Awareness about cancer can save life, ask the lady who suffered

Girija Nadagouder used to help cancer patients as a volunteer but had no clue that one day she herself would contract breast cancer.

She was 51 years old when she was diagnosed with the disease, in 2003. Treatment worked and she overcame the disease. Now, at 60 years, this homeopathy practitioner and psychiatrist continues to give counselling to people affected with the disease and takes part in various awareness campaigns that focus on the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

A native of Dharwad, Girija used to volunteer to help cancer patients. She used to assist them with doctors’ appointments and counsel them to cope with the disease. She said she also used to hold awareness campaigns about lung cancer and the ill-effects of tobacco use among the youth, adding that she had never imagined that she herself could contract cancer.

“Cancer was not new in the family. My mother, elder sister, two aunts and a cousin, all had some form of cancer. And thankfully, all of them survived the disease. My sister, who is 71 now, had breast cancer 16 years ago and post-treatment, she is living a healthy and disease-free life,” said Girija.
Before she was diagnosed with the cancer, Girija had noticed lump formation on both her breasts. She had undergone mammogram thrice, with negative results until 2003, when the report confirmed she had breast cancer.

“The report came as a shock to me. But thanks to my family, who was by my side during this phase. Had it not been for my daughter and son-in-law, I wouldn’t have been able to brave the disease and the treatment,” she recalled.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer at the second stage.
Soon she underwent mastectomy surgery, followed by six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She responded well to the treatment and recovered.

"Meditation, yoga and pranayama really helped me [have] a speedy recovery. It has been six years now that I am under no medication for cancer,” she said. She needs to go for a check-up just once a year.

Now, her motto is to generate awareness about the disease among everyone.

She said after her recovery, she has taken part in awareness camps all across the state. Three years ago, she had taken part in a cancer awareness camp in the US.

“The only way cancer can be tackled is through early diagnosis and treatment. Thus awareness plays a vital role,” she said.