Kolkata: For the women taking part in the ramp walk at Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, the spotlight was about much more than fashion. Each step represented a personal journey through diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy and recovery.
The women, all survivors of gynaecological cancer, came together in Kolkata for ‘The Courage Walk – Onco-Gynae Survivor Meet 2026’, an event that brought survivors face-to-face with doctors, healthcare professionals and other women who had gone through similar experiences.
Instead of keeping the focus solely on treatment, the programme centred on what happens after cancer — returning to normal life, rebuilding confidence and finding the courage to move forward.
The survivors themselves became the centre of attention during a special fashion show. Walking the ramp with confidence, they used the occasion to celebrate their lives beyond cancer and the milestones they had reached after treatment.
Among those attending the programme were former Doordarshan anchor and artist Chaitali Dasgupta and noted dancer Tanusree Shankar. Their presence added an artistic and personal dimension to an event largely shaped by the experiences of the survivors.
For 64-year-old Radha Maitra from Garia, the road to recovery began with what initially appeared to be a respiratory problem. She was admitted to a Kolkata hospital after experiencing severe breathing difficulties. Investigations revealed fluid in her lungs, while a subsequent biopsy confirmed ovarian cancer.
She later underwent treatment at Manipal Hospital EM Bypass under gynaecologic oncologist Dr Arunava Roy. According to Maitra, her treatment included a 15-hour surgery followed by six cycles of chemotherapy and medication.
Today, she says she is able to lead a normal life.
Another survivor, 48-year-old Mithu Roy from Sealdah, underwent surgery after being diagnosed with a uterine tumour. She was discharged seven days after the procedure and continued medication as advised by her doctors.
For both survivors, the event offered an opportunity to talk about a part of their lives that often remains away from the public eye — the period after treatment, when patients begin adjusting to life again.
Doctors at the programme also used the occasion to underline the importance of awareness and timely medical consultation in gynaecological cancers.
Dr Arunava Roy, HOD – Gynaecologic Oncology, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, said the stories of survivors demonstrate that cancer treatment is only one part of a much longer journey. He also pointed to the continuing burden of gynaecological cancers in India and stressed the importance of awareness, early detection, appropriate treatment and continued support during recovery.
The programme also highlighted the role of emotional and social support alongside medical care. For survivors, meeting others who had experienced similar challenges provided a space to exchange stories and recognise how different each cancer journey can be.
The event was attended by Komal Dashora, Cluster Director – Mukundapur Cluster, Manipal Hospitals, along with Dr Arunava Roy, Dr Neha Agarwal, Consultant, Gynaecologic Onco-Surgery, and Dr Arunashis Mallick, Consultant, Gynaecologic Onco-Surgery.
But on the day, it was the survivors who remained at the heart of the gathering.
The ramp walk turned into a symbolic moment — not a display of what they had gone through, but of where they had reached after it. For the women taking part, every step carried a different story of treatment, recovery, support and a return to everyday life.
