"During my journey, I realised that death is smooth, easy and comfortable but fighting for your life is a nightmare and I have lived through that nightmare," said Steffi Mac, who has bravely fought against blood cancer, finished her PhD and hosts a YouTube channel called "Can We Not" that talks about what other people can do to help cancer patients.
Steffi is a Lecturer at St Xavier’s College in Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
She talked to SBS Gujarati about her journey from diagnosing the often fatal disease, to fighting and overcoming from it.
Steffi with her mother. Source: Steffi Mac.
Diagnosed with the disease
According to 29-years-old Steffi, "It was October 2013, I noticed bleeding in my gums and checked it up with my dentist. Nothing was diagnosed that time, but I was sure it was not normal bleeding. I was having a fever and coughing too. I googled it, understood the difference between bleeding and clotting gums.
"I talked to my parents about the situation. After undergoing several check-ups, it was the high-risk blood cancer called Leukaemia."
Steffi with her father on a day of her wedding. Source: Steffi Mac
Steffi has shown great courage mentally and physically
Despite being diagnosed with the disease Steffi showed courage and faced it.
"It didn't shock me; I was mentally prepared and knew I have to pass from lots of pain mentally and physically. Even during my course, I didn't cry as I wanted to stay strong. If I would cry, how does it solve anything? Therefore, I have never expressed my pain."
During her treatment, Steffi faced many incidents where she had to keep herself and parents strong.
"I have taken my treatment at Vellore - a town near Chennai, during my treatment I have signed a number of forms and papers ending with a line "You could die."
"I have dealt with physiological, physical and emotional aspects during my hard time. Within a month of the treatment, I shrank down to 38 kilograms of weight from 60 kilograms. I could not walk even 100 meters, but I was strong. I was allowed to meet anyone from my parents only for two hours a day. I was meeting my mother and father alternatively. I have waited for almost two months to hug my father", said Steffi.
Keeps herself fit
Steffi is now a fitness fanatic. She exercises 30 minutes a day. She regularly does Yoga - Pranayama and Deep breathing. She has started feeling healthier.
Steffi launched a book about her journey of cancer called "That Girl in the Black Hat". Source: Steffi Mac
Finished PhD, published a book
After successfully recovering from the disease, Steffi finished her PhD from Saurashtra University with a major in Use of Language by Shakespeare in his Tragedies. Now she's a lecturer at St Xavier College in Ahmedabad.
Steffi has written a book about her journey with cancer, called "That Girl in the Black Hat" because she used to wear a black hat most of the time to cover her bald head - a side effect of the treatment.
YouTube channel
Steffi recently launched a YouTube channel called "Can We Not." The channel does not tell people and the survivors what to do, but it guides their parents and relatives that how they can help them in their battle against cancer.
