Ayesha uses inner eye to save lives, detects cancer with fingertips

Ayesha Banu is blind since birth, but she possesses an extraordinary ability to detect what even highly qualified medical specialists miss. She is hailed as a saviour, having played a role in saving the lives of hundreds of women through her heightened sense of touch to detect breast cancer.

Using her exceptional sense of touch, Ayesha can identify signs of breast cancer that even those with sight might overlook. It's this unique skill that earned her the position of Medical Tactile Examiner at Cytecare Hospital, Bengaluru. For the past two years, Ayesha has been doing just that as part of an organization called Discovering Hands.

The initiative gained traction as women became more comfortable being examined by visually impaired examiners. Discovering Hands trains visually impaired women, empowering them to work alongside hospitals in detecting early signs of diseases like breast cancer. The belief that their services provide an added layer of privacy compared to an oncologist's examination has further boosted the initiative's acceptance.

Ayesha, who underwent eyelid removal surgery at a young age, overcame numerous challenges to complete her graduation. She proudly shares that among the 2,000 women she has examined, she successfully detected breast cancer in two, bringing immense satisfaction. Ayesha also dedicates a portion of her salary to charity.

Like Ayesha, 29-year-old Nurunissa from Kolar, who lost her sight at the age of three due to severe fever, also found employment through Discovering Hands. Despite lacking a medical background, both Ayesha and Nurunissa meticulously study detailed medical histories, conduct physical examinations, and even type reports. Their training involved practising on mannequins.

In India, where visually impaired individuals often face barriers in pursuing science streams, this initiative has emerged as a beacon of hope, offering an alternative path in the medical field, as stated by the Senior Consultant of Breast Oncology at Cytecare Hospital. Discovering Hands aims to detect breast cancer in its early stages, significantly increasing the chances of successful treatment and survival.