I know what you are feeling through my friend. I can feel your pain. Breast cancer diagnosis stabs badly in the stomach. It comes like an earthquake shattering all your dreams. But remember it is curable. So my dear, staying in denial mode or running away or not accepting the diagnosis is not going to help at all. True attitude is not ignoring the darkness. It’s participating with your whole heart in whatever moment life brings and facing it face to face and then in winning the game. Let cancer know it messed with the wrong girl.
There will be days when you will feel shattered, helpless, tired, spent, un-done. Your eyes sometimes will leak. It’s ok darling! Don’t forget – you are human! It’s absolutely ok to have a meltdown. Just don’t unpack and live there. Cry it out and focus on where you are headed and take the first step towards treatment. It’s hard to let go of how things were. You might be faced with questions as” Why me?” or “What did I do wrong to have cancer?” Remember the past is a place of reference not a place of residence. Don’t meander through a labyrinth of yesterday’s, avoiding the existence of today and tomorrow. Some of the scary chapters in our life won’t have a title until much later.
Don’t clutter your mind with unsaid things or personal debris. Clear the deck. You would never invite a thief in your house so why would u allow toxic thoughts that steal your joy to make themselves home in your mind. Raise the rent and kick them out. Worry is a misuse of your beautiful imagination. Release your worry, release your doubt. And let hope rise like phoenix from the ashes of shattered dreams.
Let your wounds heal that’s what wounds are meant to do. Your cuts and scrapes from surgery, radiation and venous punctures may leave behind scars, reminding of those tough days. They might sting now. They might make you sick to the stomach, they might bring you to your knees right now, but I am sure soon you will be healed. And soon you will be stronger than ever before.
Please stop sitting in the passenger seat of your life. Take the wheel and find a new rhythm. Focus on the step in front of u and not the whole staircase. You are going to have new experiences. Keep the honest and happy moments close to your heart. Laugh until your ribs ache with your friends. , treasure when u feel stars exploding inside of you from falling in love, when life breaks you open and those tears of transformation pour like a river from your soul. I hope u travel to places that cleanse you, where waves kiss your feet. I hope u go to concerts that ring through your bones and make u feel alive. I hope u connect happily even with the small things.
Let gratitude be the pillow on which u rest every night and let faith be the bridge to overcome evil and welcome good. You were born with a special purpose in life, fulfil that and make a difference in this world with your kindness, your courage.
Embrace uncertainty.
Inhale courage, exhale fear!
Carry your soul in your smile!!
And remember happiness looks so gorgeous on you !!!
Dr. Indu Bansal, Director & Senior Consultant- Radiation Oncology, Narayana Superspeciality Hospital Gurugram