Page 36 - ACCF - Stories of Resilience

patients and families and confronted the challenges of working in a resource-constrained environment.

One patient who left an indelible mark on my heart is a young woman named Bina (name change).
She was just 42 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Bina was an unmarried woman
who stays with her brother and sister-in-law in a small village. She has to work as a daily wager to earn
her livelihood as her parents got expired. When I first met Bina, she was hesitating to come forward as
she was unaware with the problem she was having and thought it to be some minor health issue for
which she visited community quacks. But later, I came to know about Bina and immediately visited her
place for an interaction and after that she was made aware of breast cancer and its symptoms. She got
devastated by the diagnosis and felt like her world had come crashing down. With a little knowledge
about the situation and the health condition she is going through, Bina stood up for herself and took
help from us for further process.
As I spent more time with Bina, I realized that she was not just fighting for her own life but also stood
up as a fighter for many such women. She managed herself to confront the situation and move forward
for the journey. Initially she was anxious about the financial burden that her treatment would place on
her and her family.

As a District Coordinator, my role was not just to provide Bina with medical care but also to offer her
emotional support and guidance. I connected her with a support group of breast cancer survivors,
who shared their own experiences and offered words of encouragement. I also helped her to access
financial assistance for her treatment. Over the months, I watched Bina transform from a timid and
anxious patient to a confident and determined individual. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy and
radiation. She faced each challenge with courage and resilience. Today, Bina is cancer-free with a good
health and a new personality.
Bina’s story is just one of many that I have encountered over the past year. On the other hand, I have

36 HOLD ON TO HOPE—IT IS THE BRIDGE THAT LEADS YOU FROM PAIN TO HEALING