishini is truly indebted to Uta Deb.

After living abroad for almost 25 years, my husband and I came back to Kolkata in 1997 to settle down here. It took a little while, but after the settling down chores were over. I was feeling somewhat bored and looking for something to do, because all my life I worked at home and outside home at the same time. I am not a typical housewife!

One of our family friends asked me one day if I wanted to get involved in social work. I immediately said yes and she gave me the name and address of Hitaishini, which, she said, was doing valuable work for breast cancer patients.

One day, in the year 2001,1 went to Hitaishini's chamber at the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute. Inside the chamber (Room No. 9) 1 found four ladies engaged in work. I introduced myself and explained my purpose, and we got into a talk, which I found very interesting. Of course, they warned me it was going to be a very difficult job, visiting the wards and facing cancer patients in various conditions of health. One of the ladies then took me upstairs to visit a ward to talk to some of the patients. I asked them questions about their conditions and treatment and felt that so much could be done to be with them in their difficult hour.

Not that I was not a little scared, but when I learnt that the lady who had taken me on the ward visit was herself a cancer survivor, I felt reassured. As a survivor, she knew full well the mental and physical pain a cancer patient goes through and how even little words of solace and sympathy mean so much for them, I left aside my doubts and became a Hitaishini volunteer.

Now, ten years later, I am still with Hitaishini. I am proud to be a volunteer serving its cause. Our activities have spread. Twice a week, every Monday and Thursday, we sit in our small room at CNCI from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., while every Friday we offer our services from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Cancer Welfare Home and Research Centre at Thakurpukur. We now have 47 members serving with us, of whom 22 are survivors and 20 are regular clinical volunteers. Our organization depends on donations and funds earned through musical nights.

Help in many ways

We help breast cancer patients in many ways. We help them undergo various tests and bear their costs of chemotherapy and medicine to the extent we can. Of course, we can't meet all their requirements, but we try to be with them as much as possible through counseling, providing guidance, and in many other ways to sustain them in their ordeal. After recovery, we help them to get rehabilitated in life, and sometimes even help patients' children to continue their education or get vocational training. For example, the son of one of our patients has now become a motor mechanic through our assistance, thus contributing to the family income. Another patient's daughter is now earning as a seamstress with the help of a sewing machine that we bought her. We helped one patient's husband with a loan so he could start a small business.

Spreading awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection is one of our major activities. We hold awareness programmes regularly all over the state, sometimes even outside the state. Very often, the programme involves a whole day's work, including traveling to distant parts, but our volunteers do not mind the long hours and are always ready. There is great satisfaction when we see simple, poor village women coming to attend such programmes in large numbers and wanting to know more. We have certainly a long way to go. but there are indications that the awareness level is rising, which is a good thing.

What do we get out of Hitaishini? Great joy and satisfaction. The bond of humanity that develops between us and patients, the courage that we see in them as they pass through their ordeal, the smiling face of a survivor resettled in life, these are the things that keep us going and give us a sense of fulfilment that no material rewards could give. Our volunteers do not get any financial remuneration for their services, yet they do all their chores regularly and with a smiling face. Some are survivors themselves, some may have lost their near and dear ones to cancer, some have come out of sheer love for their work. They have all come together out of a deep sense of love and duty. Always ready to help others, they have made Hitaishini truly a joint family.

Turmoil to serenity, peace and happiness after long struggle, I saw and witnessed all with that little girl from Bankura, Subrata, whom I had met a few years back.

Her mother was a breast cancer victim and it was HITAISHINI that stood by her. Being the only child and abandoned by her father, she suffered a lot physically and mentally. We persuaded her to reconcile and accept death as a part of her mother's destination since her mother was in the last phase of her life. But the amazing feeling started from then.

I do not know how I had been looped in an emotional bonding with this little girl. She was alone and totally perplexed after her mother's death. Her father, an Ayurvedic doctor, involved with another woman, refused to take the responsibility of his daughter and also to give the share of the property which was given by her maternal grandfather. Then the legal process started. I helped her to initiate this process and offered a strong support so that she could manage to get her legitimate claim. Ultimately she was successful, but the story of her agony did not end at that. I was witness to the same. Soon after she got married few days later, a new turn to the story started which is very common in our society -mental torture. At that point in time, she was totally broken down and had lost all her courage to fight. Days and months I counseled to bring back her hope and told her not to give up and have patience. This period also was her ordeal. I saw her anger, depression, craving for love. Still I was there.

