Surviving Breast Cancer

Inspite of its debilitating physical and psychological effects, it can be treated. Here are inspiring stories of four women who survived the beast.

- Deepa Narayanan

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women the world over, with about 1,50,000 new cases being diagnosed annually in India alone. There are about 70,000 breast cancer-related deaths every year, and it is natural that the illness brings fear in its wake. But it doesn’t have to bear down on its victim like Damocles sword. With timely detection and a good, continuous support system it can be beaten. Here are the stories of four survivors.

RENU BHATIA, 50, homemaker, Delhi

Diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2005, Renu was already battling another disease at home—that of her husband’s kidney disorders and related treatments. “So, it didn’t strike me as unusual that I had a large knot in my right breast. I hadn’t really known anything about cancer, let alone breast cancer. Even my sister-in-law said it could be something that would go away with a good hot-compress!” she said. But it didn’t, and Renu had it checked at Delhi’s Holy Family Hospital, where her husband was admitted for his kidney troubles. The mammogram tested positive, and she was made to undergo the Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) test to evaluate her breast lump. The test results confirmed her fear.