Mann Kaur, age 101, the real winner
The real winner of the Pinkathon, the women-only marathon, India’s biggest women’s run, at Delhi on Sunday 17 September 2017, in which over 10,000 women participated – was recognized even before the race began: Mann Kaur, age 101!
“You are never too old to run,” she said while accepting the accolades.
Besides the 21 km, 10 km, 5 km or 3 km run/walk, three other special features of the Pinkathon were: Cancer Shero trek for cancer survivors, Visually-impaired run, and babywearing walk.
Creating increased awareness of breast cancer (BC) was the race’s objective when it was created and first run in 2012; but the objective has now broadened to include encouraging the “women to adopt a fitter lifestyle for themselves and their families.”
BC is the most common cancer in women; is the biggest killer cancer in women in India, and the third biggest in the world. A woman has 1 in 8 chance of getting BC. Sixty-six percent (66%) of women with invasive BC are 55 years or older, though younger women also get it.
Visually-impaired run participants, Pinkathon, 2014
Women with certain risk factors are at a higher risk of BC. A few of these factors, such as heredity, age, race, early mensuration and late menopause, HRT and certain other drugs and so on are not within one’s control.
But certain factors are. Avoid overweight, high-fat diet and alcohol. And do breastfeed and do exercise.
If cancer is detected early, while it is still in the breast, then the 5-year survival rate is 99%; if detected when it has spread to the regional nymph nodes, the rate is 85%. The average 5-year survival rate for people with BC is 90% if detected at stage 2; 72% at stage 3; and 22% detected at stage 4. Early detection is thus the key to longer survival. So know the signs and symptoms of BC, look out for these, do self-check of breasts and go for breast screening at the recommended intervals.
Keep fit and eat and drink fit to keep BC at bay. But also do BC self-check and go for screening regularly.
Babywearing walk, Pinkathon, Delhi, 17 September 2017
