Page 73 - Essentia Vol 5 Issue 1

VOL V | ISSUE I | 5 AUGUST 2026 VOL V | ISSUE I | 5 AUGUST 2026
A BIANNUAL NEWSLETTER OF ASSAM CANCER CARE FOUNDATION A BIANNUAL NEWSLETTER OF ASSAM CANCER CARE FOUNDATION

Compassionate
Care During our first interaction, I held her hand and
A gentle start

guided her through deep breathing to help calm

daughter, we agreed that she would attend weekly
The Foundation of her. After speaking with Mrs Ahmed and her
therapy sessions. That marked the beginning of a
Recovery journey of resilience and rediscovery.
Before almost every chemotherapy cycle, she
experienced anxiety, distress, hypertension and
disturbed sleep. She was therefore encouraged
to meet the therapist before proceeding for
Eepsita Sarma chemotherapy. Our sessions explored her
Clinical Psychologist childhood, past experience with anxiety, her role
State Cancer Institute, Guwahati as a caregiver during her husband’s illness, her
relationship with her daughters, and the stigma
surrounding cancer.

rs Rabia Ahmed, a 77-year-old woman Reconnecting with herself
from Guwahati, was diagnosed in June Mrs Ahmed spoke with pride about being a Home
M2025 with invasive ductal carcinoma of Science graduate, her love for cooking, knitting
the right breast. She underwent modified radical and crocheting, and her active involvement in
mastectomy at State Cancer Institute (SCI), social and literary forums across Guwahati. She
Guwahati, and was advised 12 cycles of adjuvant had also started working towards her dream of
chemotherapy as part of her curative treatment publishing a recipe book. After her diagnosis,
plan. however, her participation in these activities had
I first met her in August 2025, after a call from declined sharply.
the Emergency Department about panic-like After discussion with the consulting oncologist,
symptoms before chemotherapy. Her blood medication was prescribed to help with anxiety
pressure was rising despite antihypertensive and sleep, with psychiatric consultation suggested
medication, and she was extremely fearful of if required. Her therapy sessions focused on the
undergoing treatment. She wanted someone to fears that affected her most: loneliness during
remain with her throughout the chemotherapy treatment, becoming physically weak, losing
session, which was not possible in the day-care independence and becoming a burden to her
chemotherapy ward. daughter, who was her primary caregiver.

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