Blogs
- WE KEEP FIGHTING TO WIN ..
By Meherangez Mistry and Vaseem Chaudhary
After achieving a certain age, looking after oneself becomes a daily task. I hope reading a positive story from another survivor is reassuring and makes you feel stronger.
It has been eleven years since the detection of my breast cancer and the traumatic two years of treatment. As I recollect and remember the trauma and what my family had to bear, I recognize that although I was the patient, going thru the pain and the side effects of the treatment, my family was deeply affected and emotionally broken from seeing me suffer.
It was June 2010 and I was enjoying a Roger Federer tennis final when I felt a lump on my left breast, just by chance, which started my two-year battle with cancer including mastectomy, care and recovery. My husband and my mum took full charge of me and the home in every way. Hubby-dear took to his new culinary role and he almost forgot he had major back problems. Mum would sit by my side just stroking my pain away. My sons, daughters-in-law, brother sister, family and friends called and checked on me daily.
You see mastectomy is not just a physical pain, but it emotionally drains you. Dreams are frightening–wondering how the body will hold up to the post-chemo reactions. My biggest fear from the start was how others, especially my hubby, would accept me after the mastectomy. It makes a woman feel so inadequate and deficient. I now know Beauty from within—it’s nothing physical.
Tables have turned now and I am the principal support and caregiver to my hubby. I have just had both my two cataract surgeries done and busy with major dental repairs. I try to stay healthy, active and useful, attempt to keep my systems going, especially for my octogenarian hubby and Paratrooper who is now on a wheelchair. The trauma, the hospital stays, the cancer ward are all behind me and the turbulent times are a thing of the past. I thank God constantly, pray to Him, thank Him, that he chose me to fight this, and not anybody from my family or friends.
Here are some other suggestions for dealing with cancer:
- Think about how you can best face it all–detection and acceptance of the problem is key.
- Start by questioning your doctors on everything big or small and then trusting in them fully.
- Take you medication and eat correct as advised by your doctor.
- If it helps, pray to God to see you through the treatment for He knows best.
- And don’t forget your Attitude of Gratitude to all once you have recovered. Be a support and candle to others in their journey to recovery.
In conclusion, we are always just a phone call away for anyone in need of support, be it the patient or family members.
Yours in friendship,
Meherangez Mistry
- R Chandrashekar’s Cancer Story
Dear friends, cancer doesn’t mean the end of the road! It DOES cause fear and anxiety. It DOES evoke feelings of uncertainty and hopelessness. It DOES mean a long, challenging journey. But It DOES NOT mean that you are alone.
I am a cancer survivor. Initially, I presented with breathlessness, and it was diagnosed as TB by doctors at a reputed hospital. My TB treatment went on for three months and my condition started getting worse. I had a discussion with a consulting surgeon and went in for thoracic surgery.
The surgeons found tumors on my rib cage wall. This was in 2010 and I was diagnosed with “Lymphoblastic Lymphoma T cell” cancer. It was in an advanced stage and doctors gave me a life expectancy of 90 days. The doctors explained the treatment protocol to me and I started my treatment. After three years of chemo and radiation treatment, I overcame cancer and now am back to my normal life.
Cancer DOES NOT mean that you cannot survive. It is all in our mental strength and will power. Do not give heed to negative thoughts preached by some people, instead think positively. And also do a lot of physical activity (walking, jogging, running, yoga exercises, etc.).