Ten years ago, three words changed the course of my life: “You have cancer.”
In 2016, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, and almost overnight, the life I knew changed. At the time, I could never have imagined that this experience would transform the way I understood my body, inspire years of learning and research, and eventually become the foundation for Awaana Health. Today, as I celebrate 10 years of being cancer-free, Blood Cancer Awareness Month holds a deeply personal meaning for me. This milestone is not simply about surviving cancer, it represents a decade of rebuilding, learning, transformation and discovering a purpose that grew from one of the most challenging chapters of my life.
What Is Hodgkin Lymphoma?
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, an important part of our immune system. The lymphatic system consists of lymph nodes, vessels and organs that help manage fluid throughout the body and support immune function. Hodgkin lymphoma develops when certain lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, become abnormal and multiply. In classical Hodgkin lymphoma, characteristic abnormal cells known as Reed-Sternberg cells are found in affected tissue. One of the most recognized signs is an enlarged, often painless lymph node, particularly around the neck, chest, underarms or groin. Other symptoms can include persistent fatigue, unexplained fever, drenching night sweats, unexplained weight loss and itching. However, every person’s experience can be different.
The Signs My Body Was Giving Me
Looking back, I realize my body had been giving me signals before I understood what they meant. I frequently felt full, heavy and bloated. My skin had changed, and I was struggling with acne. I noticed hormonal changes, my sleep was disturbed, my stress levels were high, and my blood reports were showing signs of inflammation. I was also experiencing increased cortisol levels. Then I noticed something that was much harder to ignore: a lump near my neck. My bloodwork also showed that my white blood cell count was unusually high. An elevated WBC count can occur for many different reasons and cannot confirm Hodgkin lymphoma on its own, but in my case, the abnormal bloodwork together with the lump and other findings prompted further investigation that ultimately led to my diagnosis.
Before cancer, I had viewed all of these things separately. Bloating was a digestive problem. Acne was a skin problem. Poor sleep was stress. Hormonal changes were another issue altogether. An unusual blood result was simply another number on a report. My diagnosis completely changed that perspective. I began looking at my body as an interconnected system rather than a collection of isolated symptoms. Instead of asking only, “How do I make this symptom disappear?”, I started asking a much deeper question: “What is my body trying to tell me?” That question would eventually shape not only my own journey but also the philosophy behind my work today.
When Cancer Changed Everything
When cancer entered my life, my world changed almost overnight. There was fear, uncertainty and an overwhelming number of questions. I wanted to understand what was happening inside my body and what aspects of my everyday life I could begin changing. I became deeply curious about the relationship between nutrition, inflammation, stress, sleep, movement, digestion, metabolic health and emotional wellbeing. Rather than viewing myself only through the lens of a diagnosis, I wanted to understand myself as a whole person. That became the beginning of my holistic wellness journey.
Meditation, Journaling and the Mind-Body Connection
Interestingly, one of the first major changes I made wasn’t food. It was my relationship with stress. I began practicing meditation and journaling regularly. Meditation created moments of stillness during a period when my thoughts rarely seemed to stop, while journaling gave me a space to process fear, uncertainty and emotions that were difficult to express. Gradually, these practices helped me feel calmer and more connected with myself. They taught me one of the most important lessons I continue to carry today: that health is not purely physical. The way we sleep, experience stress, process emotions and live our everyday lives all contribute to our overall sense of wellbeing.
Reconnecting with My Body Through Yoga
Yoga became another important part of rebuilding myself. My intention wasn’t to perform complicated postures or achieve perfect flexibility. I simply wanted to reconnect with my body and rebuild my strength. Through gentle movement, breathing and consistency, yoga became a way of feeling present in my body again. Instead of seeing my body only through the lens of illness, I began appreciating its strength and resilience. Meditation helped me work with my mind, yoga helped me reconnect with my body, and then I turned my attention toward something I interacted with several times every day: food.
Transforming My Relationship with Food
Food became one of the biggest transformations in my life. I had consumed dairy and gluten throughout my life without giving them much thought. During my journey, I began questioning whether everything I had always eaten was necessarily right for my individual body. I became particularly interested in inflammation and gradually shifted toward an anti-inflammatory, plant-based lifestyle. Vegetables, fruits, leafy greens, herbs, lentils, legumes, soups, smoothies and fresh vegetable juices became much more prominent in my everyday meals. For me, this wasn’t about temporarily “going on a diet.” I was fundamentally changing the way I wanted to nourish and care for my body.
Rediscovering the Indian Kitchen
One of the most meaningful parts of this transformation was rediscovering my own Indian kitchen. I realized that nourishing ingredients didn’t always have to come from expensive powders or exotic products. So much was already available in the foods and spices we had grown up with. I began experimenting with turmeric, ginger, cumin, fennel, coriander, cinnamon, fresh herbs, seasonal vegetables, fruits, greens and different varieties of lentils. Spices went into my teas and meals, lentils and legumes became important sources of plant protein, vegetables became nourishing soups and bowls, and fruits and greens became smoothies. My kitchen became a place of curiosity and experimentation rather than restriction.
