CAUGHT BY CANCER

There is no single stop where one can get the exact details of the state and status of cancer in Kashmir because the state lacks single-line registry system. But the data scattered across hospitals suggest that the numbers are up and the malignancy is diverse, reports Saima Bhat

- Saima Bhat

In 2009 when 31-year-old Tanzeela, a private school teacher went to have a bath, she noticed a lump in her left breast. Once out, frightened, she revealed this to her husband, Younis Ahmad.

The panicked couple first tried to ignore it as the lump was not causing her any pain. But both had weird thoughts of what it could be. Younis, a worker at medical college Bemina, he had seen the worst of such discoveries.

Mother of two, Tanzeela left her two daughters, aged 6 and 2, with her brother and accompanied Younis to a surgeon. Doctor’s diagnosis was vindicated by FNAC tests and the mass was first-stage breast cancer.

Devastated by the revelation, they consulted their family doctor and finally landed in SKIMS Soura, Kashmir’s tertiary care hospital.

After many consultations and range of investigations, the oncologists decided to go for a surgery, as the disease was localised to Tanzeela’s one breast only, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The doctors told her she had better chances of survival and quickly removed her disease infested breast. Later, she was suggested to come for a session of chemotherapy, of six doses and around 22 radiotherapy sessions in the hospital’s Regional Cancer Centre (RCC).

After the twin therapies, she was put on medicines for five years with regular tests and follow-up. By then, she had shifted to her eldest brother’s home where they (Tanzeela’s family) stayed for almost five years.

Tanzeela was absolutely doing well and her medical tests indicated her well-being. After five years the couple decided to return home. For next two years, the family lived happily and Tanzeela took all charges of her house again.