Having seen closely from my eyes, it affects me a lot when I hear something relating to cancer.  Diagnosis of Cancer not only affects the patient but the family and the loved ones also feel devastated by it. This post is particularly for those family, friends who have been told about this disease of their loved ones. Well I would like to say it is completely normal. Anyone can be diagnosed with any disease at any time. But the Life goes on...

It is more important to accept the things as they are and together fight with the odds, disappointments present in one’s life by ones strength, optimism and love.
To be honest I never took this disease sincerely before. For me cancer was a disease that I believed, I or any near dear of mine will never encounter. Sharing you my experience, my world was upside down when I realized that my mother, the person whom I love the most is diagnosed with cancer. I felt my stomach fell to my feet when I heard the news and experienced intense emotions of guilt, fear and sadness. University exams were just a couple of days away and this news shook me from inside. Somehow I managed to wipe my tears, control my emotions and give my exams with a smiling face.

I didn’t want to share my emotions with anyone and was feeling that life was unfair to me. Saying my mom was having cancer was the most difficult task for me. After my exams, I visited cancer hospital and saw the complete other side of the world. There were many people who were battling with this disease. My heart sank when I saw new born babies, toddlers going through the painful treatment process. It took me a long time to comprehend that what I was going through was not an illusion but a reality.

Every day was a new challenge. You never knew what the next reports may say or the next diagnosis by the doctor. Being strong was the only option I had and the best I can do to help my mother. To relax myself I tried talking to people whom I thought to be my well- wishers but then the world changed in a day. It seemed as if the world in which I was living earlier never existed and I was frightened to accept the fact.

 I realized that I was not in the state of expressing my feelings or answer anyone’s questions. The only way I thought to help myself and people around me was to be content on my own. I diverted my mind to the things I wished to do. Well many people didn’t comprehend my change in attitude. The society at large was unacceptable to the fact that I was not crying and not treating myself as a victim.

But then I was done away with tolerating any sort of pretensions. People when they hear such news pretend to sympathize with the survivor or their family members. They come with their eyes full of crocodile tears. Some even tries to belittle you by counting on their previous past bad experiences. It was more of a formality rather than concern. And when they don’t get expected reaction they feel frustrated and perplexed. People fail to realize that they need to have a sensitive heart and a bit amount of love is what the others want.

Cancer has been made such a social stigma that people are afraid to tell that they know any cancer patient. To them the survivor and his/her family loses the right to celebrate festivals, cook food or go out with friends. They create a cocoon around the person and forces them to lose their own identity. I am proud of my mother who after hearing the news didn’t shed any tear rather encouraged all of us to fight with the problem optimistically. Seeing her courage people were stunned and even doubted the truth of diagnosis. Our normal life in home was somehow also affected in this course which somehow drained me. I saw and felt things which I didn’t want to.

My life and attitude changed a lot in these past three months. I learnt to accept things and acknowledge my limitations. I realized the importance of each breath and. Maybe I became a rebel who now sought to question everything. I realized that one shall live the life according to one’s own terms and conditions without being dependent on any individual or thinking about the mindset of society. We live our entire life in maintaining relationships, meeting expectations of neighbors, relatives, friends or parents. But gradually we get so used to kill ourselves every moment and forget the individuality of ours. In this process we undermine the power of a second which could change one’s entire life. Optimism and faith though sounding idealist are the one that can give us courage to stand against the odds. It is important that we speak up and make this society more open-minded. Early diagnosis, knowledge of symptoms and medication may help many. Every one of us has different struggles in life which we cannot fully comprehend but it is important that we behave in an empathetic manner to others. Inner strength and hope is a way using which one can combat the mental, emotional stress that one is facing. If one understands one’s individuality, then one will realize that one is not alone and has a huge potential inside them. I also learnt not to take things for granted especially the one who smiles at you, the one who cares for you and the one who loves you. Most importantly Believe, Hope , Have Faith.


Thanks for reading