Now she has got a job, and very happy with her husband and child and is a satisfied woman. I do not know whether this is a rehabilitation process or teaching any girl to search for her inner strength. But in this process I got the essence of the jourmey of life— "Dhoop-Chhao", joy and sorrow, and one phone call without fail on Mothers' Day, which reminds me of Rabindranath Tagore's line -"Era Porke Apono Kore, Aponare Por ..........."

After surviving for 11 years, I feel very sad whenever I visit cancer patients at hospitals. Different patients have different problems and I intend to share a few of my experiences as narrated below.

I met a patient who was a mother of two young children. When I asked her how she was feeling she burst into tears and held my hands. She uttered "Didi (sister), my husband drove me out of my house with two kids on hearing the news of my disease. Not only that, he destroyed the prescription of the doctor.

Before coming to the hospital, I have kept my children at my sister-in-law's house. Didi, what shall I do now?" she lamented.

A Muslim widow patient came to Hitaishini's clinic. She was narrating how her relatives made her understand that she would not survive. Therefore, it was better to give away her only child to them for adoption. She did it and now she is cured! Alas, the poor woman is now spending her days alone. Of late, we heard that her relatives were going to settle this dispute and we sincerely hope it happens.

Another poor woman with two kids and one five-year-old daughter, Pinki, who was detected with blood cancer, were all driven out of their home. The poor woman had no alternative but to take shelter in her parents' house. When she was busy with the treatment of her little daughter, her husband took away the other kids. Her husband was sure that Pinky would not survive and preferred to abandon his wife and daughter. But with God's blessing Pinky is now improving gradually.

One young educated lady from a middle class family on the outskirts of Kolkata came for treatment to the city and was staying at her married sister's house. She felt very much humiliated and disgusted when she found that her sister's family was keeping her in isolation as if she had been affected with a dreadful contagious disease, although it is proven beyond doubt that cancer is not contagious at all. She left her sister's house and started living alone.

There are countless incidents which we face in our day to day life. We are accustomed to hear such comments as "Oh, she is a cancer patient," implying that she will not survive and her family will also be ruined in every respect. It is so unfortunate.

Against this scenario, one day I came across a young couple with smiling faces. They were Chitra and Sanjay Bhoumick. Sanjay knew that Chitra was suffering from cancer but they loved each other and trusted themselves. They got married and Sanjay tried his best to take care of Chitra at the time of her treatment. I think their trust in and love for each other was a blessing of God.

It was a very rare but happy experience, which gives us a feeling that our awareness programmes are definitely making a dent in our unkind society. We should pursue our objectives further and spread awareness as mucn we can.

In the inaugural issue of this Newsletter I narrated the story of a young girl from Bangladesh who used to come to our facilitation clinic while undergoing breast cancer treatment at Cancer Centre Welfare Home and Research Institute, Thakurpukur. But a story it was not. In this issue I will tell you about another breast cancer patient from Bangladesh whom I had the privilege of counselling at our Thakurpukur clinic.

A couple of years back, Yasmin (not her real name), a middle aged woman from Bangladesh and suffering from breast cancer, came to Thakurpukur Cancer Centre for her treatment. On being advised by her doctor she once came to our clinic to meet us. I still remember that Friday noon when I first saw her. She was looking extremely distressed . But was it because of the excruciating pain generated by her dreadful disease or was it because of her apprehension that she was not going to live long? It could be both. But I must know. If it was because of her apprehension of an early death I could try to instill in her the faith that there was no need to despair and that she would soon come round. After we talked for a while Yasmin told me that she was not very much bothered with her physical pain, but what tormented her more was the indifferent attitude of her near and dear ones. For them she did not exist. She was as good as dead. This is what she found unbearable. It appeared to me that in the course of our conversation I succeeded in convincing her that I cared for her well- being. It was then that she told me more about herself.

