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Milind Alai

Nashik

Unbreakable: My Journey Through Cancer

My name is Milind Alai, I have an amazing family my wife Shailaja, our daughters Swara(10) and Riya (4). My story begins in November 2023 when I was 42 years old. On routine health checkup one of tumour marker level was higher. So after consulting gastroenterologists we have decided to visit oncologist.

My wife and brother in law took me to Visit Dr. Sonal Dhande madam at Hope MOC, Nashik, India. After looking at reports without spending much time doctor recommended to do PET-CT. Unfortunately, it not only confirmed the presence of cancer in stomach but also revealed that it had already spread to lymph nodes surrounding the stomach. From this day my fight with world’s most deadly disease started.

Dr. Sonal Dhande explained detail treatment and informed me I would need four rounds of neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to stomach surgery, followed by four more rounds of chemotherapy. My treatment begins within two weeks of confirmation of disease. First chemotherapy went well with little nausea and vomitting. But during second and third chemotherapy, I was suffered a lot with vomitting, uncontrollable behavioural changes and became unconscious. Doctor split dose for forth chemotherapy and it went well. Additionally, I suffered with mouth ulcer and constipation issues during chemotherapy. During this bad times Dr. Sonal stood with us strongly and give us strong hope for recovery and said its short term pain don’t need to worry. She was so caring and explained any question we had during the treatment. She has always been accessible over calls and messages in case of needs.

After completing chemotherapy I underwent another PET CT and results revealed that my tumor size reduced a lot. I asked doctor why not continue more chemotherapy and get rid of cancer without doing surgery but my team of doctors convinced me to get stomach surgery done as it would help in stopping the recurrence of cancer. I listened to them and underwent total gastronomy (removal of whole stomach).

I was referred to Dr. Ambarish Chattarjee, a oncosurgeon at Hope MOC for stomach surgery. I underwent total gastrectomy surgery with Dr. Ambarish Chatterjee as a part of stomach cancer treatment. He explained us the entire process right from consultation, surgery, treatment, post hospitalization and post-operative care. The entire process was so smooth. He has always been accessible over calls and messages in case of need. He just doesn't treat a patient, he also treats worried and scared relatives of patients as well by supportive counseling.

Thank you “Team Hope MOC”for making the treatment very easy and give me a chance for second life.

Living without stomach was very challenging initially. The doctor connected the ends of esophagus with small intestine which means the food I consume directly goes into the intestine. Initially I had to eat soft food for a month in small portions, multiple times, sip on very little water. Slowly my body started adapting this change. It took almost 6 months after surgery to get used to it and start normal diet multiple times a day. And today, I mastered the art of living without a stomach and I am proud of what I have achieved so far with great discipline and determination. There are millions of people around the world like me, leading regular and normal lifestyle, enjoying their successful professional and personal lives.

Recently I joined my job after one year. Today I am living normal life. Nothing has changed before and after cancer in my life but perspective towards life has grown more positive.

What I would like people to get from this story is to listen to their bodies. And not wait when they feel something is not right. It is way better to be safe than sorry. early detection is the key to combating stomach cancer. Regular health checks is necessary.

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After three days on a ventilator and in the ICU, I was moved to a room, recovering steadily. But life had more surprises.

On 20th September, Dr. Ambrish shared the full post-surgery report - confirming ovarian cancer. That day, I learned I would need six cycles of chemotherapy.

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श्रीमति ताराबाई, म्हसरूळ, नाशिक

कॅन्सर आणि सकारात्मकता |

मी एक कर्करोगग्रस्त पेशंट आहे, साधारणतः जानेवारी२०२० च्या शेवटी माझा कर्करोग लक्षात आला, डॉक्टर तपासण्या होईपर्यंतफेब्रुवारीचा शेवट उजाडला. कर्करोगाच्या उपाचार पहदतीतील केमोथेरेपीबदल माझ्या मनात भयंकर चित्र होते. औषणे पोटातून दिले जातात.मोठ्या मशिनखाली झोपवून औषधे दिली जातात. असे काहीसे माझ्यामनातील हे चित्र होते.

