Back in 2021, life was nothing short of perfect. Her career was thriving, her passion for running led her to successfully complete several marathons, and she felt healthier than ever. But life took a sudden, cruel turn when she woke up one morning to discover a lump in her left breast, the size of a tennis ball. Alarmed, she immediately sought medical attention. Initial tests pointed to a benign tumor, and with a sigh of relief, she scheduled a procedure to have it removed within a week.
Ten days later, her world shattered. The words “breast cancer” struck her like a bolt of lightning. Stunned and refusing to believe the diagnosis, she grappled with the dreaded question, “Why me?” But in her moment of despair, she made a powerful choice and she would face this battle head-on, with resilience and a smile.
When her doctor asked if she was ready for a mastectomy, she responded with characteristic humour, “Yes, doctor, no bras for life!” Her spirit remained unbroken, thanks in no small part to her husband, Pawan, who became her unwavering pillar of strength. His positivity never faltered. Before every surgery, he stood by her side, smiling and reassuring her with his comforting presence. When faced with the daunting reality of sixteen rounds of chemotherapy, he joked, “Think of it as a sixteen-mile race, you’ll conquer it one step at a time.”
The journey was brutal. Chemotherapy ravaged her body. Painful mouth ulcers made speaking and eating impossible, while excruciating hemorrhoids left her bedridden. Her hair and nails fell out, and ulcers covered her feet. But she never allowed the pain to define her. With her legs bandaged, she continued to run, refusing to let cancer steal her love for life. She poured her emotions into art, using illustration as a therapeutic outlet.
Yet, the most heartbreaking moment came when she lost her sense of taste, indeed a devastating blow for a chef whose life revolved around food.
But through the darkest days, her light continued to shine. She emerged victorious, proving to herself and the world that cancer was just a chapter, not her whole story. On her last day of chemotherapy, she celebrated her triumph by dancing joyfully with her nurses to Bollywood songs.
Nearly two years after her diagnosis, she was officially declared cancer-free. And her first celebration of freedom? Plates of pani puri, dishes she had longed to savour.
Although she continues with post-treatment tests, she remains steadfast. Every anxious moment awaiting results is met with the same unwavering belief: that even if cancer returns, she has the strength to defeat it once again.
Cancer may have taken much from her, but it could never take away her courage, humor, or relentless zest for life.
Source / Image Credit : Humans Of Bombay