After completing her education Yasmin, as she told me, got employed with a mercantile firm and was earning a good salary. It was at this point of time that she fell in love with a young man and decided to marry him. But this young man did not possess sufficient educational qualification nor was he earning a decent income. In fact, he was no match for Yasmin. But despite stiff opposition from her parents, Yasmin went ahead and married the man ofher choice. After their marriage, she ensured that her husband acquired sufficient educational qualifications. It was also because of her efforts that her husband finally succeeded in getting a respectable job. In course of time they were also blessed with a son. At the time she met me, her husband was earning a very good salary. When life appeared to her to be a bed of roses, she was suddenly diagnosed with breast cancer, forcing her to resign from her job. Even though she was brought to Kolkata for treatment she had the feeling that her husband was not interested in a wife diagnosed with such a dreaded disease. Other members of the family started telling her openly that a cancer patient was not to be touched and that such a patient should not hope to live long. Bereft of the love of her husband and compassion of other members of the family, Yasmin was no longer interested to carry on with her life. I immediately realized that the need of the hour was to make an attempt at changing the entire perception of her husband and other members of the family about cancer. It was necessary to convince them that cancer is not a contagious disease nor does it inevitably lead to death. Patients do survive. I have survived . I told her not to lose her self- esteem and continue to hope for a change in her husband's attitude. Before leaving, I advised her to request her husband to come to Kolkata and meet us. Her face lit up for a moment. Possibly, she found a shoulder to rest her head on.

After a few days Yasmin came to the hospital for a check up along with her husband . At the time I went to meet her she was alone in the cabin, her husband having gone out of the hospital for some work. She took this opportunity to tell me that it would be a sheer wastage of time for me to talk to her husband as he had virtually written her off from his life. He would, as she told me, miss no opportunity to tell her that her days were numbered. Her in-laws would ring her up to tell her that as she did not have any chance of survival, her husband had already married another woman. She could not believe that her husband could be so heartless as to enter into a wedlock even while she was still breathing. I also could not believe that any human being could make deliberate attempts at squeezing out the last ounce of life force left in a patient hovering between life and death . I realized I had no option but to talk to her husband. Indeed, I talked to him for about an hour and in the course of the talk I sought to convince him that it was a medically proved fact that cancer is not a contagious disease. Quite a large number of patients continue to live a normal life. Therefore, the apprehension that .cancer led to inevitable death was baseless. It was, therefore, inhuman to continue to inflict mental torture on Yasmin. I further told him that what was needed to pull Yasmin from the brink was to shower love and compassion on her. She needed love as much as she needed medicine. It would generate in her a desire to live a long life which, in turn, would speed up her recovery. He listened carefully to what I had told him and then left our room with his wife.

Almost a year had passed. But we did not hear anything from Yasmin. Suddenly one afternoon I received a phone call from Yasmin's husband. He informed me that he had already got Yasmin admitted in the Cancer Centre for Chemotherapy. He requested me to come to the Centre as she was eager to see me. When I reached the Centre I was pleasantly surprised to note that she had been admitted in Cop- A, quite an expensive cabin by any standard. But I could not believe my eyes when I found that Yasmin's husband was feeding her with his own hand. I continued to look at the couple for a few minutes more. Her joy knew no bounds when Yasmin noticed me standing by her bedside. She clasped my hands and tears started rolling down from her eyes. She wanted to tell me that she would never forget the sisters of Hitaishini for all that they had done for her. But she could not express herself properly as she was charged with emotion. She remembered that at the instance of Hitaishini, Dr.Arnab Gupta had himself taken over her case. She said she would always pray to Allah to shower His blessings on us. Her life, as she told me, was now worth living and that, therefore, she wanted to live for a few more years. I also feel that my life is worth living.

During the 2010-11 fiscal year, we attended to 1,260 patients, counselled them, showed them post-operative exercises, and gave them necessary information through our pamphlets.

Prostheses and special brassieres were given to 133 patients to help them get back to normal life. We offered medicinal and financial assistance (for chemotherapy, radiation, different tests, etc.) to 878 patients, and attended to 29 lymphoedema patients, offering massage through our pneumatic arm pressure machine.

Many camps and seminars were organized throughout the year to raise the level of people's awareness of breast cancer and spread the message of early detection. Such events included seminars at St. Xavier's Institution, Panihati; Basu Vigyan Mandir, Kolkata; Binodini Girls' School, Dhakuria, Kolkata; at Parnasree Palli, Kolkata, at the behest of AIWC, Parnasree Constituent Branch; and at Barasat Anweshan, Harpara, North 24 Parganas, at the request of Tala Gitayan, a socio-humanitarian organization for the poor and needy.

