Whenever you are diagnosed, you must tell your children. But explain it gently, so that they don't get distraught. Because, worse than you telling them, is them finding out from somebody else.

I only told a few people. I went out to lunch with friends and before we began, I told them that I had cancer. They were horrified but I just said that it was okay and we should go on with lunch.

Draw Positive Energy…

I relied on the positive energy of my family and about six friends. Now, I tell people to draw positive energy from whomever they can.

You have to keep the will to live alive, no matter what people may tell you. So I shut out people who disturbed me.

I also read this book ' You Can Heal Your Life' by Louis L. Hay.

It is Time to Give Back…

I have received a lot of positive energy from people around me; now it is time to give it back. I have not joined any group. I like counselling people on my own. I help them accept what is happening to them, so they can move on.

I am also involved with the Terry Fox Foundation that researches cancer in children.

If You Believe, You Will…

Cancer need not kill you… if you believe that you are going to live, you will.

Cancer helped me open up to life, to see things in a broader perspective and not worry about insignificant things.

If we can learn from what we did yesterday, good or bad, then we have truly lived.

(Esther Daswani is a former model, society wife, cancer survivor and a counsellor. She organises the 'Terry Fox' marathon annually in association with TATA Memorial Hospital. Esther also counsels cancer patients on the phone, in her home and even their home)

- As told to Nisha Samson