Densmaa, Mongolia

My name is Densmaa  Munkh-Ochir, and I’m 67 years old, living in Zavkhan, Mongolia, the coldest province in the country. My story began 25 years ago, in the year 2000, when I first noticed a small lump on my neck. At the time, it didn’t cause me any pain, so I didn’t think much of it. However, 21 years later, when pain finally began to set in, I knew it was time to visit the doctor. That’s when I received the devastating news: it was cancer.

At first, I was overwhelmed with despair upon hearing the diagnosis. But then I looked at my family, my loving husband and four children and their unwavering support gave me the strength to carry on. They stood by me every step of the way, offering comfort, encouragement, and love. Their belief in me became my driving force to fight back.

I underwent a long, 10 hour surgery to remove many of my lymph nodes, followed by eight rounds of chemotherapy. It was an incredibly challenging journey, but I never felt truly alone.

In the beginning, I went to the doctor for check-ups every three months, following all their advice carefully. Now, after all these years, I’m happy to say I go for check-ups every six months and am in good health. I’m deeply grateful for the medical care I received and for the unwavering support of my family, which was essential to my recovery.

This experience has taught me so much, particularly the importance of early detection and regular check-ups. If something doesn’t feel right in your body, don’t wait take action immediately. Seeing a doctor early can truly make all the difference.