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Urvi Sabnis (Breast Cancer): Be Proud That You Lived Through Cancer

Urvi Sabnis (Breast Cancer): Be Proud That You Lived Through Cancer

Detection/Diagnosis

In 2015, I was getting my sonography done as a process of routine check-up and I could see the sonologist measuring something on the screen. I immediately thought that there is something in my breast that she is measuring, otherwise she would not have measured a normal tissue. I asked her about it and she could not gather strength to tell me that it was cancer. She asked me to call a family member, neighbour or relatives and that's when I got to know that there was something serious in my body.

I asked her that if it was cancer? and she was taken aback, she said that I need to see an oncologist. So I just closed my eyes and after a minute I asked her if there was someone in the hospital? I would like to see that doctor right now. It just took me one minute to think that I want to fight it out and I had to fight because I have a beautiful family, so I pulled all my inner strength to think and make my decision to fight it out. When I met the Onco surgeon, it was confirmed that I had stage 2 Breast Cancer.

https://youtu.be/7Yno-TSV1wI

Treatment

The first thing that we did as a family was to lock our emotions. It wasn't decided as such but it went unsaid. We wanted to get out of it very rationally, we could address the emotions later, that was the time to just focus on the treatment and it worked me.

Our emotions took the back seat and my treatment started. I underwent mastectomy, reconstruction and six cycles of Chemotherapy. My Surgery was quite complicated at that point of time because reconstruction was not very popular that time. It took nine hours for mastectomy and reconstruction to be done. The first 2-3 days after Chemotherapy were very uneasy and difficult to handle, so I used to take extra precautions in those days. The four cycles of Chemotherapy went very well but the fifth one was very painful. I got ulcers in my stomach, and I was admitted in the hospital In emergency as I got some cramps in the stomach. I was so unwell and I felt like I would not survive but again I had to draw my inner strength and motivate myself that I have to survive. I came out of it the very next day and was very happy to be back home.

The treatment went on for seven months and during those months, I tried to pursue my hobbies which I had long forgotten. I tried to tick my bucket list, which were the things I could do sitting at home that I couldn't do earlier because of lack of time.

I wanted to learn singing and I did that. I think music is a type of meditation, that heals you, soothes you, and takes you away from the Pain. This is one of the healing practice I firmly believe in. I followed cricket, and did many things which I wanted to. I also believe that yoga, love and warmth of the family heals you.

There are two types of fear in cancer. One is physical that you have to go through physical Pain. Whenever I used to have injections or any kind of pain, I just used to tell myself that it's just a matter of 3-4 minutes, and that is the way that helped me getting out of my physical Pain. I always used to think that this is the phase, and if you look at it as a book then your journey is not more than a paragraph, so just hold on and chill; it's just for a while. But it comes to mental pain, you need to gather the inner strength, have faith in yourself and look around what good you have in your life.

After I was done with the treatment I promised myself that I will be healthier than ever. So I try to maintain my diet. Earlier too, I was health conscious but now I take more care to be healthier, whether it is nutrition-wise, or work-out wise, I take care of myself and do not take Stress over small things. These are the things I handled and I think I am a better person now.

Inspired by Yuvraj Singh

I love cricket and during that time, the world cup was going on. Once, during my low moment I saw Yuvraj Singh hitting a six, and till then I didn't have any role model but when I saw him hitting a six, I thought if he can hit a six, then I can definitely make it to be alive again. That was the point I thought that he actually inspired me.

Life after cancer

My life after cancer has changed completely. Earlier I was dedicated to my family, now all the cancer patients and caregivers are my family. My life is dedicated to cancer patients, so even today, during the quarantine time also half of my days passes by in counseling patients, and organising webinars. I have become very compassionate, fearless and I empathize with each and every person.

I have looked after 4000 cancer patients and caregivers

When I used to visit hospital during my treatment, I used to see so many patients who are not privileged like me in terms of finances, innner strength, the love and care from family and relatives. So I thought to do my bit to help those people, and not just help but emotionally empower those people, so I started counseling them.

Then one fine day, the family members, no one used to answer their questions and they were very stressed. So I also started my own sessions in the hospital to counsil caregivers as they suffer silently and are always in Stress. Counseling helped the caregivers as well as the patients to come out of everything. Then I started organising events on how to bounce back to your normal life after cancer. There are plenty of other modules which I do, right now through webinars and online sessions but otherwise by going to the hospital.

Parting Message

You do not just survive cancer, you live through it, those 7-8 months or whatever your journey is, you try to live those moments. You should just not feel that I am a patient and don't sit in the corner, do whatever makes you feel happy during those days.

Cancer is not equal to death. Survivors should come forward and say with immense pride that we have survived and so can you. Life is always greater than cancer, one need to understand that.

Key Points from Urvi Sabnis healing journey

  1. In 2015, I was getting my sonography done as a process of routine check-up and I could see the sonologist measuring something on the screen. I immediately thought that there is something in my breast that she is measuring, otherwise, she would not have measured a normal tissue. I asked her that if it was cancer? and she was taken aback, she said that I need to see an oncologist. When I met the Onco surgeon, it was confirmed that I had stage 2 Breast Cancer.
  2. It just took me one minute to think that I want to fight it out and I had to fight because I have a beautiful family, so I pulled all my inner strength to think and make my decision to fight it out. I underwent a mastectomy, reconstruction, and six cycles of Chemotherapy.
  3. After I was done with the treatment I promised myself that I will be healthier than ever. So I try to maintain my diet. Earlier too, I was health conscious but now I take more care to be healthier, whether it is nutrition-wise, or work-out-wise, I take care of myself and do not take Stress over small things. These are the things I handled and I think I am a better person now.
  4. My life is now dedicated to cancer patients, so even today, during the quarantine time also half of my days passes by in counseling patients, and organising webinars. I have become very compassionate, fearless and I empathize with each and every person.
  5. Cancer is not equal to death. Survivors should come forward and say with immense pride that we have survived and so can you. Life is always greater than cancer, one need to understand that.
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