52 year old Lucy Gacheru, from Kenya first found out she had hypertension after a visit to the doctor a few years prior. As she answered the questions typically asked during a physical, something of her answers concerned her physician: Her doctor asked her, “what has changed in her life since turning 50”? Her simple answer was that besides her weight, she constantly felt tired. When hearing about this feeling of being tired, the doctor asked her to elaborate further. While Lucy further explained her symptoms, it was discovered that she had a family history of cancer, typically occurring in the breast.
After hearing this the doctor immediately ordered a CT scan and Mammogram. “I felt that perhaps the doctor may be overreacting to this whole situation, however, I decided to go ahead with this.” Once the tests results and scans came, the scans detected a lump in her breast. Owning to the history of breast cancer in the family, this was a cause for concern for Lucy. “I began to think my ongoing symptoms were because of age finally catching up with me,” said Lucy.
When her family began to encourage her to get urgent care, Lucy began searching online for her symptoms. “In a world of so much information online, we tend to self diagnose and delay seeking out medical care.” After going through multiple stories of other patients who shared their symptoms online, Lucy stumbled upon Vaidam.com. “It was encouraging to read about other patients who had traveled to India for medical treatment and successfully found what they were looking for”. After much thought and consultation, Lucy decided to approach Vaidam to find a solution to her problem.
After being contacted by a Vaidam case manager, Lucy sent her medical reports and scan results that she had taken earlier. “My case manager Heena is a wonderful lady. When I spoke to her it almost felt like I was already in India. She asked me to send my scans and reports and that she would find the best doctor and hospital where I can get myself checked up.” After sharing top 10 breast cancer hospitals in India, Lucy finally decided to go ahead with Artemis Hospital in Gurgaon.
Arriving in New Delhi on the 11th of May, Lucy awaited her appointment with Director & Senior Consultant Dr. Durgatosh Pandey. On the day of her appointment, she made her way to Artemis hospital for a much-needed “reality check” on her overall health. As part of the overall Health Check-up Package, the doctor ordered a number of tests and screens be conducted. Lucy was pleased with the communication between the doctors who interpreted her screening results to Dr. Pandey. “He had a letter with my results when I saw him again at the office. When he said the words “negative” it was music to my ears.”
Overall the results included some very good things, things Lucy was happy to hear, but also some things she needed to work on. That included her cholesterol, which was elevated enough to prompt Dr. Pandey to prescribe medication to help keep it under control. That, along with lifestyle changes including more heart-healthy eating and increased activity and exercise, are helping to ensure she stays on the right path.
The best news for Lucy was that her earlier diagnosis of breast cancer now came up negative to her huge relief, “I was so glad to hear that overall I am healthy and fit to return home, I will continue my medication prescribed by Dr. Pandey. Thanks to Heena for fixing my appointment with the best surgical oncologist in India”. Lucy returned to Kenya a week later on the 18th of July, albeit with a huge smile on her face. “I would like to thank everybody at the hospital – the doctors, the medical staff who were all so friendly and helpful. I will definitely be coming back again to this wonderful country, perhaps next time on a holiday.”
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