Awareness programmes were held at: Akandabari Secondary High School in East Midnapore, arranged by Amartala Gramin Seva Foundation; Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd., Salt Lake, Kolkata; Sudarshana Ladies' Circle, Dum Dum, Kolkata; Matrisangha Janakalyan Ashram, Kolkata; Dum Dum Prachya Bani Mandir High School, Kolkata; National Gems Higher Secondary School, Behala, Kolkata, at the instance of Moitree Women's Welfare Organization; Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Sebangan, Siriti, Tollygunge, Kolkata, at the request of Anubhav, a welfare organization; Ghosh's College for Physical Education, Kolkata, at the request of Saptapami, a women's welfare organization; Humanity Hospital, Behala, Kolkata, at the instance of Anubhav; Deaf and Dumb School, Kolkata, at the request of Kolkata Nagarik Sammelan; Tiyas School, Kankura Masat Welfare Society, Diamond Harbour, invited by Rotary Club (South); Calcutta Telephones Recreation Club, Taher Mansion Unit, Kolkata; Behala Moitree Foundation, Behala, Koikata; Borough No. 10, Kolkata Municipal Corporation; Ward No. 100, Garia, Kolkata, under Borough 10; New Light, a project aimed at sex workers, in Kalighat, Kolkata; IWIN of IXIA, Sector V, Salt Lake, arranged by DCIA Technologies; and Rotary Chowringhee Vidyalaya, Uluberia, Howrah.

We observed the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October in a number of ways. Posters containing information on breast cancer and Hitaishini's helpline numbers were put up in various parts of Kolkata as well as in front of cinema halls. Information leaflets were inserted in newspapers for maximum distribution and coverage. Banners were put up at various Durga Puja pandals. Pamphlets were distributed among people through the courtesy of pharmacies, chemists' shops, and saree stores.

We organized a Cancer Awareness Walk from Metro Channel (Esplanade) to Mohar Kunj in Kolkata to celebrate the National Cancer Awareness Day on 13 November. Maj-Gen M. P. Singh of the NCC, West Bengal and Sikkim, flagged off the walk. It was followed by a 'Lighting the Candle' programme, where the noted Bengali screen actor Saheb Chatterjee was present and sang a few songs. A musical programme was presented by haul singers from Shantiniketan.

This year, we observed the Cancer Survivors' Day on 12 February in a unique way. We presented gifts from social workers to survivors and from survivors to social workers in order to establish a stronger bonding between them. A dance performance by a young couple made the evening successful, and all of us, Hitaishini's volunteers, were charged up and started to dance along. It was a thoroughly fabulous and refreshing programme.

Among other things, we distributed bed sheets, soaps, fruit, and biscuits to nearly 400 patients of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute and Cancer Centre Welfare Home and Research Institute as Diwali gifts, while small transistor radios were given to all child patients of the two hospitals.

On 26 September, we organized a charity musical programme at GD Birla Sabhaghar, Kolkata, to observe International Rose Day. Sm. Bharati Roy, a renowned academician and member of the Rajya Sabha, graced the occasion as chief guest. Shree Sudip Srimal, a well-known social worker, was the guest-of-honour. Dr. Prof. Maqsood Siddiqui, an eminent scientist in the field of cancer, was present as special guest. The cultural programme was followed by a charming recital by the noted singer Smt. Lopamudra Mitra and a performance by the famous dancer Smt. Alokananda Roy and her troupe

Three of our members attended a workshop on palliative care organized by Cancer Centre Welfare Home and Research Institute, Thakurpukur, in collaboration with Royal Essex County Hospital, UK, Indo-American Cancer Association, and UICC in December. In the same month, six of our members attended the 9th governing body meeting of CACI, organized by the Karunakare Foundation, in Ahmedabad. The foundation felicitated our President, Smt. Vijaya Mukherjee, for excellence in cancer-related social service and commitment towards cancer patients. In January, two members attended a mela at Shraddhananda Park, Kolkata, held by Durbar Mahila Samannay Committee (an organization working among sex workers) to commemorate 100 years of women's movement in India and to celebrate Women's Day.

Shikha Khandelwal, a final year MSc student at the J. D. Birla Institute, Kolkata, specializing in Human Development, requested and received our assistance for conducting psychological testing on breast cancer patients as part of her research work. She completed her work with the help of our survivor-members.

We participated in the 3rd Health Fair-2010 at Kalitala Maidan, Konnagar, organized by the Konnagar-Nabagram-Kanaipur Anchal Swasthya Mela Committee. We also attended an interactive session on Present Developments in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer, hosted by Indian Cancer Society, Kolkata Chapter, and the oncology unit of Calcutta Heart Clinic & Hospital, Bidhannagar, Kolkata.

