“My long stay at the hospital helped me make a lot of friends, doctors, nurses and all staff.”

My name is Vaidehi Raghavan and I am almost 49 years old. I am really flattered that that I was asked to write a small piece for this forum.

Towards the end of 2011, I lost my mother to a long and hard fought lung condition. I had barely come to terms with when in June 2012  I started noticing a change in my physical appearance. My nose was swollen on the right side. People were noticing and asking me about it. It was weird and embarrassing to say the least. Repeated visits to the local dermatologist and rounds of antibiotics didn’t help and nose was looking worse.

I was told that I needed to get a biopsy done. It was shocking, disheartening and depressing to say the least. After a tense couple of weeks , I was diagnosed with Lymphoma. I had mentally prepared myself for the worst and kept telling myself that no matter what it it I will fight it. Even then it was a rude shock . I was 40 and really concerned about my daughter who was so young. My sister rushed down from Mumbai as soon as I told her. 

I had to have a chemo port installed in my chest, had to undergo several tests. Was given so many restrictions, all of which I followed strictly. My treatment started and it was physically, emotionally and financially taxing. I didn’t respond well to the first 2 chemos and was put on a more aggressive therapy. People often talk about about how painful it is to lose hair during chemo. For me it was a blessing. I felt free and unfettered. Bouts of perspiration would dampen my head and it helped that I didn’t have a sweaty and hairy scalp to add to the discomfort.  I needed to have injections in my spine to rule out any growth of cancerous cells in the spine and brain. Those were very painful.

My family was and is my biggest blessing. My husband spent all his time with me in the hospital, a sister who left her family and kids for days on end to be with me, my dad who helped look after my daughter and my mother in law who came down to Bangalore for every chemo cycle to cook for us and send home cooked food to the hospital. This period was not easy but having faith in the divine, a strong will power and a sense of humour helps. Loving and caring friends sending me positive messages . My long stay at the hospital helped me make a lot of friends, doctors, nurses and all staff.

My takeaways from this experience are that to be aware of your body and any changes. While one doesn’t have to panic, it helps to seek a medical opinion. India has come a long way in terms of cancer treatment. Early diagnosis helps

Vaidehi Raghavan

Vaidehi Raghavan is a homemaker, an avid reader and a supermom