Dora Mukherjee went through the entire battery of tests and procedures after being detected with a Right Breast Carcinoma. She recalls her pain and anguish as well as the love she received during the critical period.
The beginning with a diagnosis
My painful journey with cancer started on 1st February 2014 when I was referred by my Bank's Medical Officer to Dr Gandhi's Imaging Clinic for Bilateral Mammography in Mumbai. Sonomammography was done which revealed a case of carcinoma of the right breast - a solid mass with spiculated margins and with a very high degree of malignancy, suggesting BI-RADS CATEGORY 5.
My first glimpse of the Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai was on 6th February 2014, a day after my son's birthday, who was at that time away at a very distant Management school in Montreal, Canada. I reached the hospital alone even before the gates had opened and stood in the queue for an unknown fearful journey.
The Tests
A battery of tests commenced immediately followed by Biopsy. Biopsy report confirmed Infiltrating duct carcinoma grade III. ER(Estrogen Receptor): Positive 100% tumour cells with Allred score 8/8 and PR(Progesterone Receptor):Positive with Allred score 6/8.
Final Histopathology report confirmed infiltrating duct carcinoma grade three with metastasis to axillary lymph nodes.
As my husband was then working in Bapi, Gujarat, a very good friend and colleague Mrs Anne Koshy accompanied me to the TMH on the first day of my tryst with the hospital. She was and still is a big pillar of strength during my terrible journey.
The Surgery
Immediately after detection of the disease, it was imperative to get a surgery done for breast lumpectomy. But TMH was unable to give a date for about three months to conduct the surgery owing to its pressing commitments. Again my aforesaid friend helped me through her church contacts for an early date for the surgery. With help from many quarters, right breast lumpectomy could be undertaken at TMH's Research and Education Centre in Navi Mumbai on 20th February 2014 instead of its main hospital at Parel where better infrastructure facilities are available.
We opted for Navi Mumbai centre to expedite commencement of first stage of treatment. I was discharged on 21st Feb 2014 on completion of lumpectomy with nodal dissection.Two out of five lymph nodes showed metastatic duct carcinoma. Operation was followed by physiotherapy for arm and drain care along with huge doses of antibiotics.
Prevention and Treatment of Lymphedema
Operation was followed by Interphase FISH Test for HER 2/ Neu. The presence of HER-2/ neu gene amplification has been associated with a higher incidence of recurrence, a shorter disease free survival and a greater responsiveness to certain therapeutic regimens.
Chemotherapy and its aftermath
The aforesaid operation and tests were followed by Chemotherapy and Radiation. Chemotherapy was a very, very difficult phase as the treatment ruins the patient completely ---- physically, mentally and emotionally. It was very tough owing to lack of domestic support and radical physical changes. Hair started falling after the first chemo which was the last straw in endurance. A barber had to be called to clean shave my head as it was difficult to manage day to day living.
That was the day I cried bitterly for my helpless condition. Apart from the emotional turmoil, feeling weak physically made things very, very acute. The only help from relatives was in the form of get well phone calls which were then very demanding as I didn't have the mental and physical strength to attend to such calls.
Immense Love and Help
Help poured in abundance from friends in the form of home cooked meals, get well prayers, wigs and coverings for the head. Special prayers were organised in all places of worship. My old colleagues from NABARD where I had worked till retirement helped in with timely disbursement of huge medical bills immediately on submission.
It sure was a win-win situation from mankind.
