“Listen to your body—it does tell you things. It’s about knowing yourself. Once you know, you can fight it,’” says Lynn.

Here is another story of our survivor Sonam Yuden who will make you believe that Cancer is not a death sentence.

Bhutan had its first lockdown in March, our college was closed too and we were to leave for our home soon. One morning I woke up with some pain on my grain. I thought it will be over soon. I was home by then. We have to study through online. I was sick, still then I did all my assignments and submitted everything on time. I was getting worse; I couldn’t walk, had backache and pain all over my joints and had difficulty in breathing sometimes. My apa and I visited hospital the next day. I did my blood test and the reports were normal. We rushed to Thimphu the next day. I was checked by different doctors and nothing was diagnosed. Everything was normal but I was going through a lot of pain. I lost my appetite. Now being a Bhutanese we have to believe in religious side too. So we did everything that lamas recommended. But I was only becoming pale and worse. I have my aunt working in JDWNRH. Her doctor friends came at our place checked up on me and recommended me to do necessary tests. I did all of them. The next day my result was shown to Rheumatologist, she doubted leukemia. But I was unaware of it. I was immediately admitted in the hospital. The ward was filled with lot of sick people and I was dishearted to see them. Later I was shifted to cabin. All my family members knew about it except for me. After week my aunt told me that I was diagnosed with Leukemia (Acute lymphoblastic leukemia) a type of blood cancer where the white blood cell in our body multiplies faster and doesn’t die on time.

She told me that if you are positive during such situation, you attract positive energy and it will help you fight back easily and win over it. Let’s be honest here, I wasn’t shocked, wasn’t even disheartened because I didn’t know what this disease is all about.

I was always in pain and I was always injected with pain killer in order to subside my pain. My family cooked everything I liked and bought for me so that I eat well but I always failed to eat. Later in August I was referred to India. My treatment was immediately started. I heard that chemotherapy being intense it will give me a lot of side effects, heard that my hair on will fall soon. I know that the hair will grow back so I decided to shave my head.

After the first phase of chemotherapy ended even the tiny hairs on my head fell off too. I looked in the mirror and still found myself fresh and beautiful. It didn’t hurt me. My apa was with me throughout. I always kept in mind that my parents and family gave me enough support and love beyond skies and that I should keep fighting.

After 8 months my treatment ended. The doctor told me my results are good but at the back of my head I have to know that I am not really cured, or say the disease is in remission. It is the most important period of recovery and I have to give my health the priority. I am still on treatment, I have to take medicines on time, eat healthy food, do exercise and drink a lot of water.

I have a lot of people to thank during this part of my live; they support me and joined my hands as if this disease was part of them too. Words are always less to tell them how much I am thankful and that I was always encouraged because of them.

Cancer is not a death sentences my dear friends, I know you live with fear each time you wake up in the morning or each time there’s slight pain on any parts of your body. But I would like to say that as you live in fear you tend to stress lot which is really not good for your body, instead I suggest you make your health, do regular checkups and be happy. Instead of living in fear, why not make one’s living worth well after all death is the ultimate worth well after all death is the ultimate destination for every living being. Life is worth the fight and worth living. I am a fighter and I know you all are fighter too. Stay strong.