मी एक कर्करोगग्रस्त पेशंट आहे, साधारणतः जानेवारी २०२० च्या शेवटी माझा कर्करोग लक्षात आला, डॉक्टर तपासण्या होईपर्यंत फेब्रुवारीचा शेवट उजाडला. कर्करोगाच्या उपाचार पहदतीतील केमोथेरेपीबदल माझ्या मनात भयंकर चित्र होते. औषणे पोटातून दिले जातात.मोठ्या मशिनखाली झोपवून औषधे दिली जातात. असे काहीसे माझ्यामनातील हे चित्र होते.

आमच्या कर्करोग तज्ज्ञानी सुचविल्या प्रमाणे आम्ही मार्चमहिन्याच्या सुरुवातीस होप हॉस्पिटल' मध्ये म्हणजेच डॉ. पेसरयांचेकडेआलो. दवाखान्याच्या इमारतीत प्रवेश करताच तेयाले वातावरणामुळेमाझ्या मनावरचा थोडा ताण हलका झाला. कारण इमारत कॅन्सरहॉस्पिटलची आहे असे वाटतच नव्हते. रिशस्वनिरट कडे गेलो त्यांनीहसून स्वागत केले, सर्व माहिती आपलेपणाने विचारून संगणकात संग्रहीतकेली, त्यानंतर मी, माझे दोन्ही मुले व पती आम्ही डॉक्टरांना भेटलोकॅन्सर पेशंटची मनस्थिती जशी असते तशीच माझी ही होती,डॉक्टरांकडेजालाच त्यांची शांत मुद्रा, स्मितहास्य पाहून माझ्या मनावरचा ताण आणखिकाहीसा कमी झाला, डॉक्टर उपाचपती समजेल अशा सोप्या भाषेतसांगत होते.पण माझे त्यात लक्ष नहते. तर मी त्या खोलीतील वातावरणअनुभवत होते, वस्तूनिटनेटक्या, स्वच्चसूर्य प्रकाश आम्ही डॉक्टरांच्या खोलीतुनखोलीतून बाहेर पडल्यानंतर मी सहज 'केमोथेरेपी जिये डोकावले.खूप प्रेमाने तेथील नर्स पेटची विचारपूस करत होत्या

मी एक कर्करोगग्रस्त पेशंट आहे. साधारणतः जानेवारी 2020 च्या शेवटी माझा कर्करोग लक्षात आला. डॉक्टर तपासण्या होईपर्यंत फेब्रुवारी चा शेवट उजाडला. कर्करोगाच्या उपचार पद्धतीतील केमोथेरपी बद्दल माझ्या मनात भयंकर चित्र होते. औषधे पोटातून दिले जातात. मोठ्या मशीन खाली झोपून औषधे दिली जातात असे काहीसे माझ्या मनातील हे चित्र होते.

आमच्या कर्करोग तज्ञांनी सुचविल्याप्रमाणे आम्ही मार्च महिन्याच्या सुरुवातीस होप हॉस्पिटलमध्ये म्हणजेच डॉक्टर पेठे सर यांच्याकडे आलो. दवाखान्याच्या इमारतीत प्रवेश करतात तेथील वातावरणामुळे माझ्या मनावरचा थोडा ताण हलका झाला. कारण इमारत कॅन्सर हॉस्पिटलची आहे असे वाटतच नव्हते. रिसेप्शनिस्ट कडे गेलो त्यांनी हसून स्वागत केले. सर्व माहिती आपलेपणाने विचारून संगणकात संग्रहित केली. त्यानंतर मी, माझे दोन्ही मुले व पती आम्ही डॉक्टरांना भेटलो. कॅन्सर पेशंटची मनस्थिती जशी असते तशीच माझीही होती. डॉक्टरांकडे जाताच त्यांची शांत मुद्रा, स्मितहास्य पाहून माझ्या मनावरचा ताण आणखी काहीसा कमी झाला. डॉक्टर उपाचपद्धती समजेल अशा सोप्या भाषेत सांगत होते. पण माझे त्यात लक्ष नव्हते. तर मी त्या खोलीतील वातावरण अनुभवत होते. वस्तू नीटनेटक्या, स्वच्छ सूर्यप्रकाश, आम्ही डॉक्टरांच्या खोलीतून बाहेर पडल्यानंतर मी सहज 'केमोथेरपी' जिथे डोकावेल. खूप प्रेमाने तेथील नर्स पेशंटची विचारपूस करत होत्या. औषधे सलाईन मधून दिले जात होते. आता तर काय माझ्या डोक्यातील केमोथेरपी चे चित्र गळून पडले. त्याची जागा समाधान व आनंदाने घेतली. मनाशी पक्का निश्चय केला की मी याच दवाखान्यात पुढील उपचार पद्धती घेईन.

