Respiratory System Cancer Treatment in India

Diya Saxena, a 58-year-old former school...

Diya Saxena, a 58-year-old former school principal and avid gardener, had been a non-smoker her entire life. For months, she dismissed a persistent, dry cough and increasing fatigue as lingering effects of a bad cold and the stress of retirement. When she began experiencing sharp chest pain and coughed up a small amount of blood, her GP ordered a chest X-ray, which revealed a suspicious mass. A subsequent biopsy confirmed stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Her oncologist, Dr. Sharma, recommended a multi-pronged approach: a course of aggressive chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor, followed by a lobectomy to remove the affected portion of her lung. The treatment was grueling; the chemotherapy left her nauseated and weak, and the radiation caused painful esophagitis. The surgery itself was successful, but recovery was slow, requiring weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation to rebuild her strength and lung capacity. Emotionally, Diya was initially in denial, then consumed by a profound sense of unfairness. Post-treatment, though physically diminished, she found a new resilience. She channeled her energy into a support group for non-smoking lung cancer patients, transforming her anger into advocacy. Her garden became her sanctuary again, a symbol of growth and survival.