Page 121 - ACCF - Stories of Resilience

persistent health issues, brushing them aside as minor inconveniences.

Her life took a dramatic turn when a preventive outreach team encouraged her to visit the local Health Kiosk. Hesitant at first,
she eventually gave in to their persistence. During her visit, a dentist conducting routine screenings noticed alarming lesions
in her mouth, worsened by sharp teeth biting into her buccal mucosa. Upon further discussion, Jahanara revealed a 30-year
history of tobacco use.

Suspecting oral cancer, the dentist referred her to the Diphu Cancer Centre (DCC), where her diagnosis was confirmed: oral
cancer. Tragically, years of tobacco use had significantly impacted her health. Though she quit tobacco immediately after her
diagnosis, the damage was already done.
Instead of relief at receiving clarity, fear and stigma consumed Jahanara. Friends and neighbors warned her against treatment,
claiming it would alter her appearance and make her an object of fear in the community. Their unsolicited opinions weighed
heavily on her, and she made the heartbreaking decision to abandon treatment.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
The outreach team refused to give up on Jahanara. Repeated follow-ups were met with silence, and calls to her daughter often
went unanswered. Months passed, and her condition worsened. After countless attempts, the team convinced her family to
bring her back to DCC.

At DCC, the doctors recommended a CT scan to assess the severity of her illness. However, her family’s financial struggles
made the scan unaffordable. Recognizing the urgency, the team secured corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding to
cover the cost. Even then, Jahanara hesitated, refusing to travel outside Diphu for treatment and insisting that all care remain
within the district.

As her health deteriorated further, she was also diagnosed with severe anemia and required a blood transfusion. Reluctantly,
Jahanara visited DCC with her children, but when advised to seek admission at DMCH for the procedure, she refused and
returned home. Once again, calls from the team went unanswered.

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