Actress shares personal journey at breast cancer awareness event

At Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan, ‘Unite for Pinktober,’ an awareness seminar-cum-medical check-up camp became more than just an awareness event, it turned into a deeply personal and powerful moment of reckoning, led by actress Hina Khan, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Her presence, candour and courage gave the campaign a heartbeat. “I didn’t have a lump. But my body gave me signals. Something felt off—and I listened,” Hina shared, urging women to be vigilant and trust their instincts. She introduced her simple yet effective self-examination method: the ‘two hands, three minutes’ formula. “Gently feel your breasts with both hands for three minutes. If you sense anything unusual, don’t wait—get a clinical test,” she said, revealing that her own diagnosis came through this routine.

Despite annual screenings, Hina’s cancer was detected due to a genetic mutation something she discovered only after a blood test. “Every woman should get a genetic mutation test at least once in her life,” she advised, adding that her cancer was inherited from her father’s side.

“It was in my genes. My grandfather’s family had a history, and it reached me.”

Her story wasn’t just medical—it was emotional. She recalled the moment her partner broke the news: “I had just ordered falooda. He told me I was positive. I said, Let me eat this first. If it’s sweet, everything will be okay.” That mix of shock, humour and resilience resonated with the audience.

Hina also acknowledged the silent suffering of caregivers. “The patient feels pain, but the caregiver suffers more. My mother went through hell during my treatment,” she said, her voice heavy with gratitude.

Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, who organised the event in memory of his mother, emphasised that Pinktober must be a year-round movement. “Early detection saves lives. No woman should risk her health due to financial constraints,” he said, highlighting the free medical camp held during the event.

“Had my mother been diagnosed earlier, her life might have been saved. That pain drives me to ensure no family suffers the same loss due to late detection.” He proudly announced that the Krishna Pran Charitable Trust has adopted over 350 patients and conducts regular awareness drives and medical camps.

Seema Bansal, Vice-Chairperson of the Punjab Development Commission and a cancer survivor herself, also shared her journey, reinforcing the need for community-driven awareness.

Pinktober in Ludhiana wasn’t about ribbons—it was about raw truth, shared strength and a collective promise to protect women’s health. As Hina put it, “I’m still undergoing treatment. Some days I feel worthless, some days I feel unstoppable. But this is my life—and I love it.”