I am Neha, a 42-year-old mother. Around 15 years ago, life was pretty normal. I was a state-level badminton player—active, healthy, and happy. At 27, I married Abhi, who was working as a sports manager with a renowned academy. We both were ambitious and wanted to have a strong purpose in life. I didn’t want a child at that time, so I adopted a beautiful dog, Lolo, whom I adored. Soon after, we moved to Bangalore, where Abhi’s family was living. Their home was within an hour’s drive. Now, my family was complete: myself, Abhi, Lolo, and our dreams.
About a year after our marriage, I noticed I was having some pain in my pelvis, but it wasn’t persistent, and it wasn’t severe. Sometimes, it was disturbing and uncomfortable, so I’d get up, take an aspirin, and usually forget about it by the end of the day. I had no other symptoms.
Everything was on track until one day when I went for a routine gynecological test that raised a red flag. I was informed that I had tested positive for the human papilloma virus (HPV). (HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. It is a common virus passed during sexual contact, and at least half of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives. However, only a few women develop cervical cancer.) I got a second opinion to be sure, but the result was the same: I had cervical cancer.
I couldn’t accept it and went into complete denial, bombarded myself with questions: “What went wrong? Is it poor sleep, stress, or my diet?” But most of the people around me in their 20s had similar lifestyles, so why me? I had already lost my aunt to cancer, and during her fight, I was with her every step of the way. Everything flashed in front of my eyes—the biopsy, CT scan, MRI, oncologist, pharmacist, and an endless array of pain. Thinking about the worst, I fell completely silent.
At 7 O’clock the next morning, my phone rang, and I saw my doctor’s name appear on the screen. She encouraged me to come in so we could discuss the next steps. I was so numb and nervous that I could barely process what she was saying. Since she was my family doctor and knew the cancer history in my family, she could easily understand my silence and the fears I was feeling. She reminded me of the amazing support system I had and asked me not to jump to conclusions too soon.
Soon, I realized that this wasn’t the time to grieve, but rather a moment to gather myself and prepare for my treatment journey. By 12 o’clock, it was me, my doctor, and an oncologist discussing my cancer treatment plan, which included a radical hysterectomy. Fortunately, I didn’t need radiation treatments—the surgery took care of everything. I had follow-up care every 6 months.
The time during my treatment allowed me to reflect on life, the people I love, and the moments I truly cherish. I promised myself to live a better and healthier life after everything got resolved. I received so much support from my family, and I wanted to extend the same to any woman dealing with cervical cancer. After my recovery, I knew I had to do something to make a difference—raising awareness among younger girls about the importance of pap smears and the HPV vaccine, so no one else would have to face what I went through.
In 2024, I partnered with a few organizations like Emoha Elder Care which provide support, information, and education to women and families about Preventive Healthcare, including cervical cancer and HPV. The best part of working with such organizations is the sense of purpose and the feeling of contentment, knowing that we can positively impact others’ lives. Nobody can feel grateful for having cancer, but I can’t deny the changes it made in my life and lifestyle. I am now on a mission to raise my voice for HPV vaccination.
It’s been 10 years since my cancer treatment, and I now realize that in most cases, a woman’s immune system can clear the HPV virus. However, if it’s left undetected, it can develop into precancer or cancer. When I was 11 or 12 (the recommended age for the HPV vaccine) it wasn’t something people talked about, so I didn’t receive it—and I missed out on getting the two doses. I thought maintaining good health would guarantee I’d always lead a healthy life. However, things didn’t happen that way.
Today, cervical cancer is one of the fastest-growing illnesses. However, the silver lining is that HPV is preventable. Young girls need to understand the importance of regular screenings. My message is: Get yourself, and the young people around you vaccinated. Together, we can wipe out HPV.
