Vijaya: The One Who Fights to Win

The document is a personal account of Vijaya's (name changed) journey with breast cancer. She discovered a lump in her left breast during a self-examination, which was later confirmed to be malignant. Vijaya underwent breast conservation surgery and was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast, stage 2A. Her treatment included four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel and cyclophosphamide, followed by radiotherapy. She experienced side effects such as hair loss (alopecia) and darkening of the nails. Vijaya was also prescribed a Religrast injection after each chemotherapy cycle to improve the white blood cell count, and hormone therapy for 10 years. She found support in another patient undergoing the same treatment, and now advocates for patient and caregiver support groups. Despite the challenges, Vijaya remained positive and followed her doctor's instructions closely. She believes in the importance of good health, a happy mind, and staying away from stress.