Daksha Trivedi was born and raised in Kenya and migrated to England with her family in the early 70’s. She grew up in Coventry before pursuing her higher education in Liverpool, London and Cambridge. She now lives in Meppershall, a small village in Central Bedfordshire.
Daksha Trivedi trained as a scientist and obtained her Ph.D in studies of breast cancer (King’s College, London); an M.Sc in the Faculty of Medicine, University of London and an M. Phil in Epidemiology at the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge. As an academic at the University of Hertfordshire, she has an interest in Evidence-based practice (Editor, Cochrane Collaboration), public health and health care research which has been published widely. She is involved in patient experience and public involvement and is an editor of the Cochrane Collaboration and an Associate Editor, Primary Health Care Research and Development. She continues to collaborate with Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge.
Raised in a traditional South Asian family, Daksha highlights the complexities around how ‘cancer’ can be perceived by her community, who more often than not assume the worst. Her article in the British Medical Journal with professionals in mind discusses how a family history of cancer affected her during her diagnosis, and how health professionals can support patients from different cultural backgrounds (British Medical Journal, https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/364/bmj.l788.full.pdf)
She had the privilege to work nationally and internationally with eminent academics, scientists, doctors, spiritual thinkers and healing practitioners, who helped her to interpret the complex tapestry of life. When faced with crisis, she was able to draw upon those valuable insights that became a bedrock upon which her life would unfold.
Daksha encourages multifaith dialogue by serving on local interfaith community organisations, witnessing the magic of people coming together celebrating the unity in diversity. She is ever eager to champion the promotion of human values, common throughout all cultures and beliefs with the hope of bringing about a greater understanding by removing barriers that separate us. Close to her heart is her voluntary service on the Sathya Sai Mobile Hospital in India that provides doorstep medicine to the villages that have no other health care programmes. It is internationally recognised for its philosophy of transforming patients’ lives through a holistic approach of treating the patient and not just the disease.
Her first book takes the reader through a panoramic view of her battle through cancer and truly reflects the essence of who she really is.
My Life Now
I am NOW living the dream to follow my purpose in this present, adding value and beauty to my life and others and living each day as if it were my last.
Fydor Dostoevsky alludes that “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for”. Expanding my heart and mind and spreading my wings, I am discovering how much I can go beyond myself where no limits can bind me. Every thing can be beautiful, not necessarily the way we want it to be. The passion in my new-found freedom lies in my ability to be eclectic, enjoying everything I do. I have understood that life is defined by not what we have given up, but what we have allowed in – strength, hope and empathy recognising frailty through kind heartedness and meaningful relationships.
I wished to contribute to the well being of those going through difficult journeys and if I could in any small way lift their spirits then my purpose of writing this book would be served. I now run a local cancer support group in my village with the assistance of Macmillan Cancer Support. This is proving to be of great benefit to both cancer patients and their families who otherwise would not have access to such groups in rural areas. I enjoy conducting talks and workshops in diverse settings to help people access the support they need and to enable them to develop positive strategies. I continue to develop my interest in complimentary and holistic health programmes and in my pastime I find country walking, art and dancing truly meditative, taking me beyond myself.
I am also an advocate of the patient forum of the Cancer Alliance Integrated Care Services Programme in the region to help improve patient experience and promote awareness of cancer care services in the community.