I also became interested in fasting, meal timing and metabolic health and experimented with fasting as part of my personal wellness journey. This encouraged me to learn more about metabolism, glucose, insulin and how the body responds to different patterns of eating.
Looking at the Whole Person
As I continued researching and learning, my questions about health became broader. I stopped looking only at the name of a condition and became interested in understanding the person experiencing it. How is their digestion? What does their everyday nutrition look like? How well are they sleeping? What are their stress levels? Are they moving their body and maintaining their strength? What patterns are appearing in their blood reports? How are they coping emotionally? What aspects of their lifestyle can realistically and sustainably be improved? For me, this is what holistic health means: looking at the person as a whole rather than chasing one symptom at a time.
How Awaana Health Was Born
Over the years, my personal experience gradually evolved into a much larger purpose. I kept thinking about what I had wanted when I first received my diagnosis: someone who would listen, help me connect the dots and help me understand the everyday aspects of my health that felt overwhelming. That vision ultimately became Awaana Health. I wanted to create a space where people weren’t defined only by a diagnosis or laboratory report, but were understood as individuals, a place where nutrition, digestion, movement, sleep, stress, emotional wellbeing and lifestyle could all be considered together, and where personalization was prioritized over a one-size-fits-all approach.
At Awaana Health, my philosophy is centered around understanding the individual. Two people may have the same diagnosis and yet have completely different lifestyles, nutritional needs, digestive health, stress levels and personal challenges. This is why I believe it is so important to work closely with each person, listen to their story, understand their patterns and create a wellness approach that reflects them as an individual. My goal is to help people feel more connected to their bodies, more informed about their everyday choices and more empowered in their own health journey.
10 Years Later
Today, when I look back at the woman who received that diagnosis in 2016, I see someone very different from the person I am now. Cancer challenged me profoundly, but it also changed the direction of my life. It introduced me to meditation and journaling, strengthened my relationship with yoga, transformed the way I approached food and sparked my interest in plant-based nutrition, inflammation, stress and metabolic health. Most importantly, it encouraged me to continue learning, researching and asking deeper questions about wellbeing.
In 2016, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. In 2026, I celebrate 10 years cancer-free. That decade represents far more to me than the passage of time. It represents transformation, resilience, learning and purpose.
Listen to Your Body
During Blood Cancer Awareness Month, one message I particularly want to share is the importance of listening when your body tells you that something has changed. Don’t automatically dismiss a new or persistent lump, unusual fatigue, night sweats, unexplained weight changes, persistent itching or abnormal blood results. My neck lump was one of the important signs that led to further investigation and ultimately helped me understand what was happening inside my body. Awareness matters, and persistent or unexplained changes deserve attention.
For anyone navigating a difficult health journey, I also want to say this: a diagnosis can become part of your story without becoming your entire identity. Your emotional wellbeing matters. Your sleep matters. Your nutrition matters. Movement matters. Managing stress matters. The way you care for yourself every day matters. For me, transformation wasn’t created by one dramatic decision; it was built through many small and intentional choices that gradually became a completely different way of living.
Ten years ago, I was searching for answers for myself. Today, I use my personal experience, continued education and research to help others become more informed and engaged in their wellbeing. I am now a holistic health coach and founder of Awaana Health, and as I celebrate ten years cancer-free, my purpose feels clearer than ever: to help people understand their bodies more deeply, prioritize their wellbeing and feel supported as a whole person rather than defined by a diagnosis.
From My Kitchen: Blossom Berry Smoothie
I wanted to end by sharing one of the simple plant-based recipes that reflects the way I learned to approach food: colorful, nourishing, uncomplicated and made with real ingredients. Smoothies became an easy way for me to incorporate fruits, seeds, herbs and plant-based ingredients into my routine.
Blossom Berries Smoothie (Berry, Basil & Chia)
Ingredients
- ½ cup mixed berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries)
- 6 almonds, preferably soaked
- 4–5 fresh basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1–2 dates, pitted
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
- A little water, if required for consistency
Method
Add the berries, almonds, basil leaves, chia seeds, dates and coconut milk to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add a small amount of water if you prefer a thinner consistency. Enjoy fresh.
Berries provide fiber and naturally occurring plant compounds, while chia seeds provide fiber and plant-based omega-3 fats. Almonds contribute healthy fats and some protein, basil adds freshness and plant diversity, and dates provide natural sweetness.
For me, recipes like this represent what plant-based living is about: simple ingredients, real food, nourishment and consistency.
Nourish your body. Listen to it. And make your everyday choices count.