Cancer: Teacher shares her incredible fight against endometrial adenocarcinoma, a cancer of the reproductive system |
Surviving cancer isn’t just about beating a disease. It’s about showing up every single day when your body and mind are screaming at you to give up. And survivors do that. They carry scars you can’t always see, but the real strength is in their determination to keep moving forward, to reclaim pieces of life that the illness tried to take away. There’s something almost quiet but electric about someone who’s faced cancer. They know what fear feels like, and they’ve looked it in the eye. And still, they laugh, they work, they hug their loved ones a little tighter. They celebrate the small victories, walking a bit further, finishing a meal, making it through a day without thinking about hospitals. Every step, every breath, becomes a statement: I am here. I am living.
The journey of Meeta Khanna, a mother, a teacher and a woman, is not just about resilience, it is about power. “My life is divided in two, BC, Before Cancer, and AD, After Diagnosis! The road to healing is rarely a straight line. For me, it began in 2018- not with a clear answer, but with a nagging sense that something was wrong. For three years, I navigated a cycle of feeling progressively unwell, visiting various doctors, and searching for a clarity that seemed just out of reach,” Meeta told TOI Health. “In April 2021, my path led me to Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC) and into the care of Dr. Vandana Jain. It was here that the uncertainty finally had a name: Endometrial Adenocarcinoma.Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a seismic shift. I had to quickly process the weight of the physical toll ahead, but the emotional implications were even heavier. It wasn’t just my battle; my family felt every tremor of the news. We faced the fear together, navigating the dark days where hope felt like a fragile thing,” she said.Endometrial adenocarcinoma is the most common type of cancer that affects the lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium. This cancer is most often seen in women after menopause, but it can also occur in younger women.
Her treatment continued till 2022
“From that moment until December 2022, my life was defined by active treatment. It was a rigorous marathon that included: surgery to remove the source, chemotherapy to ensure no cell was left behind, radiation to fortify my recovery. Throughout this grueling year and a half, I was never alone. The state-of-the-art medical practices at RGCIRC gave me the best technical fighting chance, but it was the unwavering support of my oncologist that kept my spirit intact. Having a medical team that stands by you every step of the way transforms a clinical process into a human one,” says Meeta.“Today, I am officially cancer-free. The most beautiful part of this “after” is the simplicity of living. I am back to working, finding my voice through writing, and exploring the world through travel. I am not just surviving; I am thriving,” she concludes.Survivors don’t just reclaim life for themselves. They inspire everyone around them — family, friends, strangers — to value their own days a little more. Their journey is messy, exhausting, and sometimes lonely. But it’s real.
