CanSupport got Kanta’s referral through its cancer helpline. She was diagnosed with cancer of the breast and had already been operated upon.

When the home care team from CanSupport visited Kanta, she was suffering from an enormous symptom burden like depression, physical weakness, insomnia and fear of death. Owing to her depressive state, she would scream and shout at everyone at home, which had turned everyone hostile towards her. There would be frequent arguments between her and her mother-in-law or sister-in-law. Unfortunately, no one understood that Kanta’s anger resulted from depression.

Kanta has two young school going boys. One of them is in class six, while the other one is in class three. She also neglected her children and their needs because of depression. Besides, Kanta’s relationship with her husband was not satisfactory. She doubted he was having an extra-marital affair. To add, she was suffering from a sense of shame that her breast had been removed and that may alienate her husband from her further.

When she had got married, like any other girl, she dreamt of getting love from her husband, and in-laws. She didn’t receive any of that. So, when the cancer struck, the only thought on her mind was, “Why me, God?”

When the CanSupport team visited Kanta again in October 2020, she broke down during a counselling session with the team counsellor. She opened up and shared she was facing domestic violence and that her husband would beat her. Her in-laws were not supportive, either. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law would incite her husband by grumbling about her to him.

For the team, it was important to help Kanta with symptom reduction and gave her medication that would help reduce depression in her. Medication helped and her depression diminished, but two weeks later, a nasty argument with her mother-in-law triggered anger in her and she stopped taking the medication.

This resulted in depression landing back on her with great severity. She could only think of reaching out to the palliative care team at CanSupport for help. The team counsellor advised her to resume taking the medication and not to miss that at any cost. However, being aware of her condition and circumstances, the team took it upon itself to visit her daily to personally make her take the medication. Kanta was so moved by the team’s effort to visit her daily to ensure she took the medication; she promised the team that she would take it by herself without a miss.

Gradually her condition improved. She was very appreciative of the support she was getting from the palliative care team from CanSupport, especially the counselling sessions with the counsellor with whom she could talk and share her feelings and emotions. As her depression came under control, her anger ebbed and she started eating meals regularly, a thing she neglected before.

In April 2021, during the second wave of Covid-19, Delhi was placed under a lockdown again. Kanta once again became lax about taking the medication.

During the team’s next visit, she again broke down and cried uncontrollably. This time the counsellor engaged in a dialogue with her mother-in-law as well and tried to make her understand Kanta was a cancer patient, which is not an easy position to be in and cancer patients usually let out their frustration as anger. The team told her mother-in-law that the team was trying their best to help Kanta, but it was important for the family to align with the team and to empathise with Kanta to help her come out of her depressive state.

This counselling sessions with the counsellor helped Kanta’s mother-in-law reconsider, and she became more empathetic of Kanta and her suffering. For the first time, she realized Kanta’s anger arose from her depression.

The team also arranged for a prosthetic bra for Kanta, which helped her feel better and improved her self-confidence.

Luckily, around this time, Kanta’s sister-in-law’s marriage got fixed, which helped the family come together and unite. Regular counselling sessions with the team counsellor helped Kanta’s mother-in-law have a change of heart towards Kanta and she became kinder and more understanding of Kanta’s mental and emotional state.

Post her sister-in-law’s wedding, Kanta’s relationship with her mother-in-law improved further. She diligently took her medication for depression. Gradually she started to stabilise, started taking interest in her children and their needs. With depression in control, she doesn’t lose her temper or scream at anyone anymore, resulting in fewer fights and arguments. Her mother-in-law has also become much more supportive of her, leading to a better environment and harmony at home.

Kanta’s mother-in-law appreciates the effort by the team from CanSupport in helping Kanta get over her depression and bringing back peace and harmony in her family.

(Picture in display is representation of CanSupport Home care Services)