They say, “Life is like the ocean, it can be calm or still, and rough or rigid, but in the end, it is always beautiful.” Of course, it is, but sometimes it throws rigorous challenges in our way to test our willpower, capability, and fighting spirit. Sometimes this challenge involves financial difficulties, revolves around relationships, or brings life-threatening diseases like cancer.
Swati Garg also fought hard to overcome the disease. She was diagnosed with cancer when she was suffering from Corona. It came as a shock to her, but she took it as a challenge and recovered from it.
At times, life gives no choice but to fight against the deadly disease. However, some people stop believing in themselves after having cancer, but some fight with their fate to come back to life. So today, Hatke Story brings you another inspiring story of a cancer warrior who not only defeated cancer but made her life better than earlier. She inspires others to fight cancer by sharing her story and spreading positivity. Let’s read her story.
Swati Garg – My Story
I am Swati Garg. I belong to Kolkata. I’m currently handling a mother and kid exhibition named Hansel and Gretel Grenade in Kolkata. It happened in June 2020. At the beginning of June 2020, I tested positive for covid. So I went to get the treatment.
I have heard that everything happens for a reason. In my case, it turned out the same way. Because after getting discharged, the doctor suspected that there was a lump in my breast and it could be Fibroadenoma. So I should go for some tests to discover the truth.
I didn’t take the news seriously. I went back to my home, and I isolated myself. During this quarantine period, I thought about the lump and decided to talk to my family about the same. I told other family members, but I didn’t reveal it to my mother because she was in the hospital due to covid.
When my condition improved, I went to a gynecologist. She also told me about the lump in my breast, and it was nothing but Fibroadenoma only. She revealed that Fibroadenoma is a non-cancerous tumor and reproductive hormones are responsible for this type of tumor. It can be cancerous sometimes, but right now, it is not.
After confirming the news, she asked me to consult a surgical doctor as the lump was significant and required surgery to remove it. The information worried me, but I could hold my ground because it was non-cancerous.
That time I was concerned that it was to me. Later, I visited a surgical doctor, and he disclosed that FNAC is not required and we should go directly for the surgery. FNAC is an OK needle aspiration cytology test to know whether the tumor is malignant or not. In my case, it wasn’t dangerous, so they didn’t do it.
They said that the operation would be in one and a half hours. After asking many questions, I agreed to go for surgery, and my family also supported me, and they said, ‘Go for it. You will be better soon.’
We all know that cancer isn’t all about rainbows and butterflies. It can be challenging to break free once a patient has fallen into negative thoughts. But most of us have that one hope and inspiration that somehow brings some perspective and optimism to the situation. And like always, my family made me feel strong by saying, ‘Nothing will happen, have faith in God and yourself.’ It boosted my morale, and I was confident enough to do it.
A few days before my birthday, I got admitted to the hospital. At that time, Covid was at its peak. I was alone at the hospital for the surgery as I didn’t want my family to get involved in the crisis. They were already going through a lot due to covid. Despite the distance, my family supported me throughout the time.
I told my doctor not to make it look like surgery to gain some strength. That’s why I went to the operation theater by myself. I was nervous and anxious as I didn’t know what would happen, how they’d perform the surgery, or how the operation theater looked. I wanted to know everything.
While performing the surgery, the doctor realized that the lump was cancerous. They didn’t do FNAC before, so they went for a biopsy to find whether the lump was malignant or not. When I came out, my doctor was talking to my parents about chemotherapy and radiation after my surgery. I didn’t have any clue about it. My family didn’t want to stress me out by telling the truth. They kept me in the hospital for the examination the next day and discharged me on my birthday.
My doctor and his team brought a cake to celebrate my birthday. In the night, I went to my home. Friends decorated my room and were there to wish me. A drainage pipe was attached to my nose for two to three weeks. It was pretty painful to keep, but it was necessary for my recovery, so I had to bear the pain.
I was undergoing cancer treatment and kept things hidden from me throughout the time. Three months later, I learned that my family was hiding my medical reports from me. I confronted my doctor, and he told me everything. He said, ‘Swati, your lump is cancerous. We didn’t know about it earlier. We came to know while performing the surgery. For your recovery, you should continue this medication forward. Apart from it, you will have to undergo chemotherapy sessions. That’s the best cure for cancer.’
To say I was shocked would be an understatement because I felt betrayed by my destiny. I became hysterical as I wasn’t ready to accept the truth. I yelled at everyone for keeping things away from me.
With time, my family managed to calm me down. Then my father told me, ‘Don’t be disheartened. You are not alone in this battle. Look around Swati. Everyone around you in this hospital is either fighting cancer or has fought cancer. It’s not a death sentence, and there is a solution available in the form of treatment. That’s why we have doctors. So hold yourself and fight against it.’
So I collected myself thinking about my life and my parents. My anger melted when I thought about the pain and mental trauma they were going through while seeing me in such a deteriorating condition. I went home where everyone was aware of my condition.
To recover from stress, I began consulting my family and those who had already had breast cancer. After talking to enough people, I said yes to the therapy sessions and decided to be a part of this journey to understand how cancer is not a big deal.
For the chemotherapy, I changed the hospital, and it was the turning point in my life from where I started believing in miracles, hope, and the magic of chanting God’s name. For a while, things went down. My chemo sessions started affecting my health and body. I started losing my hair. When I saw the first patch, I told my parents that I wanted to go bald. They were not very happy with my decision, and they asked me to wait for a while, but I was not satisfied mentally, and I didn’t have the strength to see my hair falling every day.
Thus I decided to shave them off. This particular decision was a life-changing moment because I felt free and empowered, like nothing could break my self-confidence and belief. From that moment, I learned an important lesson: ‘We should not give up like there are times when we stopped believing in God but never do this. Have faith in God and destiny. Do whatever you want to do and never regret.’
To improve my mental health, I celebrated small things and enjoyed little moments. I used to surround myself with people who loved me and cared for me. We would chant prayers together and applaud the finishing of every cycle, write down positive things, like I will get my shining hair back. For doing activities, I was called a ball of energy by nurses.
I tried to live in the moment. I celebrated Diwali, the birth of my nephew, basked in the winter sun, and I sought permission from my doctor to go for a vacation with my family after a few days of my radiation therapy. He agreed, and I went ahead with the plan. Honestly, I was living each day to the fullest. I had never lived my life like this before. They say, ‘You realize the importance of something when you are about to lose it.’ That’s precisely true.
Because I realized that cancer is a tiny word and nothing more than that, just keep yourself positive, don’t get into anyone’s words, do what the doctors say. Do not be ashamed of your bald look. You have fought bravely, so flaunt it!
I thought that cancer may have started the fight, but I’ll finish it! Remember what cancer cannot do- shatter hope, break you, cripple love, erode confidence, and win over you. With this mindset, I survived cancer.
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