My Journey with Breast Cancer ~ PART 3
Acceptance and making the most of this journey
This learning experience has taught me to accept my situation as part of my life's journey. It has given me a wonderful appreciation of everything I have and how rich my life really is and cancer does not dominate it!
Radiotherapy
I completed my final session of radiotherapy last week. It was a daily treatment (except for weekends) for 5 consecutive weeks. When I was told I had to go to the hospital everyday, I was apprehensive but as I got in to the routine, the 5 weeks flew by quickly. Radiotherapy is dispensed by a highly sophisticated machine which emits radiation (like a laser beam) on marked (affected) areas of the body. The treatment lasts only 5 minutes. The side effects I had from this treatment were numerous… sore and burned skin on the treated areas and feeling incredible fatigue.
Treatment completed
I am glad to say that after nine months I have finally completed my treatment. Wow! It felt like a long time and I am really tired. A friend said "Nine months … had you been pregnant you would have delivered a child." I replied "After nine months, I feel like I have been reborn."
Reborn
Why do I feel reborn? I reflected on this question and my subjective response is that for whatever reason, the universal energy that revolves around us decided to take me for an 'emotional' ride. I asked myself what were the emotions that I felt during this journey, apart from the obvious ones - fear, devastation, terror, shock, sadness, sorrow, nervousness, frustration, anxiety, paranoia, etc.
On the other hand, I have also experienced an abundance of love, joy, care, awareness, gratitude, openness, forgiveness, divinity, wisdom, compassion, beauty, trust, inspiration, healing, fun, laughter, excitement, humility, understanding, acceptance, strength, courage, gentleness, curiosity, patience, simplicity, truth and most importantly the privilege of being alive.
Every human emotion possible, I felt it all! Now that can't be a bad thing!
What have I learnt
a. Faith and trust in God. I felt God's love and protection was with me unceasingly. Prayers were the key to sailing through my treatments. Our Sikh teachings tell us "Meditation on God is the medicine to cure millions of illnesses. Illness and pains are dispelled by meditating on Him."
b. Family support is crucial. My mum's prayers and unconditional love have, especially, given me so much courage and strength to face my low moments and I am not ashamed to admit that there have been a few. My brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews have all been incredibly loving, caring and have provided the emotional support that I needed throughout my journey. Not to forget my aunts, uncles & cousins who all showed immense love and concern for me.
c. Friends and Neighbours - they have been wonderful. It's at times like these you discover who your true friends are, and I must say all of them have been great and really stepped up when I needed them the most. Friends who live all around the world sent their well-wishes and kept me in their prayers. The ones in Auckland were always caring, supportive and uplifting. Kindness was all I saw, not cancer! Thank you all!
d. My Cancer Support Group - I have met one remarkable lady (Teresa) who was diagnosed at the same time as me. I met her during chemo sessions and we have developed a nice friendship and have formed a support group with other ladies going through the same. We talk about our symptoms, side effects and emotional stresses. This is important because we share a common experience, knowing we are in this together has been extremely comforting.
e. Being in 'Chardi Kalaa' (the power of ascendancy) which in Sikhism refers to being in an everlastingly optimistic, joyous and contented state of mind. I can finally say despite going through all this. I am in 'chardi kalaa" with God's Grace.
f. Diet - I love food and unfortunately food loves me too much hence the extra kilos. I am trying hard to have a balanced diet, eat 'clean' and green food. My ongoing battle to eliminate sugar from my diet is the hardest one yet, however it is necessary as sugar is the modern day 'demon' and I have read in numerous reliable sources that cancer cells grow on sugar and yeast.
g. Insurance is so important. Had I not been insured, I would have had to wait for my turn on the ever increasing waiting list in the public health system and perhaps by then my cancer would have spread beyond return! A special thanks to my Insurance adviser, Owen Grauman from Group Plus who persuaded me to get health insurance many years ago. Best advise I have had! My surgeries in a private clinic were covered by the insurance company as was my chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments - they would have otherwise costed over NZ$150,000. The last thing anyone needs when faced with a health problem is financial pressure and believe me, many who are not insured go broke when faced with cancer, putting their family's finances and nest egg at risk! Get insured!
Life is precious.
You only get one chance at it. Look after yourself, trust your body when it tells you that something may be wrong. Follow your instincts and go with the flow. Look at life positively but take precautions, get checked out and don't wait to be told when it can be too late. An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.
Having gone through all of this, I can still say that my life is wonderful and this journey has shaped me for the better.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please share it with the women in your life. Breast cancer awareness may save theirs.
God bless and lots of love,
Kesh
A special thanks to Jigna Kumar for designing an amazing artwork of henna tattoo on my head - Jigna, you are talented! To Innayat Trehan for her makeup and persuading me to go 'bold and bright' which I would never dreamt of doing!!
-Lastly to my brother Jagie (Lion Beats Photography) and niece Amrita for the photography. I am now more confused than ever (our family banter) who is more talented? Jiwan, Jagie or Amrita.
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Related Articles:
My Journey with Breast Cancer ~ Part 1
My Journey with Breast Cancer ~ Part 2