A woman who was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer has shared her experiences in the hope it will inspire others battling the illness.
Thirty-one year-old Nisha was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (stage 3) in 2018, which had spread to her lymph nodes. She recently had surgery in August.
She spoke of going through the surgery alone without any visitors.
She shared her experiences on her own YouTube Channel and also told how charity Macmillan Cancer Support have helped her when she felt she had no-one else.
Nisha said, “In 2018 I was twenty-nine years old, working hard at my career and preparing to get married. Then I found a lump in my breast and was diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes.
“My doctors informed me travelling abroad for my honeymoon would be impossible, and that I should cancel my wedding too. My whole life seemed to come to a halt as I fought my way through chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and then radiotherapy.
“I come from a strong Sikh family, and my parents and brothers rallied around to support me in my fight; taking me to the hospital and keeping my spirits up during chemotherapy sessions.
“I was lucky to have so many wonderful friends who went out of their way to lift me up.”
Through her informative videos she tells of her journey through surgery and her wedding which took place against all odds amidst her battle with cancer.
She revealed how her fiancé was adamant they would still get married, “Planning my wedding day helped me to focus on something other than cancer.
“Even with all these wonderful people around me, it was very easy to feel isolated and alone at times.
“Very few of the charities that I encountered seemed to include people like me. All I saw was picture after picture of women who looked nothing like me. I could not find voices that sounded like mine, or experiences that echoed my own until I found Macmillan."
Nisha said, “The Macmillan website was a constant source of advice and expertise. It helped me and my loved ones to find out about the cancer I had and understand exactly what the fight I was facing would involve.
“When I was forced to give up work due to my treatment, Macmillan was able to provide me with advice on my options and the benefits available to support me. This gave me a lot of comfort and confidence in a time when I felt adrift.”
The Macmillan’s Coffee Morning 2020 is one of the UK’s largest fundraising events, which is back for its 30th year this September.
Money raised helps to fund vital emotional, physical and financial services for people living with cancer who need support more than ever.
This year, the format has changed for the first time in the event’s 30-year history, and now people can get involved however they want – whether it’s socially distanced, online or by taking on a fundraising challenge.
However you take part in Coffee Morning this year, you’ll be helping millions of people living with cancer, who need us to raise a mug more than ever. Sign up at coffee.macmillan.org.uk
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