It was the fall of 2021 when Marifa felt a lump in her breast. But, things turned unexpected when her lump took on a reddish hue. Her doctors in Bangladesh recommended a Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) and biopsy test. The FNAC results created a cacophony of panic, fear, and anxiety. Marifa was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Marifa wasn't quite sure how to proceed. After extensive research for treatment opportunities, she connected with ClinicSpots. We are a medical platform bringing together patients and doctors under one umbrella in India. She reached out to our executives, and explained to them in detail her plight. Taking control of the situation, our executives explained the advanced treatment procedures available in India. After much consideration, Marifa decided to seek her cancer treatment in India.
ClinicSpots executives connected with Dr. Sanjay Dhudhat, a renowned surgical oncologist in Mumbai. Our executive explained all the symptoms of Marifa to the doctor. They further discussed the treatment possibilities for Marifa.
Once Marifa and her family was convinced to seek treatment in India, ClinicSpots executives sent her the visa invitation letter (VIL) at the soonest. She got her visa within a day and immediately booked her tickets to India.
Upon arrival in Mumbai on October 17, 2021, our executive received Marifa and her son at the airport. Before their arrival, he had already arranged for their accommodation. Our executives also made other arrangements like transportation, so Marifa and her family could focus on her treatment.
After reaching Mumbai, Marifa contacted surgical oncologist Dr. Sanjay Dhudhat through our executives. They got together to discuss the course of her treatment at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai. Dr. Sanjay Dhudhat further teamed up with Dr. Mozammil Sheikh, a medical oncologist. They conducted a series of tests to determine the cancer's exact stage and location.
Recommended Diagnosis Tests:
The results of the tests determined breast cancer in stage three.
Upon knowing the stage, Dr. Dhudhat and Dr. Sheikh determined the course of Marifa's treatment. They explained all the procedures to her and assured her that she was going to be all well and fine. Right away, Marifa felt comfortable with her medical team and saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
Treatment Plan
Marifa's first phase of treatment began with chemotherapy. She had eight chemotherapy sessions before her surgery. Out of these eight, four were a combination of chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Marifa's medical team had done a PET scan after every two chemotherapy sessions. Her team did this to determine the tumor's size. Moreover, doctors also did a mammography test again after six cycles of chemotherapy. This way, Marifa's medical team monitored her progress at intervals.
Marifa underwent surgery to remove the tumor after her chemotherapy sessions. Her team recommended radiation therapy to prevent cancer from spreading or reviving. She took radiation therapy 5 days a week and likewise completed 25 sessions.
Post Surgery
Post-surgery, Marifa continued with targeted therapy. She will continue to do so till she completes 17 sessions. There is a 21-day gap between each session of targeted therapy, so it spans a longer period of time.
Today, after nine months since Marifa began her treatment for ductal cell carcinoma, she is as healthy and happy as she was before. She is grateful to ClinicSpots for connecting her to the best oncologists in the country. She calls ClinicSpots executives her constant sources of support and reliability. They were in contact with Marifa for all these nine months and catered to every need.
With a heart full of happiness and gratitude, Marifa flew back to Bangladesh on July 4, 2022. She is happy with her treatment for breast cancer in India. Her medical team has made it possible to continue her targeted therapy course at her hometown. She has taken all the medicines for targeted therapy from India, so she continues getting quality treatment.
Marifa is a true cancer warrior in every sense. She faced every challenge with a daring smile and is the wonder woman we all aspire to look up to. Here's hoping her success story serves as an inspiration to all the cancer warriors out there.
Note: We respect our patient's privacy so the name has been changed to maintain confidentiality.