Vinaya, a hypertensive on medication which kept her pressures under control, had also been diagnosed as a case of hyperthyroid and operated for some growth around the thyroid. She recalls how her present ‘problem’ started with an innocuous complaint of white vaginal discharge 6 years back. A visit to the family doctor got an initial response of, ‘probably related to menopause’. Soon after, she attended a yogasana camp after which she experienced spotting and some red discharge.

An active member and President of the Brahmin Mahila Mandal she had attended an awareness program conducted by the Siddhivinayak Hospital which had suggested that all women above 55 years need a gynaecology check up. With this in mind, she went back to her family physician, who sent her to the gynaecologist for a check up and pap smear test which was suspicious but not conclusive.

Vinaya questioned her doctor upfront, wanting to know if it was cancer she suffered from. The doctor was also left at a loss for words, who returned with a ‘possibility’. She undertook the emotional task of informing her two daughters, both married and well settled, about the probability. The daughters were overcome and amazed by the fact that she had undertaken to inform them herself.

With a loving and caring family to support her, her elder daughter a professor at the Sommaiya College of engineering, insisted on her coming to Mumbai for further management. Mrs Vinaya fondly says, “My daughters and my sons-in-law, have been a constant source of strength and support.”

The initial biopsy at Hinduja hospital was inconclusive. A second biopsy revealed cervical cancer, stage 3. Then, started the long haul of radiation, five cycles of chemotherapy and finally surgery in December of 2005. She underwent brachytherapy after a month. In 2008 she underwent surgery for inguinal (groin) nodes on both sides and her back and underwent further surgery. She developed vaginal bleeding again. Subsequent pap smear test revealed suspicions of recurrence. She then underwent further cycles of brachytherapy with Dr Vivekanand to whom she feels especially indebted to.

Vinaya admits to her moments of fear, but being a religious person and a strong believer, she overcame the odds, maintaining a positive and strong will. Her husband has been a pillar of strength. She recalls that thinking of her girls who are happily settled with families of their own crossed her mind, while she prepared for the inevitable. She decided to leave things to God, an attitude of ‘what will be will be’, while bracing herself to face what came her way.

Her husband saw her through the times that she was unusually irritable and not feeling too good. Her daughter in Mumbai used her photographs to have a wig much like her natural hair made before her first chemotherapy. Vinaya recalls that she used the wig during her chemo sessions and no one was wiser. Her educational institution arranged her transfers to enable her to continue teaching while undergoing her treatment.

Considering the other abnormal growths, all of which were negative for cancer, she was advised regular PET scans, the first two at 3 monthly intervals and then at six months. A total of 4 negative PET scans later she can now breathe easy.

With permission from her doctor, she also added Ayurvedic treatment to the regime and found that she suffered less side effects after the chemotherapy. She continues with the medicines to prevent recurrence and says that it gives her a feeling of well being.

A regular regime of Yoga, pranayama and walking keep her in a healthy frame of body and mind. Five years on, Vinaya is extremely positive, charged with energy, busy with her home and teaching and is looking forward to retirement in a year’s time with plans to move to Pune. She desires to work with groups or organisations. She says, “I want to counsel and help other women understand and overcome the disease as I have”.