A Tea Meet was arranged by us on 26th March 2011 to get together with some of our oncologist friends at Floatel, the floating hotel on the Hooghly. The interaction with so many eminent doctors in a very light mood made the ambience soothing and charming.

As a member of the Ethical Committee of CNCI, our President, Smt. Vijaya Mukherjee. attended a workshop on ethical issues of clinical research/ trials arranged by the School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata.

Tea is the most widely consumed non-alcoholic beverage next to water in the world.
Tea cultivation in India dates as far back as the early 19th century when Singpo Tribals of Assam grew and drank tea. Tea is made from the young shoots, consisting of two or three leaves and the unopened terminal bud, of the tea plant Camellia Sinensis -a plant species. The use of an infusion of dried tea leaves as a beverage has its origin in mythology and antiquity. The first authentic work on tea was written by Lo-yu, who lived about AD 780 in China.
Tea as a beverage is credited with several health benefits, corroborated by recent scientific research both in India and abroad. With a heavy tradition and history, tea's fascinating saga is poised to enter a new phase as it evolves into the medicinal health drink of the new millennium.

Out of different grades in tea, mostly black tea is widely consumed, followed by green tea, where in the leaf, out of twenty poly phenols, two major oxidases, 'Theaflavins' and 'Thearubigins,' are responsible for the major quality attributes in a cup of Tea.

Today, the widespread use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has alarmingly increased for prevention of malignancies, stroke, pra-ec-lampsia alzheimers'disease and many other illnesses, causing side effects and delaying healing.

It is found that tea is rich in flavinoides, a polyphenolic compound. Catechins are one of the major compounds and are a prominent tool against cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome.

It is interesting to note that commonly we add milk in our cup of tea. But do you know that the addition of milk in a brew negates the beneficial effects of tea? The protein in the milk, i.e. casein, interacts with tea and decreases the bioavailability of catechin.

Clinical and observational data show that tea intake has a beneficial role in preventing the onset of ischemic stroke in humans. Black tea consumption may give rise to better control of fasting hyperglycemia and help the level of HDL (protective cholesterol).

Many scientists have done research work on the health benefits of tea, specially black tea and green tea, across the globe.

In our country, many tea manufacturers now make various flavoured teas available. One such kind is mint tea, a flavouring agent enhancing the antioxidant potential of tea.

In Tata Memorial Centre-C.R.I., investigations are going on evaluation and chemopreventive efficacy of black tea polyphenols and the mechanism of other anti-promoting effects.

Findings of the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology clearly indicates that both theaflavins and thearubigins extracted from black tea have significant antimutagenic and anticancer activities. In the near future, the polyphenols can be used as chemopreventive agents.

Another notable work is being done by the scientists and doctors of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute to study the effects of major polyphenols in black tea in inhibiting the major compounds in breast cancer cells. Research is also going on in chemoprevention of black tea and its role in tobacco associated oxygen species generation in four major age groups : (1) <20, (2) 25 - 40, (3) 45-60 and (4) > 65.

The Indian Institute of Toxicology, Lucknow, has done the evaluation of chemo-preventive and anti-cancer properties of black tea, showing no toxicity and virtually no side effects. This could help avoid / delay cancer incidence as well as reduce the total cancer burden.

Drinking black tea also can prevent the clastogencic effects of sodium arsenite and heavy metal toxicity in human and other living organisms.

I still reckon the conversation I had with my friend Indrani while taking a stroll on the morning of September 28, 2008. Previously, we had planned to meet up at her house that evening. However, due to prior time commitments I knew it would be difficult to visit her during the evening hours. I was supposed to collect a diagnostic report from Quadra- a diagnostic laboratory located in the city. Little did I know that the report which I would be receiving that day would substantially change the course of my life thereon.

To my family's despair, we were informed that I have been clinically diagnosed to show syndromes of breast cancer. Not only my husband and I had to face the psychological stress of the fact that I was diagnosed of cancer, but also worried by the paramount expenses which had to be borne for undergoing the right treatment. Helpless at that point of time, we had the supportive hands extended by our nearest kith and kin. Not to forget the cooperation I received from my close friends in our living community. Nevertheless, the treatment expenses seemed beyond our financial means. At that time, my condition was feverish with a net WBC count running extremely low, thereby allowing me little immunity against the rigors of any external harmful agents. It was then that I had the opportunity to meet Ratnadi, who graciously allowed me to get in touch with Hitaishini- a non-profit organization with an altruistic motivation to help breast cancer patients.

