Shalini Tai, India

Hello, I am Shalini Tai Bijurkar from Hingoli, Maharashtra. I am dealt with many hardships in my life but I never forgot to smile. However, now the biggest challenge in my life is I have be on Crizotinib till the last day of my life. I was diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2022. The only symptom that I had was cough. Almost 2 years, persistent cough. Whenever medicine was given, it subsided but again came back after a few days. I am a teacher so thought may be this was due to over exertion on my throat. At my place, there is no much facilities so I did my X ray and CT scan from Nanded City. My grand mother also had lung cancer and I had seen her reports before. My biggest fear became true when my reports looked similar. When doctors told my husband about my diagnosis, we could not hold our tears back. We decided that would take traetment from TMH, Mumbai. So, we went there but life was not easy there. I come from a very financially vulnerable background. The medicine that I take is very costly but I have got some help from Patient Assistance Program. I was the bread earner of my family. My husband is also working but nothing much. However, Lung Connect India Foundation came as blessing in disguise in my life. I got so much resources and information from there. I thought my life has come to a full stop but it is a question mark now which is better than full stop according to me.