Cancer is a journey, but you have to walk the road alone. It’s about identifying your inner strength and your willingness to take on the challenge. We talk to two survivors who embarked on this journey and came out stronger…
Maya Lalchandani
Bandra-based business author, journalist, travel and lifestyle blogger, and influencer Maya Lalchandani creates magic through her writing, weaving words beautifully to touch millions of hearts. Having lead her family magazine – The Sindhian from 2004 to 2015, Maya says, “One day, I was informed by my masseuse that I have a lump in my breast. There wasn’t much awareness back then. I took my own sweet time thinking it would be nothing. But when I did visit my gynaecologist – Dr Duru Shah, she promptly admitted me into Breach Candy Hospital for a biopsy and had an oncologist on standby. Of course, it was cancer! In disbelief I looked at all the tubes coming out of me, noting that the lymph nodes were taken off too, to avoid the spread. But the good news was that it wasn’t lethal and breast cancer could be cured if caught on time, all factors considered of course.”
Maya had great family support getting through the malady, but being a type-A personality, work has been both her priority and source of stress, and life has not made it easy for her either.
Calling cancer a life changer she adds, “My chemotherapy began soon after, but I continued to work through it. I was vulnerable on some days as nausea plagued me. I chose the leading oncologist, Dr Suresh Advani, as my doctor with dual intentions – he leads Jaslok Hospital and was the best, and I wanted to interview him for my magazine, which I coaxed him into! I also got him to allow me to travel to London for work in between my chemotherapy cycles. A funny incident that comes to mind is one where I was having lunch with a friend after my second chemo session. As I ran my hand through my hair, I encountered a clump of it that just came off in my hand! Embarrassed no doubt, I realized that I was ready for the next step. Disheartened as I was, I drove straight to the salon, got myself a pedicure while they shaved off my hair. Bold I had always been but this was dramatic even for me, as I faced my family on reaching home. My kids just said, ‘You could have just warned us, mom!’ People think cancer is the end of the world but the sooner we accept it the better. I learned to live with it, without taking anything too seriously.”
While going through her radiation treatment, Maya even took on a job at Frazer & Haws, a silver boutique – managing their PR since she had taken a break from her magazine. “I went to work every day after my radiation session at Hinduja, wearing my skull cap, facing the world with my kajal laden eyes, absolutely self-confident and I must say it was liberating as hell!”
“I got cancer, cancer didn’t get me,” she remarks vehemently. And after beating cancer Maya continued to work remarkably well. When she gave up working at the family magazine in 2015, Penguin commissioned her to write a book for them and that’s how Paiso: How Sindhis Do Business came out in 2017. Now, as a business author – she is writing her second book, as a journalist – she is contributing to eShe magazine, as an influencer – she runs her website www.mayaspeak.com, and nothing stops her from being a solo woman traveller.
She has some words of advice for other survivors – “Sure it changes people lives, I carried cancer genes and it was my stressful life that triggered it. Every February 4, I remind myself that I’m a warrior and do what is possible. Nobody should victimize himself or herself. My work has been my biggest support and I’m forever grateful to be marching on!”
Manali Jagtap
Ace celebrity fashion designer Manali Jagtap well received in the fashion industry for her chic ensembles and happy go lucky charisma. Being on top of her game juggling between shoots and lined up shows remained unaware of what was coming next. Manali said, “I had PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease) for 9-10 years accompanied with irregular periods, soon a cyst was diagnosed by the gynaecologist in April 2018 over my uterus which was painful and made it difficult when I travelled abroad for work. I had undergone surgery, the fibroid was sent for regular biopsy and cancer was detected! The doctors comforted me that it is quite common these days and young girls get it too. I was diagnosed with what is clinically known as Endometrial stromal sarcoma”.
Recalling her initial cancer memories, she said, “Every day was a surprise sometimes the pain and discomfort is less and vice versa but what hits you hard is when your physical appearance changes, you tend to lose hair, eyebrows and eyelashes too. Chemotherapy comes with baldness but it makes you strong emotionally. It was destiny, I woke up looking forward to better days. I underwent 12 cycles of chemotherapy with great support from family and crazy friends which I am so grateful for”.
During her treatment, she never stopped working as her clients wanted to be styled by her which kept her going.
After her treatment, she says, “I was a lot stronger and back to the network of work and friends, physical transformation is slow but does happen”.
Manali has a piece of advice for fellow cancer patients, “Every cancer survivor has their cancer journey. Her strength being rock-solid family and friends. Half the battle is won when you have an amazing support group. Cancer is not a death sentence, be positive. We don’t complain when life is generous and don’t let cancer crush your spirit”.
Manali adopted a few lifestyle changes after beating cancer and loves her new life even more.
