To commemorate 100 years of International Women’s Day celebration, LifeCell International on Tuesday launched ‘LifeCell Femme’, giving women across the country an opportunity to preserve stem cells from their menstrual blood. The initiative was launched by model-turned-actor and a cancer survivor, Lisa Ray.
Explaining, how preserving stem cells from menstrual blood is a boon for women, Dr. Anita Soni, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist of Powai’s Dr. L.H Hiranandani Hospital, said, “This is an chance for women who had lost out on the opportunity to preserve their stem cells and the trend will definitely pick up. Moreover, this is a simple procedure and can be done in complete privacy at one’s home.”
Speaking on the occasion, Mayur Abhaya, Executive Director, LifeCell International said, “In India, there are myriad myths and taboos associated with menstrual blood and our biggest challenge will be to get people to accept make them overcome such traditional setbacks. With the introduction of this new service, we are a step closer to meeting our objective of bringing in the latest potential preventive and proactive healthcare solutions to the country.”
According to Abhaya the collection of blood should preferably be done between the age of 30 to 35, because after 35, women’s health undergoes several changes and their periods become irregular. Moreover, the cells are healthier at an earlier age.
“There might be virginity issues because this method requires insertion of the menstrual cup into the vagina, and hence the ladies have to be comfortable with this. Moreover, I don’t think women tend to invest much in health before marriage,” said Abhaya.
Commenting on the launch, Lisa Ray said, “I am delighted to launch the initiative and I congratulate the firm for bringing this breakthrough stem cell technology to India. Having undergone stem cell transplantation myself, and benefited from it, I stand here as a live testimony of its success which has brought a new ray of hope for many. We should welcome this promising technology with open minds as it could help us conquer life threatening diseases, especially when all other hopes of treatment are given up.”
LifeCell is the first and only company offering menstrual blood stem cell banking in India.
Lisa, a ray of hope…
Considering our society, will the trend of stem cells preservation pick up?
Yes. We have to shed all those inhibitions. Today, we are more open and things will percolate when one woman talks to another woman about this. Even doctors and gynaecs can help. I know they will because helping each other is human nature.
After defeating cancer, how does it feel to tell people about life and hope?
I am grateful that I am here. Everybody has some skills. Though I am not very good at fundraising, I can talk.
Does the presence of a celebrity help promote a cause?
Absolutely. When celebs say something, people listen, so does the media. Though having a celebrity isn’t a compulsion, but when we share our experiences, we get better connected with our audience.
How has your life changed after cancer?
Adversity, be it any, changes you. Today, my life has a greater depth and purpose. I’m able to connect with humanity in a better way and invest in joy everyday. Although I’m still healing, emotionally and psychologically, I can now empathise with people in a much better way.
Message for our women readers?
Indian women rock! As Oscar Wilde rightly said, ‘Be yourself, everyone else is taken’, just listen to yourself. Develop and make a personal choice. Do what makes you happy.