Every year February 4 is observed as World Cancer Day. All cancer patients merit evidence-based treatment irrespective of economic status or geographical location. Thus the theme for this day is “close the care gap”. Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love. It is observed every year on February 14. This day is being celebrated since the time of the Roman empire.
The theme of these days are different though the stories of the two young ladies seem to have a strange connection. Both overcame cancer at a young age and have moved on with great confidence and style. Their fightback may be silent but real. They are fighters forever and trendsetters for society. Both have agreed to share their unique experiences but their identities have been withheld for ethical reasons.
In cancer treatment there are both successes and failures. Certainly success should be celebrated but failures, after sincere effort, should also be appreciated. There may be no filmmakers or script writers to narrate these inspirational stories but definitely it will be remembered by many.
The Dancer
A young lady of 24 years had a passion for dance since childhood. She received training in Bharatanatyam and her dance movements were appreciated by all. She started a dance school at home training interested students. Also, she started performing at various events.
One day she noticed a lump in her right breast but did not consider it important. Once it increased in size, she first visited a nearby doctor and then a specialist. Investigations revealed that she had locally advanced right breast cancer which was of aggressive nature. Fortunately, it had not spread to other organs.
However, the cancer was too advanced for upfront surgery and she received chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumour. Though the tumour reduced in size it was not adequate to do conservative surgery to save the breast.
She underwent removal of the right breast in January 2021 and opted for breast reconstruction after completion of treatment. All through the treatment she desired to be cured irrespective of the cosmetic outcome. She received further chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery. At the completion of treatment, clinical examination and investigations revealed that she is free ofdisease.
While performing in a programme in between the cycles of chemotherapy, she met her future husband. The man was a percussionist playing the sri khol in a folk music group. On listening to the unusual story of the young lady they became friends. They enjoyed each other’s company and spent a lot of time discussing their future plans. Music and dance united them.
Finally, he proposed to her for a lifelong association.
The man and his family accepted the lady irrespective of her past illness or physical changes. They got married in a simple ceremony in January 2023 in the presence of both families. She conceived a few months later. However, she continued working in her dance school till the fifth month of her pregnancy. She gave birth to a healthy girl child in the first week of January 2024 and her dream was fulfilled.
In spite of all the difficulties and obstacles, she is ever smiling and enjoying the beauty of life and family. Her husband continues to play a healthy tune and she has restarted the dance classes.
Health Professional
In a cold winter evening of December 2023, a 33-year-old lady got married to a friend she had initially met online. This may not seem unusual at all. However, around 10 years back, this young lady had faced an extremely difficult situation from which she recovered fully and moved forward.
In the end of 2013, she had developed a cancerous tumour in both ovaries which needed immediate surgery. Since this was totally unexpected, she felt helpless. In view of her young age and disease status, the medical team arranged a tumour board for discussions involving various oncologists. It was unanimously decided that all her female organs, including uterus, ovaries and upper part of vagina, needed to be removed for long-term survival. This variety of ovarian cancer did not respond to chemotherapy and radical surgery was the only viable option.
She and her sister agreed and radical hysterectomy was performed in December 2013. She recovered well but became incapable of reproduction and normal physical relationship at a young age.
Almost a decade later, the situation changed completely. The lady and her future husband met frequently and became good friends. After a year of friendship, the man proposed to her for marriage. She narrated the entire story to her future life partner and subsequently to his parents. To her utter surprise, they accepted her fully. In her own words: “It was like a dream because I never imagined that I could be accepted as a wife and daughter-in-law in any family.”
She continues working in a doctor’s clinic and her husband in a factory which manufactures railway engines. Such relationships symbolise unconditional love transcending physicality.
Marriage is certainly a personal choice. But would this be acceptable to most families?