-Siddhi Kulkarni (Sub-Editor/Writer)
Most types of cancer are considered uncommon, and they are often more difficult to prevent, diagnose, and treat than the more common cancers. Unusual or unfamiliar cancers are challenging for patients, doctors, and scientists. But instead of looking at the dark side, let's focus on the people who have fought with such cancers.
Xenia’s Story
Xenia faced infertility at age 34 after treatment for endometrial and uterine cancers. “People’s greatest misconception with cancer is that there’s an on and off switch. Once you’re finished with the treatment, you just turn your life back on. And in reality, you don’t. You’re a totally different version of yourself, and we have to figure out that new normal. At 34, I had to have a radical hysterectomy to treat my uterine cancer. I’ve never felt more alone or lost in my life. Everything I thought would be my future had disappeared in a matter of hours. But, through counseling with my psychiatrist and just reaching out to different young adult organizations, and finding a community with it, I was able to create a new normal. I found Cancer to 5K, just seeing if I could run after my cancer diagnosis, and that led me to sign up for my first marathon. Now, I continue running, walking, doing physical activity, just because it helps me to set goals, and helps me be accountable for who I am as a person. I’m not gonna say I’m perfect. The tears, I’m not perfect. I cry a lot. It still sucks that I can’t have a baby, but I found happiness in all this sadness. I have a community of other young adult women that have gone through radical hysterectomies, of others that just get it. As a cancer survivor, you have to find your people. You have to find the people that understand you, support you, get you. You have to find that group. And I just hope, and I wish for everyone to have those people that they can call on to have their backs.”
What is uterine cancer?
A type of cancer that begins in the uterus. Most uterine cancer begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus. Uterine cancer begins when healthy cells in the uterus change and grow out of control, forming a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be cancerous or benign. It is considered an uncommon cancer by medical professionals in
India. Almost 50 out of every 100 women (almost 50%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis. Around 15 out of every 100 women (15%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed. The outcome depends on how far the cancer has spread.
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