Breast Cancer Survivor Giving Back to the Community

    MILTON, ON, October 03, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Navneet Sharma is approaching Diwali, the Hindu celebration of light, with a renewed sense of purpose this fall.

On Sept. 8, one week before her 37th birthday, the Milton mother of two boys finished her arduous treatment for breast cancer at Hamilton's Juravinski Cancer Centre.

And on Oct. 6, Sharma and Cancer Warrior, a team of young professionals aiming to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research, will host a Diwali dinner and dance gala at Brampton's Chandni Banquet Hall to raise money for local breast cancer research.

Called Celebrate Life with Lights, the event will be an evening of fun, food, dance, music, and games, with the proceeds going to the BRIGHT Run, an annual 5K or 1K family-friendly run, walk or stroll at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area.

Sharma wants other women to recognize the importance of taking care of themselves.

"Women tend not to do that," she said. "But our body is our best friend and we must take care of it."

The five-day Diwali festival, which begins Oct. 17 this year, symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair.

Sharma is no stranger to breast cancer. Her mother was first diagnosed with the disease in 1997. She fought cancer and survived. In 2007, Sharma's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. Again, she fought it and survived.

"I have lived with cancer since I was 17," Sharma said. "I experienced all the treatment and challenges, but the difference was it was my mother's body, not mine."

Sharma has been proudly bald as she underwent treatment. She started with chemotherapy, followed by surgery and, then, radiation therapy. She is scheduled for additional preventative surgery Oct. 25.

Women under the age of 40 represent only about 5.4 percent of those diagnosed with breast cancer. Because of her desire to help other young breast cancer patients, Sharma is participating in RUBY, a national study involving 62 researchers and clinicians at 44 institutions and clinics across Canada, including the Juravinski Cancer Centre. The objective of the study is to better understand breast cancer in women between ages 18 and 40.

"It gives me mental peace to participate," Sharma said. "If medical science can help others, that's very important. It's a way I can give back to my community."

Sharma is thankful to the family, friends and hospital staff who supported her in her journey and her deep faith gives her confidence about the future.

"I have many blessings," she said. "I was handpicked by my God, who has shown me there is more work I can do."

Breast cancer patients who wish to connect with Sharma can email her at [email protected]

The Cancer Warrior gala is sponsored by Onkar Travels, MM Dentistry Burlington, and Balwinder Kumar Broker at Remax. Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets, make a donation or explore sponsorship, contact Aseem Sharma at 647-824-9505 or visit http://www.hamiltonhealth.ca/celebratelifewithlights

For more information about the BRIGHT Run, visit http://www.brightrun.ca.

Cancer Warrior, a team of young professionals aiming to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research, will host a Diwali dinner and dance gala at Brampton's Chandni Banquet Hall to raise money for local breast cancer research.

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