In Kashmir, where the burden of cancer is compounded by inadequate healthcare and financial hardship, survivors fight against the odds with resilience and hope. Babra Wani reports on their struggles, triumphs, and the enduring human spirit that refuses to surrender
Syeda, a 55-year-old widow from South Kashmir, carries the weight of her battle with breast cancer in her weary eyes, frail body, and pallid complexion. In 2017, her life took a devastating turn when she was diagnosed with the disease, a revelation that plunged her into years of physical and emotional turmoil.
The moment of diagnosis remains etched in her memory. “I was sipping tea when my son came with the reports,” she recalled. “He sat me down in a separate room, hugged me, and began to cry.” When she pressed him for an explanation, he replied, “Mama, aapko cancer hai, lekin aap theek ho jaawoge” (Mama, you have cancer, but you will recover soon).
The ordeal began in December 2016, when Syeda noticed a lump in her left breast. She immediately informed her children, who took her to a doctor. A series of tests followed, culminating in the life-altering diagnosis.
The years that followed were gruelling. Her children, still young, the eldest just 20 and the youngest 16, shouldered the burden of her care. Having lost her husband a decade earlier, Syeda’s eldest son stepped into the role of her primary caregiver. “The process was exhausting, mentally, physically, and financially,” she remembers.
Managing the expenses of her treatment proved to be one of the greatest challenges. With all three children still in education, Syeda turned to her brothers for support. They not only covered her medical costs but also ensured her children’s education continued uninterrupted.
Each day brought new struggles. Mentally, Syeda felt herself draining away. Physically, the relentless treatments left her increasingly weak. Yet, amid the exhaustion, the sight of her children became her anchor, the one thing that kept her going.
There were days when Syeda would sit alone in her room and cry, overwhelmed by the weight of her fears. “I felt devastated for my children,” she said. “They had already lost their father to cancer. They barely had time with him, and the thought of them losing me too was unbearable. I prayed endlessly, begging Allah for health and life because I could not stand the thought of them suffering again.”
The prayers were answered and she responded positively to treatment.
Yet, the ordeal was not merely physical. The mirror became an unwelcome presence as her appearance changed rapidly. “At some point, I stopped looking at myself. My hair had fallen, my eyebrows too. My skin had grown pale. I thought I looked horrible,” she recalled. Surgical removal of her left breast altered not only her body but also her sense of self. “Aesthetically, the body I had admired and carried throughout my life was no longer there. It saddened me deeply. Every day was a struggle, and I would break down frequently. I don’t know how I survived, but I did. I feel better now.”
Test of Resilience
Thirteen years ago, Abdul Hameed Bhat, a resident of Anantnag’s Ehru area, received a diagnosis that would irrevocably alter his life: stomach cancer.
Speaking in a subdued tone, Hameed recounted the early signs of his illness. “I was suffering from terrible stomach aches and vomiting,” he said. “That’s when I thought something wasn’t right.” After consulting several doctors, he was advised to undergo a series of tests. The results confirmed his worst fears: cancer.
For Hameed, a father of three daughters, the diagnosis was a devastating blow.
He described the moment as though “everything goes dark right in front of your eyes.” The emotional toll was immense. “Some days, you don’t feel like waking up at all,” he admitted.
Throughout his ordeal, Hameed’s primary concern was his family: his wife and three daughters. “They were worried too,” he said. “My treatment lasted more than four years, and all this while, we suffered together as a family.”
Inspire Others
Now, Hameed draws from his own experiences to counsel other patients, urging them to approach their diagnosis and treatment with positivity. “When I was undergoing treatment, my doctors often asked, ‘How can you be so positive?’” he recalled. “They admired my unwavering faith and willingness to fight.”
For Hameed, his resilience was rooted in a deeply held belief. “In Kashmir, survival is a way of life,” he said. “Cancer tested my strength, but I refused to let it define me. Every sunrise felt like a victory, every smile a rebellion against the pain. Hope kept me going when fear tried to take over.” His philosophy is simple yet profound: whatever is written in fate, will come. He survived.
A Battle to Win
Ghulam Nabi, 60, was diagnosed with lung cancer in early 2020 and has been undergoing treatment ever since.
“The horror began in January 2020, just before coronavirus swept through Jammu and Kashmir,” he recalled.
