We spoke about how coping with cancer helped her strengthen relationships, renew life and find inner peace.

"It was a blessing in disguise," reflects Kamini. In her own words…

"It has brought my family closer…"
There always is the fear of seeing your loved ones go through pain. In the long run it is a source of strength and brought my family closer because of what we shared.

My sons were twelve and six years at the time I found out I had cancer. It was difficult to tell them that I was ill; on hindsight it was the best thing to
do.

And it is always better for kids to find out from you than by mistake. It is important to talk to them about their fears as it helps everyone cope.

"Counselling helps."

We all have cobwebs that need dusting from time to time. There is nothing wrong in visiting a counsellor; it helps. When I first came to know I had cancer, I felt sorry for myself. Everyone around me empathised and treated me with kid gloves. But my counsellor really shook me up… "You're not dying, you need to face life," he said. It helped me regain my confidence.

It is also advisable to be counselled as a family. My kids were too young but my husband came along. He knew I was ill and could see the turmoil but he never knew what I was thinking. Counselling definitely bettered our relationship a 100 per cent.

"No special concessions…"

Support from the people you love is important. In India there is stigma attached to cancer and women have been abandoned by their families. Fortunately, my in-laws stood by me.

Women often tell me that they got cancer because of their karma and they accept it as penance for something they have done in their past life. Cancer is a health problem and should be dealt with that way.

Most hospitals hand out literature for the family to read. It helps the family understand the physical and emotional changes, the fear and guilt that a woman goes through. But this does not mean you pity her. There were no special concessions for me.