HOW TO SPRING BACK TO LIFE POST BREAST CANCER TREATMENT?

Tip of a week

This week's tip is all about staying on top of your water intake:

You may have heard the old rule about drinking 8 glasses of water per day, but researchers at Harvard are now saying 4-6 glasses is the right number for most healthy people. As with so many other pieces of health advice, this can definitely vary by person. The right amount of water for you depends on how active you are, how much you're sweating, and whether you're eating foods or taking medications, including chemo, that can dehydrate you.

Get a reusable water bottle and carry it with you everywhere you go, refilling as needed. If you make it a point to refill it each time you head to a new appointment or errand, chances are you'll drink a lot more by the end of the day.

Dr Sanghvi and Dr Chitkara also bust some common breast cancer myths
Myth 1: Breast cancer is not curable
Fact: It is curable if detected early.

Myth 2: Breast cancer is contagious or infectious
Fact: It's neither infectious nor contagious.

Myth 3: Breast Conservation Surgery is unsafe compared to complete breast removal or mastectomy
Fact: Breast Conservation Surgery + Radiation therapy is as safe as complete breast removal or mastectomy.

Myth 4: Every breast lump is cancerous
Fact: every breast lump needs to be investigated but not all breast lumps are cancerous.

Myth 5: Men cannot get breast cancer
Fact: 1% of Breast cancer patients are men. It is rare but men can get breast cancer.
“Though breast cancer in men only account for 1% to 2% of all breast cancer cases, the incidence rate is gradually increasing. Moreover, due to lack of awareness, delayed diagnosis the mortality of breast cancer has been reported to be higher amongst men," says Dr Chitkara.

Myth 6: Breast cancer always causes a lump in breasts or armpits
Fact: The most common symptom of breast cancer is a painless lump in the breast or axilla, however it is not the only symptom. Breast cancer can also present as nipple deviation, retraction, ulceration or discharge from the nipple with or without a lump. It may also present a change in the shape or feel of the breast, skin thickening, ulceration and at times orange peel like appearance of the skin of the breast. Hence it is very important to do a monthly self breast examination and an annual clinical breast examination by your doctor. These examinations can help you pick up breast cancer early and increase the chances of a complete cure and better survival rates, according to Dr Chitkara.

Myth 7: Breast cancer is an old woman’s or man’s disease
Fact: As per the data from International Agency on Research on cancer in the year 2020, 1.78 lakh new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in India, out of these 1.32 lakh were above the age of 40 and rest were younger than 40 years of age. Breast cancer in young patients has comparatively aggressive clinical and biological characteristics and less favourable outcome as compared to the older patients. Breast cancer awareness among youngsters is the need of the hour to reduce its mortality and morbidity, says Dr Chitkara.

A doctors perspective

Salute

She enters my cabin, she sits slowly on the chair looking at me
I sense her apprehension, her despair, her fear
I look into her tearful eyes, I read the report, confirm the news
I purse my lips, nod my head and tell her, 'We will fight it, dear'

She looks into my eyes, I see the glitter of tears in hers
Her face shows a mixed emotion, hope looks thin
On her hand on my table, I place my hand, I don’t say anything, I just look at her
And then she looks, a subdued smile, and says, "I will Fight, I will win!"

Then the ordeal starts, surgery is planned first
I walk with her to the operating room, her hubby and daughter praying at the gate
She holds my hand and says, ”Doc, please do your best, get me out of this”
“Trust me, I will”, I say; her words reverberating in my mind, while I operate

Surgery is successful, her body is rid of cancer; she recovers well
Since next day, I see a smile of hope, happiness on her face by default
She is one strong lady, a will of iron, a determination so strong
A fighter she is, now preparing herself for the next assault

Pathology report is good, but she will need further treatment
And so starts chemotherapy, the molecules enter through her tiny hand veins
Her bald head and blackish skin edges speak of the fight of body with cancer within
She smiles and tells, "Side effects of chemo don’t bother me, I look only at its gains"

She is an inspiration, she is positive, I see her ride her way through these down times
She is unshakeable, but does feel low at times when sadness creeps in
The shoulder of her husband to rest on and her daughter’s hand on her cheeks
Rescue her from it, and place the smile on her face back in

Chemotherapy is now over, next starts radiation
Her face and body are weathered by all this treatment so high
But her positive attitude, the glow on her face, the determination in her eyes
Just stand out and teach me; Yes, I learn from her, "Never Say Die"

She visits me in my cabin, a joy on her face
Her treatment is now complete, her prayers finally heard
These six months of treatment were like six full years,
A battle so fiercely won, a disease well conquered

I see in her eyes, the eyes of a winner
Her bald head with sparse hair, her black nails tell her tale of endurance
Throughout the war, never did the smile go, her fist was always strongly clenched
Never was the grit low; even in down times, her face always had assurance

Each and every patient of mine teaches me a lot, is an inspiration for me and other patients
And I owe them for moulding me, showing me importance of life, making me tough
Life throws challenges at us, we have to be positive
Just believe in yourself, stay strong, and the path automatically opens up

Written by Dr. Sumeet Shah

Our effort at CANCaRe is to take patients on this journey and help them to land safely through body, mind,emotion and spirit care by providing tools and techniques during and after the journey