That morning, as he sipped his noon chai, a violent cough took hold. At first, he dismissed it as a passing ailment, but when the coughing turned bloody, exhaustion set in, and breathlessness became routine, his condition could no longer be ignored. Yet, instead of seeking medical advice, he relied on over-the-counter medicines from chemists and local pharmacies.
“I never gave much thought to my persistent cough, the shortness of breath, or the tiredness that crept in every day,” he admitted. “Chest pain, hoarseness, even coughing up blood, these all seemed minor until they weren’t. I wish I had listened to my body sooner.”
It wasn’t until February that his family insisted on a medical check-up. A series of tests followed, leading to the diagnosis that changed their lives. “Your father has lung cancer,” the doctor told his son.
For Ghulam Nabi, the revelation was just as harrowing. “As soon as my son told me, I felt an overwhelming gust of pain inside me. My entire life played out before my eyes like a film reel,” he recalled. “My first thought was: am I going to die? I heard my mother, my wife, and my daughter screaming and wailing. That’s when it hit me. I was seriously going to die.”
Grief settled over their household like a permanent shadow. But Ghulam Nabi refused to surrender.
“That’s what motivated me to fight back,” he said. “I have always been a role model, for my children, for my wife, for my mother. I have been her hero. So I thought, let’s get through this. We fight this battle to win it.”
He braced himself for the gruelling sessions of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Even though he completed his treatment and is all right, he still visits hospitals for routine follow ups.
Over the past five years, his son has witnessed his transformation. “At first, he withdrew completely. We barely spoke for days,” the sons recalled. “Then, one evening at dinner, he said, ‘I will get through this.’ I saw him through his treatment, weak, fragile, yet determined. This illness and its treatment have taken ten years from his life, but mentally, he has emerged stronger than ever.”
Now, like fellow survivor Hameed, Ghulam Nabi is determined to inspire others battling cancer.
“During every hospital visit, I talk to patients. I tell them, ‘If I did it, you can too.’ It’s all about motivation, once they understand that, it doesn’t seem as impossible as they fear.”
Young Survivor
Among the stories of older cancer survivors, the experience of Ahmad, a 10-year-old boy, stands out as a poignant reminder of how the disease can upend even the youngest lives. While children his age played outside, Ahmad spent his days in hospital wards, battling weariness instead of chasing dreams. Though he did not fully comprehend his illness, he understood one thing clearly: he needed to fight. Through painful treatments and long, sleepless nights, he clung to his mother’s hand, drawing strength from her reassuring smile.
Ahmad’s father, an auto-rickshaw driver, spends his days waiting for passengers, his desperation palpable. “Please pray for my son,” he used to plead with those who board his vehicle. “He has blood cancer.” The weight of his words was always heavy. “We had three miscarriages before Ahmad was born,” he explained. “He is our only child, and now he suffers from this dreadful disease.”
Despite the grim diagnosis, doctors remain hopeful. Ahmad’s cancer is in its early stages, and they believe he can be cured. Yet, for his parents, the emotional toll is overwhelming. “Our son keeps motivating us,” his father said. “Even through his pain, he tells us not to cry. He is such a source of strength.”
But the heartbreak is undeniable. “While children his age live their childhood to the fullest, Ahmad’s is lost among these trials,” his father added. “Yet, he is a survivor.”
Ahmad, a shy but determined child, dreams of a future beyond hospital walls. “I want to go to school and become an engineer,” he said. “I hate the smell of medicines, the needles, and everything about this place.”
Ahmad’s father spoke not only of his son’s struggle but also of his wife’s unwavering dedication. “My wife is a survivor too,” he said. “She has forgotten about her own life. For the past two years, she has devoted herself entirely to Ahmad, sacrificing the prime of her youth to care for him. I feel sorry for her too.”
The family’s financial burden is immense. While the Cancer Society covers much of Ahmad’s treatment, there were days when expensive injections costing Rs 3000 were needed. “On those days, a young woman who rode in my auto helped us raise funds,” he said. “This is not just our journey; it is the journey of everyone associated with us.”
Government schemes and financial aid programmes have alleviated some of the economic burdens associated with costly treatments. While challenges remain, the collective efforts of families, activists, and healthcare professionals are shaping a more hopeful future for cancer patients in Kashmir.
*Names changed to protect privacy.