11 मार्च 2020 रोजी माझी पहिली केमोथेरपी होती. दोन-तीन दिवस आधी येऊन मी लॅबमध्ये माझ्या पांढऱ्या पेशीची तपासणी केली. माझ्या नसा बारीक असल्याने बहुतेक हा लॅब वाला इतरांसारखाच मला ओरडणार असे वाटले. पण आश्चर्य एका सुंदर गोड मुलाने हसत हसत मला कुठल्याही प्रकारचा त्रास होऊ न देता तपासणीसाठी रक्त घेतले.

11 मार्चला आम्ही दवाखान्यात आलो. दवाखान्यातील काम करणाऱ्या मावशींनी प्रेमाने कॉफी विचारली, हसून स्वागत केले. या कर्मचाऱ्यांकडून केली जाणारी स्वच्छता तर डोळ्यात भरणारी नीटनेटकेपणा प्रत्येक ठिकाणी जाणवत होता.

रिसेप्शनिस्ट कडे गेलो त्यांनी "मावशी कशा आहात? "अशा गोड आवाजात विचारताच मन प्रसन्न झाले. प्रत्यक्ष केमोथेरपी खोलीत, नंतर तेथील नर्सची कामाची पद्धती, पेशंट बरोबर आपलेपणाचे बोलणे पाहून तर माझ्या मनातील कॅन्सरची तिरस्काराची भावना निघून गेली.

मला या दवाखान्यात एक गोष्ट प्रकर्षाने जाणवली की रोग्याचे मानसिक आरोग्य राखून त्याच्यावर या ठिकाणी उपचार केले जातात. सलाईन संपले, मला त्रास होत आहे, हे केमोथेरपीच्या दरम्यान सांगण्याची गरजच पडत नाही कारण नर्स आपले काम प्रामाणिकतेने व लगेच करत असतात. दोन डॉक्टर निरीक्षक म्हणून नेमलेले आहेत. ते पेशंटची प्रेमळ व गोड आवाजात सारखी विचारपूस करत असतात.

मला स्वतःला या हॉस्पिटलमुळे उभारी मिळाली. मी खूपच सकारात्मक विचार करू लागले. त्यामुळे माझ्या शरीरावर देखील सकारात्मक परिणाम होऊन औषधांचा चांगला परिणाम झाला. प्रत्येक पेट स्कॅन ला माझ्या कॅन्सर गाठी कमी होत होत्या. ऑपरेशन नंतरच्या बायॉप्सी रिपोर्ट मध्ये तर माझा कॅन्सर शून्य टक्के आला.

अरे हो, एक गोष्ट महत्त्वाची सांगायची राहिलीच. पेशंटचे वजन डॉक्टर पेठे सर कमी होऊ देत नाहीत. त्यासाठी ते विविध औषधांचा वापर करतात. अशा प्रकारे सर पेशंटचे तन मन दोन्हीचे आरोग्य उत्तम राखतात.

मी कॅन्सर पेशंटला सुचवू इच्छिते की त्यांनी नाशिक मधील बेस्ट हॉस्पिटल होप एमओसी हॉस्पिटलचीच उपचारासाठी निवड करावी. आशेच्या मिटलेल्या कळीवर प्रेम, आपलेपणा या कौटुंबिक जिव्हाळ्याची अलगद फुंकर घालून एक एक पाकळी उमलवून सुगंधी फुलात रूपांतर या इस्पितळात केले जाते. शेवटी कॅन्सर पेशंट आपल्याला कॅन्सर आहे-होता हेच येथे तो विसरून जातो.

येथील डॉक्टर, नर्स, लॅब कर्मचारी, सफाई कर्मचारी पेशंटच्या सेवेसाठी सदैव तत्पर असतात. 'रुग्ण सेवा हीच ईश्वर सेवा' हेच जणू यांचे ब्रीदवाक्य आहे.

म्हणूनच डॉक्टर पेठे सर, इतर डॉक्टर्स, नर्स, मावशी, लॅब कर्मचारी, मेडिकल मधील कर्मचारी या सर्वांना माझे शतशः प्रणाम.

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