Sova Das, 61, who overcame cancer 10 years ago and her husband Swapan Das, 69, who have dealt with cancer thrice in 13 years proved that cancer is not the end of the world.

The couple who were treated at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals on two of the three occasions, participated in the Cancer Survivors’ Walk with 30 others in the Airtel Run for Education.

Her husband had undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiation when he had come down with a rare cancer of the jejunum (a portion of the small intestine) in 2004 and had recovered. When she first learnt she had cancer in 2009, she initially consulted a doctor elsewhere but then decided to come to Apollo because I had seen the quality of treatment earlier.

She had undergone surgery (mastectomy) under Dr. Shaikat Gupta and was on medication for the next five years. Another five years down the line, she is absolutely fine except for a nagging knee problem.

Her husband, Swapan, had first developed cancer of the small intestine in 1996. On that occasion, too, he had needed surgery but had recovered in due course. Again, in 2004, he had developed cancer of a different portion of the intestine, which was treated in Apollo.

Sova Das have participated in Pinkathon before. But on that occasion she had run alone. This time, at the Airtel Run for Education, she participated at the event with her husband.