How and when did you find out that you had cancer?
In August 2021, I started having a sensation in my right breast when someone hugged me or my children accidentally pressed on my chest. I thought it was nothing, but when it did not go away, I consulted a gynaecologist, who ran a series of tests including a FNAC, and a biopsy which revealed that I had stage 3, HER2+ Breast Cancer. After which I was referred to an oncologist who suggested surgery, chemotherapy and radiation was the way to go.
It must be emotionally and physically difficult. Please tell us about your journey.
Yes, it was a shock. I was so fit, used to eat well, stay active, indulge in an hour of fitness everyday, used to also coach women on strength training and nutrition. I was unable to process on how I could I get it, despite having no risk factors for breast cancer.
I learnt a few lessons through my journey:
1. Fitness is not WELLNESS. Wellness has many hidden elements like sleep, emotions, relationships etc which need to be handled with tender loving care.
2. Life is a like a book, not all chapters are supposed to be rosy, every chapter comes with its own twists and turns.
3. In life, many situations may not be in our control, but our response to those situations is always in our control. We have the freedom to choose our response in any given situation
So, while I had a lot of side effects related to my chemotherapy and radiation, I chose to smile, stay patient and take it one day at a time. “Only the best shall happen to me”, was my mantra as I went through a long arduous journey which took more than a year.
You had beautiful hair before your chemotherapy started. How did you cope with losing your hair?
Well, a week before I was expected to start losing hair, I went into the salon, asking for a bob cut like Preity Zinta, because I wanted to have a fun memory of my hair before I gave it all up.
However, as soon as the hairdresser started cutting my hair, strands of hair started falling out.
No amount of reading prepared me for the actual process of it happening, so at that moment, with the hairdresser and I took an instant call to shave off all the hair. A clean shave !
How did you overcome that feeling?
Well, as they say it is all a matter of perspective, and I for sure transformed mine.
In one of my morning walks when I saw the flowers and leaves laden out on the ground, I thought about the seasons of life and I correlated my experiences to FALL. Like the way every leaf and flower on a tree serves its purpose and then withers away to give way to new growth on the tree, my hair fall was a bodily indication that growth is on its way, the minute I saw this I embraced all the hair fall as a part of my growth journey, amidst tears of happiness I gave away all the remnants of my hair for a greater purpose (wigs for cancer patients). While going through the process, I felt tears slide down, as I let the full shave happen, I intentionally let the layers of my personality peel through.
What is life if we don’t challenge ourselves! While the hair was trickling away, I challenged my fears, my insecurities, my assumptions and my preferences, would it be possible to also shed them along with the hair? Yes, it’s a lifelong process of challenging ourselves to be better versions of ourselves.
Growth and development is just like the seasons of the year, they come back often reminding us to never give up, to challenge our status quo, and to lead a intentional life !
The crown hair went first, then the process of shedding eyebrows and eyelashes. As I would wash my eyes every morning and feel the twigs of hair come off in my hand, I treat it as a constant reminder to lead a more intentional life. To love more, to devote myself to a purpose, to teach my children the virtues of gratitude, kindness, and empathy. It’s like the more I shed, the greater the light shines within me, that force to keep going, that force to keep growing!
How was the self acceptance journey for you?
I am not my CANCER, I am not my HAIR. I am Harsha, a woman who is brave, kind, graceful, caring and empathetic, a woman who knows her worth !
And hence the cancer and the hairloss were considered as god’s indication to accept and acknowledge the life lessons learnt !
How has your prospective on life changed since overcoming cancer, and what lessons or insights have you gained from your experience?
Life never promised to be a rosy picture. It will have ups and downs.
Our response to life changes how we experience it. Even in the hardest of moments there is something to learn! All roses have buds and thorns and both present us with learning opportunties. Same for life as well.
As someone who has faced cancer head-on and emerged stronger, what advice would you give to others currently battling cancer or supporting a loved one through their cancer journey?
Always remember nothing in life is permanent. Life is like nature. In autumn, old leaves fade and new ones come in. Similarly in life, the downs will come, make their impact and fade away !
If you are a cancer fighter hang in there, spring is just around the corner, and if you are supporting a loved one, just be around and love unconditionally and all will be well soon.
@harsha_winbreastcancer on Instagram
Cancer-Story 
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