Bride-to-be Mihika Aishwarya was enthusiastically preparing for her wedding when fate turned its back on her. At the age of 27, just a month before her wedding, Mihika was diagnosed with cancer. It all began with an acute abdominal pain in April 2023.
Narrating her story with OnlyMyHealth, Mihika talked about her cancer journey from diagnosis to recovery. She also mentioned the challenges she faced during the time and how she fought all of them and stood tall.
The Shocking Diagnosis
In April 2023, Mihika began to experience acute pain in her upper abdomen, along with an intense back pain and bloating. “The pain was so intense that I couldn’t sleep at nights. I started experimenting with medicines thinking it would just be a normal pain, but the pain wouldn’t subside. I visited a doctor who advised me on ultrasound imaging. My ultrasound revealed that I had developed a large tumour which ballooned to 20 cm and had become cancerous. My doctor cautioned me against the potential danger of my tumour possibly bursting anytime.”
“My parents suggested that I come back to my hometown to seek a second opinion. A scan followed, and it showed extensive disease, much more than had been thought.” Mihika said that the diagnosis broke her parents, she too was shattered but kept a strong approach without panicking to not let her parents break more.
A Major Surgery
Mihika underwent an extensive surgery where surgeons removed her cancerous tumour through a specific surgical procedure. “I woke up after the surgery in the ICU to my mother's gentle touch of care and concern. Going through the surgery was not easy. I struggled to regain my mobility, and it was a helpless feeling.”
Being grateful to her doctors, Dr Jhansi, Gynecologist and Dr Sreenivas BJ, Oncologist, Mihika said, “If my doctors hadn't acted quickly, the outcome would have been very different today.”
Chemotherapy, Worse Than Surgery?
Post surgery, Mihika went through a few painful chemotherapy episodes, which she calls the most difficult challenge she faced in her journey. She said, “My doctors suggested I will have to undergo four cycles of chemotherapy. Each cycle went on for five days. The procedure lasted four months and was one of the most challenging situations I've ever experienced. Chemotherapy's side effects were unbearably painful.”
Adding, she said, “There were days when I used to feel like giving up. I would feel low, worried about the future, but I tried staying positive throughout.”
Mental Sanity
Conditions like cancer not only drain you physically but they can also take a toll on your mental health. When asked about what kept her going on, Mihika said, “When I first heard about cancer, I was scared. The pain was real, the challenge was real, the fear was real. But I realised that cancer may be a frightening diagnosis, but it is really important to remain strong, have faith, and never give up knowing it’s a long process.”
Despite the odds, Mihika did not give up on living her life to the fullest. She loved going out, travelling and exploring new places after every chemotherapy session. During these tough days, she did not stop working. Even from the hospital bed, she continued to work. “People would tell me that I should be resting in bed after the chemo sessions instead of working or travelling. But I was focussed on the fact that the disease is in my body and not in my mind and I should continue doing what I love.
Support System
Apart from the patient, people around them are also affected as much by the disease. Mihika said, “I’m very blessed to have my family and friends. Their support and understanding helped me survive life after chemotherapy. They showed up for me and celebrated me throughout the entire journey.”
She also mentioned that the organisation that she worked for supported her through thick and thin by providing her flexible working hours.
The Wedding
Mihika was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on April 21, 2023, she underwent surgery for the same after five days on April 26, and she got married on the same date that was decided earlier, May 26, 2023. Mihika’s bright smile shined as she dressed up in her wedding lehenga right after a month of her cancer surgery.
Concluding, Mihika said, “Through the darkest days in my life, I found the strength and courage I never knew I had. Cancer couldn't break me and I am cancer free now. I am proud of how I handled things, the silent battles I fought to ensure my parents didn't fall weak, smiling and wiping my tears simultaneously. My journey taught me that life can often put you in hostile situations, mostly when you are unprepared. While you can't control what life throws at you, you can decide how you would want to rebuild and rise from the moments that turned your world upside down.” She further said, “I would like to urge everyone not to ignore any symptoms and to visit a doctor as soon as possible, so that the chances of a cure are higher.”