Connector loves to feature Dubai’s inspirational women, to bring their story to our readers, and there’s no story more incredible and inspirational than Irina Sharma’s.
Irina, founder of eKadaa Public Relations and yoga instructor, has emerged from breast cancer looking and feeling better than ever.We watched her face it with her infectious humour, strong will and with an absolute certainty that she would ‘win’. Why? Because she could.
Irina continues to educate others about health, selflessly sharing information about her personal experience of grappling cancer, her treatment in Dubai and of her recovery at VivaMayr in Austria.
What was the best piece of advice you received?
Don’t let fear make your decisions.
What helped you get through the challenges?
I think it was a combination of my ‘will’, choosing my own path and everyone’s support. Thank you! When I was told I had cancer, all I could think of was the first three letters of cancer - CAN. I ask - where is the challenge then?
Is there a motto that you now live your life by?
Since a very young age, my father taught me to wake up and say, “today is my day” it’s all about ‘now’ and that the gift we have is the ‘present’. My mother always taught me to say “thank you” at the end of the day no matter what the day brings. Till this day I remain true to it. My sister and I were gifted with a father who taught us the meaning of the ‘will’ and a mother who defines purity and bravery.
What was the most positive thing that came out of your experience?
I have learned that each and every being comes with its own intrinsic healing capability. We can activate the power of self-healing through natural means.
Virtually every culture in the world has developed medicine thousands of years ago. That was and is real medicine. It’s unfortunate that we systematically neglect that approach to prevention and wellness.
How did you take the path of alternative medicine, and how did it affect your recovery from cancer?
I’m not using the word ‘alternative’ because I feel that most of our natural treatments were the ‘norm’ before big pharmaceutical’s got involved. Since childhood, we have been exposed to Dr. Mummy, she always had a solution through herbs that were at home. Until now she says your thoughts and your food make you a healthy human.
I believe that if we integrate modern medicine with the studies of thousands of years old medicine, we can eradicate most health problems. But the balance approach is not what the policy makers want. The healthcare industry will be better advised to listen to what the consumers of their products and services want rather than force on them a system that serves their own self-interest.
Integrative medicine: I did a double mastectomy but no chemotherapy and no Tamoxafin. On getting diagnosed I went to VivaMayr in Austria to consult with Dr. Harald Stossier and Oncologist Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Köstler both of whom work together on my treatment protocol. Dr. Harald Stossier is the only doctor who asked me - what do you want Irina? I stayed there for three weeks to prepare my immunity as I decided to do my surgery in Dubai with Dr. Houriya Kazim whom I adore and have known for the last 19 years. I chose a specific date - 21stMay. I did not want it on the full moon and I wanted it 10 days after my menstrual cycle knowing my body is the strongest at that time. I put forward my requests, it took some time to get approvals as the doctors involved in the surgery had never heard of or experienced infusions (drips) that were prepared by Dr. Kostler and Dr. Stossier from Austria pre-, during and post-surgery. It all came in place thanks to Dr. Maria from Dubai Herbal Treatment Centre whom I admire.
What are you doing now towards raising awareness about cancer?
I want to go back to the grassroots, to be a voice to reason. I want to continue the quest to learn the meaning in ‘The leaves of the trees are for the healing of nations’. So many questions need to be answered not only connected to cancer, but about health and our approach towards fortune and disaster that we invite ourselves. I believe that success rests on a naturalistic philosophy of health and medicine that focuses on treating the person, rather than solely the disease. That includes diet, nutrition, environment, body work, not only natural medicine. The patient should be given a chance to be a stakeholder in the health care system. I would like to work with doctors, such as Dr. Stossier, in educating the medical industry in the importance of nutrition and natural medicine in the treating of cancer and other diseases.