Saroja (not her real name) was 39 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018.
She had just started a new job and had big plans for the future. She first suspected something might be wrong two years earlier, when she felt a lump in her right breast. At the time, she did not think much of it as she did not feel any pain or discomfort.
This time, however, she noticed a dark spot on her areola with crustiness and discharge from her nipple. She also had sharp, shooting pain in her chest.
There was no way this was normal, so she went to see a breast specialist. The doctor ordered a mammogram, ultrasound and MRI scan to examine the lump more closely.
When the radiologist told her she needed an urgent biopsy, she knew what she had been suspecting was about to become a reality.
After several sleepless nights, she met the specialist for the biopsy report. The results revealed she had breast cancer.
Even though she had been concerned for nearly two years, she was nevertheless unprepared for the shock of the diagnosis. Later that day, she and her husband told their respective families.
At the hospital for the initial consultation, her nurse was friendly and informative. She was also a cancer survivor who spoke freely about her own experience.
Saroja felt calm and reassured. Her eyes filled with tears again, but this time they were tears of hope because she knew she had come to the right place.
She had breast surgery and her lymph nodes were checked. Thankfully, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed that the cancer had not spread to other areas of her body.
After recovering from surgery, she received six chemotherapy treatments followed by several treatments of radiation.
Her experience at the hospital was empowering as she was part of the decision-making process every step of the way. The doctors and nurses were caring and she made friends with both patients and staff.
Her dietitian helped with her meal plans, taught her how to shop for and cook healthier food, and recommended supplements to take during and after treatment to help her recovery. She was also given advice on how to deal with the side effects of chemotherapy.
Saroja had been married for just eight months when she was diagnosed, and her husband was by her side all the way. At first, it was hard to admit she needed help and to be vulnerable, but once she let go and let him take care of her, their relationship deepened.
When she lost weight and hair, she felt unattractive. But he showed her unconditional love and made her feel beautiful. Their friends and family all came together to help in any way they could.
Today, Saroja chooses to have hope and faith, and continues to build her relationship with God and her loved ones. Cancer has given her a better perspective on what matters and a renewed appreciation for those in her life.
She is sharing her story to remind people that cancer doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone of any age and ethnicity, of any education level and economic status.
One must be proactive about health, take control to eliminate unhealthy habits, and listen to your body. If you are a woman, do a breast self-examination once a week and have regular mammograms, especially if you have a family history of breast cancer.
TELEME Healing Life Stories is a collection of inspirational stories of how ordinary people triumph over their health conditions and recover to lead a healthier life after that. Feel free to email [email protected] to share your story.
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