Isha Makan

Cancer Survivor

"The word ‘Cancer‘ makes you go through a lot of emotions and trauma. When I was detected with breast cancer in 2018, I was at the prime of my life, a household to look after and wonderful kids. It did take me a second to fathom it since, like many others, I too was caught up in the fear Cancer inculcates. I would often get emotional thinking of the consequences and the ripples that would affect our lives.

It took me some time to sink in the fact that I am suffering from the dis-ease. Yes! I had cancer and I wanted to deal with it better. I would go for my chemotherapy sessions with all the positivity and smiles. I realized that the sooner I could make peace with it, the easier it is for my family and the doctors too. Aren’t we consulting them for us to get better?

I made a mental list of things that could have gone way worse. Had I not gotten myself checked, had this escalated to a later stage, things would have been completely different for me. Today my young kids did not even realize what the family had experienced, and it was probably best for them to deal with it now than later.

I wanted to make a change, more for myself, then for others. I knew this is my life and I am responsible for how I want to live it. Either I could be strong enough to challenge the disease or I could give up like many others. I did have the days when my medication and pain would get over me, the hair fall being the most surreal experience. But I always looked forward to the end of the tunnel and shine bright again.

Going in for the surgery, I was preparing myself for this first step to dealing with cancer. My doctor corrected me saying this was the first and final step. The rest is just the follow-up treatment.

The truth here is, life is uncertain and the uncertainty has us living each day as if nothing is wrong. The certainty of the process that cancer comes with, scares us. If we can change the way we respond to life’s curveballs, it might be a lot easier for us to sail through it.

I do understand the emotions, pain and anguish any type of cancer can bring to a person, and everyone closely connected to him/her. My appeal to everyone is to just accept the fact, keep the right approach and deal with it confidently.

I urge all the women to get themselves checked regularly to detect any abnormalities and take action immediately. This is our life and we need to be responsible for our wellbeing.

Much love and power to all!

Interviewed and transcribed by Maryam Syed