Twenty years ago - as a 30 year old young mother, wife, physician and daughter of cancer patient, a small painful lump completely changed my life. Struggling very hard to manage all my responsibilities, first instinct was to keep quiet so that all my roles would not get disturbed. Call it my instincts that something was not right, that despite some Doctors telling me to ignore - linking it to some VIP syndrome - as I was a physician. I went ahead got a FNAC and mammography done - both were inconclusive. As FNAC was doubtful - Surgeons decided to remove the lump. At Tata Hospital, with frozen section confirming the diagnosis - Mastectomy was performed, followed by Chemotherapy.
Both of it immense sideeffects - Physical and emotional - but slowly as I started to recover, in next 6 months I embarked on a completely new career of Healthcare Communications.
Generally people do not believe when I say I am a Cancer Survivor.
Few lessons that I learned-
1) To be a great mother, have a great career -you need to be alive - so do not waste time - get yourself examined.
2) Trust your instincts.
3) Treatment is tough but temporary - you will forget about it once you gain back your energy.
4) Accept your diagnosis - once you accept it - it is easier for family members.
5) Ask for help, develop a support system.
6) You are very very important for yourself and your family and not easily replaceable - so take good care of yourself.
LOVE THY SELF
