Anita Nanda, 58 who resides in Mauritius, battled breast cancer with a positive attitude, which was, of course, aided by the loving comfort of her family. She recalls those difficult days in this personal account.
What was the emotion uppermost in your mind when you were diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2017 - Depression, anxiety, fear or something else?
All of these. Oh my God! It can’t be happening to me…’ was obviously the first thought.
Did you face emotional turmoil throughout, or did it peak during or after treatment? Or maybe even before treatment?
I went through emotional turmoil throughout my treatment because when you are going through chemotherapy, the side effects are different each time and you don’t know what to expect ! So it was a trial by fire…literally!
How much did support from family and friends matter to you at the time?
That was THE most important thing at that time. Without my family and friends encouraging me and looking after me with caring and loving attitude, I wouldn’t have been able to go through the treatment at all.
I had my whole family rallying around me. My nutrition was being well taken care of..Nariyal pani first thing in the morning, healthy palak parantha for breakfast, anar mid morning etc etc. The whole meal plan was ‘cooked fresh, fresh, fresh’.
All in all my sisters were a great source of strength for me during my difficult period.The two who were in Delhi were physically present with me through it all and with whom I took turns to stay with for months on end and my sister from afar praying for me and cheering me up always!
My sister from Dubai too gave me immense strength through it all. As soon as she heard about my diagnosis,she took the next flight and was by my side for the surgery. Then all through my chemotherapy days she kept sending me beautiful scarves and prayer threads and what have you! Twice more she flew down to spend time with me.She is an excellent cook and as we know during chemo the taste buds really go for a toss .She would prepare yakhni and other delicious stuff that would appeal to my palate. It was a delight to have her around whenever she could make it ! Its because of her prayers and best wishes that I stand strong today!
What kept you going?
First and foremost my faith in God ,then faith in my Doctors and of course the unfailing support of my near and dear ones.
What were your early symptoms before detection?
I used to repeatedly get a ulcer on my left nipple which was not amenable to any treatment –I tried allopathy, homeopathy, ayurveda…you name it! I visited all streams of experts…GP, Dermatologist, Gynaecologist. (I was in Mauritius) This carried on for about two years. It would subside and keep coming back again and again. Finally, as luck would have it, I came across a surgeon who suggested a biopsy, and on getting the result, he suspected something and asked me to go to India immediately.
What was the next course of action?
A friend of mine in Mauritius had taken me for this biopsy. She immediately got into action and contacted her cousin in Delhi who knew a thing or two about doctors there. Though I have my whole family in Delhi and I belong to Delhi, here was a friend in this alien country who helped me to not only find an ace doctor, but also took the pains to ensure I got to see the doctor—from arranging the appointment to everything.. all without my knowledge. She contacted my sisters and gave them the doctor’s contacts and my appointment time.
Do you have a history of cancer in your family?
I started it!
Was it a bolt from the blue for you?
Absolutely
What were the most difficult challenges you faced after detection?
The fact that I would have to stay away from home for the next couple of months as there was no good treatment available in my country of residence (Mauritius).
How did you respond to chemotherapy?
I used to sleep a lot, something that came naturally to me after every chemo. In each cycle, in the first week, I only slept. The second week onwards, I felt a bit stronger. The third week was the golden week when was all ok. My relatives made a ritual of entertaining me on the day before the next chemo. In the safe period, we would go out for a movie followed by dinner. So in this way, I saw six movies and ate in six plush restaurants to mark my six chemos. Perks of being a patient!!
I tried my best not to let myself be dragged down by negative thoughts. I used to always go to the temple on the Apollo premises before going in for chemo. It gave me immense strength. A quirky habit I developed was that I wanted a room facing the temple only. That had become my good omen. After two chemos, they knew i wouldn’t take a room on the other side!
Related Reading: The "Spa Effect" of Chemotherapy
What was the hardest part of the treatment?
The hardest part was losing my hair…however much you may be prepared for it, it does make you cry!!!! I lost mine after the second chemo, but again my children had already sent me wigs, so I didn’t have to move around bald. Dr Sarin, Pooja, Dr Parag and my whole family would always pull down my scarf and urge me to have the confidence to move around like that! They did it so sweetly, loading me with compliments that it gave me a lot of confidence to be comfortable and be seen around without a scarf or wig.
What is your condition now?
I have been declared cancer free. I’m now on preventive oral medication for five years.
How you made definite changes to your lifestyle, post-reatment? If so, what are they?
I was told to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine to maintain my body weight and to remain fit. That’s what I am trying to follow.
Have you tried complementary medicine or therapies, like homeopathy or yoga?
Yes,I’ve taken to yoga to keep my lymphedema under check and I must say, it is really helping me.
Have you ever had to go to a counsellor for this?
Yes. Initially..I had lost my confidence to go about life after finishing my treatment when I came back into the world…so to say ! Luckily I found my bearings pretty soon and then I was fine.
Are you afraid of a relapse? How have you mentally prepared yourself for it, if it does occur?
Yes , that is always playing at the back of my head even though my Doctor told me that since my tumour was barely 1.2 cm ..the chances of relapse are as good as nil. As for preparedness - Que sera sera.
Has it also been a spiritual journey for you? How?
I’ve always had great faith in God and this only reinforced it. The wonderful doctor I found and then all my friends and relatives rallying around me…all this wouldn’t have fallen in place if there was no divine protection for me!
I felt God all around me, as if He had sent these people to lovingly look after me, and all I had to do was to be a little brave and keep my eye on the light at the end of the tunnel. I thanked God a million times every day for giving me these people to help me through my most difficult times.
How has this changed your perspectives in life?
My motto:Live life king size every single day. You never know what tomorrow holds for you. So do everything that you ever wanted to do now..sing,dance,cook. Whatever .. Help others as much as you can for what you give comes back to you manifold. Invest your time and effort in maintaining good relations with your near and dear ones for they are the only ones who will come forward in your hour of crisis!.
What is your advice to people who are undergoing similar experiences?
Face the situation bravely. Its just a phase which will soon pass .Do not let the disease overpower you. Rather you overpower the disease and throw it out of your system with your resolve. It is possible only when you keep a positive attitude and see it as just another hurdle in life to be overcome.
