परिचय:

In January 2019, my husband and I went for a regular health check-up which included a cancer marker test. We had no symptoms at all. I had just lost some weight but I attributed it to my diet. But my tests indicated the possibility of Breast Cancer. I was 50 and worried. I waited for 1 month and repeated the marker test but there was still no strong indication. By now I was panicking and didn't want to take any risk. On my Doctors suggestion, I visited an oncologist, went through a mammogram and एमआरआय. These also indicated the possibility of Breast Cancer. Still unconfirmed!. Finally, I had a lumpectomy, an underarm lymph node test plus a frozen Biopsy test. In 10 days, the result was out. I had stage 1 Breast Cancer.

उपचार प्रोटोकॉल:

We consulted multiple doctors. All of them suggested Radiation. But some suggested केमोथेरपी. Some were not in favour of Chemo. We were so confused. Though my cancer was in stage one, it was an aggressive one. As I was only 50, the doctor suggested that my body can take Chemotherapy. I was doubtful but went ahead as I didn't want to take a chance to have the cancer return.

दुष्परिणाम:

माझे केमो सुरू झाल्यानंतर मी अशक्त झालो आणि माझे केस गळू लागले. . माझे डोके छाटण्याआधी मी थोडासा रडलो. . पण 1 तासात मी उठलो. जीवन खरे तर सोपे होते. धुण्यासाठी केस नव्हते. मी खूप थकलो असल्याने, काळजी करण्यासारखे हे 1 कमी काम आहे. मला समजले की मी हुशार दिसत आहे. मी माझ्या भुवया, पापण्या देखील गमावल्या नंतर मी दररोज रद्दीचे दागिने घालून आणि माझ्या व्हॉट्सअॅप ग्रुप्समध्ये माझे फोटो पोस्ट करून स्वतःला आनंदित केले. माझी मुलं तरुण प्रौढ होती.. माझा मुलगा केमोच्या २ फेऱ्यांनंतर कॉलेजला निघाला होता. माझी मुलगी पण कॉलेजमध्ये. त्यांनी माझ्या पतीसह समर्थन आणि अत्यंत आवश्यक विनोद प्रदान केला.

बाल्डी-शूट:

I also did a photoshoot with my family wearing fancy clothes. I call it my baldy shoot. Everyone treats cancer like a demon but I took the consequences very lightly thanks to my friends and family. I combated it because I embraced it. After chemotherapy, radiation started at a higher interval of time. I wouldn't say I became fit completely. I have side effects. My bones became weaker and I can't work continuously now. My immune system also weakened. But I tried my best to be optimistic.

त्या तीन ओळी:

Let me tell you what helped me to be positive at that time. It is 3 lines my अपूर्ण कर्करोग survivor father told me. They are:- thinking of cancer as a simple disease, Chemotherapy as its cure and considering the rest as Niyamat. Blessing. And that turned my life.

आता तो 82 वर्षांचा आहे.

मी कसा सामना केला:

मी टीव्ही आणि नेटफ्लिक्स बघायचो. मदतीचे हात होते. पण एवढ्या मोठ्या रिकाम्या वेळेत मी काय करणार हे कधीच माझ्या मनाला लागले नाही. त्याशिवाय माझे मित्र आणि कुटुंबीय यांनी मला त्यावेळी खूप मदत केली. देवाने माझ्यावर खूप कृपा केली आहे. मी खूप स्वतंत्र किंवा अतिस्वतंत्र होतो. आणि अचानक, मला प्रत्येक लहान गोष्टीसाठी अवलंबून राहावे लागले. जेव्हा माझे शरीर थरथर कापत होते, तेव्हा मी दिवसातून 21 वेळा पुक करतो, मी गोष्टी कशा सोडायच्या हे शिकलो. मी घरूनच माझा व्यवसाय सुरू ठेवला. मी थांबलो नाही. कंटाळ्याचा सामना करण्यासाठी मी माझे फेसबुक पेज उघडले. त्यावेळी मी माझ्या भावना सांगू लागलो. मला आशावादी ठेवण्यासाठी मी विनोदाचा वापर केला. मला वाटते की हसणे खरोखर एक उत्तम औषध आहे. इच्छाशक्ती आणि हशा.

शिकलेले धडे:

Being and staying positive is the only way at these moments. I know, when I could barely move my body, only negative invaded the mind. Now, I realise that it is ok to feel negative. You cry your heart out, mourn, take time to heal your mind. Then get up, wipe your tears and be the soldier who goes to the battlefront. My retd Army father always said that.Get up, shoulders back, chest forward. My mother instilled will power in me. My inlaws supported me. What more did I need? That is the only way to feel positive about yourself. I took my photos during every Chemotherapy session.. Now whenever I am under stress, I look at those photos and think is my condition worse than this? The answer is a resounding No. I get inspiration from that. I wanted to break the taboo that you can't look and feel beautiful when you are a cancer survivor.

विभक्त शब्द:

In the end, I want to tell everyone to go and do a health check-up regularly. Especially girls out there, consult and do a mammogram. And if you are over 50, do it for sure. If you see a sudden change in your body, go for a check-up instantly. I know, at a young age it sounds weird. But believe me, that's the only way to be on the safer side.