Winter 2014
Sen Sen’s mother, Atashi Das, was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer in early 2008, it was a shock to the family. Not only was her loving mother’s health threatened, but there was no family history of cancer. Sen’s mother’s yearlong fight was fierce.
Rigorous treatment from reputable doctors included surgery and chemotherapy, which led to the loss of Atashi’s luxurious hair, and later, her life. “She never gave up hope, lost her smile or her spirit,” says Sen.
Bringing it Home
Though married and living in the U.S. during her mother’s battle, Sen felt a keen closeness to her mother, who traveled 10,000 miles to visit during her illness. As an only child, her mother’s death left a huge hole in her life and stirred a passion for women’s advocacy and medical intervention.
Relating her mother’s words, Sen says, “She mentioned many times, ‘If I’d know that the bloating and indigestion was a sign of ovarian cancer, I’d have known to see a doctor. It’s such a terrible disease and should not affect others the way it did me.’”
Given a Mission
This statement charged Sen with a responsibility and a calling. She left the corporate world in 2009 and founded Ovarcome—a non-profit organization whose mission is to build global awareness regarding ovarian cancer and provide treatment support to underprivileged women in developing nations.
It’s an enormous task and one that energizes Sen. Ovarcome is run by a volunteer, experienced staff that includes an inner circle, an advisory board, and a management team of about 25 people, focusing predominantly in India.
Senior consultant of gynecological oncology Dr. Jaydip Bhaumik undertakes the principal roles of surgery and directing care at Tata Medical Center in Calcutta, India. He says, “We provide a comprehensive service for the treatment of all gynecological cancers as a tertiary care center that encompasses the entire infrastructure and other resources needed for this type of care.”
Dr. Bhaumik is the only gynecological oncology specialist at the non-profit hospital and is training four others in this specialty. Cancer care is expensive, and though many can pay for services, many more cannot. A partnership with Ovarcome allows the hospital to help more women. “Sen approached me through a common friend, expressing the wish to support patients at this hospital. We grabbed the opportunity,” says Bhaumik.
As Ovarcome’s program director in India, Shilpa Chokroborty helps women receive support. ”Our role is to evaluate the applications and all related documents to identify the beneficiary,” she says. “After initial identification, the case is discussed with the central Ovarcome, team and we set the ball rolling for processing the payment. We do the whole process from behind [the scenes], so that the dignity of the beneficiary is maintained.”
Real-Life Assistance
A typical patient is Chinta Dey, who is 55 and married with adult children. Family members are farmers, who earn $2 per day. They had sold two plots of land and some cattle to ensure surgery, at which point Ovarcome stepped in to help. Chokroborty says, “Ovarcome supported the cost of chemotherapy and helped her to continue the battle against cancer.”
Education is imperative to early detection, so Ovarcome holds seminars abroad as well as in Houston, where two workshops were held in 2013. At Rice University, five oncologists discussed cancer, nutrition, and lifestyle, and offered a make-over to a 19-year-old survivor.
Many requests from the uninsured reach Ovarcome, and staff connect women to Ovarian Cancer National Alliance for assistance. Ovarcome also teaches in India, where women need information on basic hygiene, as well as detection and care.
Expanding the Reach
The organization is planning to reach out to Africa and Latin America soon. “My goal and sincere wish is to expand treatment support and education and touch more lives in the years to come,” Sen says.
Sen misses her loving mother every day, but she is motivated to press on and overcome by helping others.
Her newfound purpose in life gives her immense joy, energy, and satisfaction. Now when she passes by her mother’s frame photograph, Sen says, “I look at her, smile, and say to myself, ‘You left, yet you left me with so much to do.”
Visit ovarcome.org to help or learn more
Ovarian Cancer Signs
- Bloating or swollen belly
- Difficulty eating feeling full quickly
- Pelvic pain or feeling “heavy”
- Indigestion, nausea, constipation and gas
- Abnormal menstrual cycles
- Unexplained back pain
- Weight gain or loss
- Increased urgency to urinate