My first visit to Hitaishini was memorable as I was overwhelmed observing volunteers rendering helping hands to the breast cancer patients. With an expression of a smile always on their faces, benevolent volunteers were welcoming the pool of breast cancer victims and providing them all means of help at every moment. I believe I was extremely fortunate to get in touch with many good souls like Vijaya-di, Nupur di, Pami-di and Dipti-di who all bore a motherly image like 'Florence Nightingale', understanding my financial helplessness and nursing me with compassion.

With adequate financial support from Hitaishini I was able to undergo the entire course of radiation therapy. However, my ill-health did not come to a complete halt at that moment. Very soon I started suffering from syndromes related to vertigo and spondylitis. As a possible means of treating these two conditions, the physician suggested me to undergo an MRI scan of my spine. Thankful to the generous contribution of Hitaishini, my expenses were also covered for treating my back complications.

For me the journey with Hitaishini has been truly fulfilling and I continue seeing the volunteers help breast cancer patients in every possible way.

I am a member of Hitaishini. I lost my husband Sandip Som to cancer three years back. That is when my husband's doctor, Dr. Arundhuti Chakraborty, encouraged me to join Hitaishini.
My husband was a government official and a football player. He was very energetic and full of life. He led a very disciplined and healthy life throughout, but still cancer did not show him any mercy. At that time we did not know what palliative care meant. However we tried our best and gave him a painless and peaceful ending. Even after that I kept on wondering if I had really done the best for him and I felt that I still needed to do something for many other people who suffer like this.

Working with Hitaishini, I realized that there is no end to helping those who go through this terrible situation. All I wanted to do is to reach out not only to cancer patients but also to their families who need a lot of mental support, love and care. Every time a patient bonds with me I feel better and blessed; I feel I get all the good wishes of my husband through them.

In addition to all this, Hitaishini has given me all the love and care that I had lost from my life. They have helped me to think for myself and made me a better human being. I will alwavs be thankful to Dr Chakraborty for giving me a great family like Hitaishini.

I Subhro Mitra of 234, Green Park, Saradapally, Kolkata-700055, by chance felt something uncanny, a pimple like element on my left breast. I explained that to my mom, who is the member of an N.G.O. named "HITAISHINI". On my mother's advice, I went to that organisation and was instantly attended to sincerely. I was released on the same day after being examined by the expert doctors and diagnosed with nothing but a simple acne or something like that.

The instantaneous attendance and continuous sincerity in the service of patients always accompanied by a smiling attitude is what marks the achievements of Hitaishini. Pray to the Almighty that Hitaishini grow more to work for cancer patients and give more to the society.

'CANCER,' as we know, is one of the most dreadful phenomena in today's world. Its dreadfulness originates from various difficulties which include physical suffering and fear of death.

So, thinking about patients to give them better care, a group named 'HITAISHINI' came up 16 years ago. This group mainly works for breast cancer patients, both male and female. The group comprises cancer survivors, social workers, housewives, health professionals or close friends of cancer afflicted persons.

I, Priyaya Choudhury, as an MSW from Assam University, Silchar went for 45 days of training with 'Hitaishini', basically for my block placement purpose. I was touched by their love of working for the breast cancer patients and decided to work with them. So as a trainee volunteer I worked with them in Chittaranjan National Institute and in Cancer Centre Welfare Home and Research Institute. Thakurpukur.

I learned to give psychological counselling, how to detect early cancer by breast self examination, various sorts of post operative exercises in order to avoid lymphoedema and how to use lymphopress machines. Moreover, I used to visit wards with other HITAISHINI volunteers to offer information, medicinal and rehabilitative support.

HITAISHINI is the only breast cancer support group in Eastern India. The excellent work of HITAISHINI has attained great reputation and now it requires no introduction in and around West Bengal. As a trainee volunteer, I got good exposure by working with HITAISHINI, and presently I am working in Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Silchar. It's a voluntary organization which works heart and soul for the welfare of cancer patients.

I work basically on the projects of National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) namely HBCR, POCSS & ATLAS as a Tumour Registry Officer under the supervision of Dr. Ravi Kannan. The things which I learned while working with HITAISHINI have helped me a lot, specially in my professional career.