WHY
Farahana Surya Kassam (Farahana Surya Namaskar) is a single mom battling breast cancer in Dallas, TX, USA. In 2020, she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). She needs your help to fund alternative cancer treatments (CAM). Due to the time-sensitive nature of her illness, please find it in your heart to help before June 2021.
IDC
"Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), sometimes called infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is the most common type of breast cancer. About 80% of all breast cancers are invasive ductal carcinomas. Invasive means that the cancer has “invaded” or spread to the surrounding breast tissues. Ductal means that the cancer began in the milk ducts, which are the “pipes” that carry milk from the milk-producing lobules to the nipple. Carcinoma refers to any cancer that begins in the skin or other tissues that cover internal organs — such as breast tissue. All together, “invasive ductal carcinoma” refers to cancer that has broken through the wall of the milk duct and begun to invade the tissues of the breast. Over time, invasive ductal carcinoma can spread to the lymph nodes and possibly to other areas of the body." Source
HER STORY
In September 2020, Farahana underwent surgery, a partial mastectomy of her right breast as well as the removal of 11 lymph nodes to ensure that cancer had not spread. Farahana believes strongly in the power of healing our bodies by exploring western and complementary alternative medicine. Her strong gut feeling was that cancer had not spread into the lymph nodes but based on the recommendation of her oncologist, she went ahead with the surgery to remove the lymph nodes. She was informed that approximately 3-4 lymph nodes would be removed, however, after the surgery, she was informed that 11 lymph nodes were removed and no cancer was found to be spread.
While this was good news, the side effects from the removal of the lymph nodes have been awful. She feels a continuous numbness, pain and tingling in the right arm from the elbow into the armpit.The continuing protocol for treatment advised by her oncologist has been radiation treatment as well as 5 years of hormone therapy; both come with a series of side effects.
Farahana is currently seeking support from CAM doctors, practitioners and other breast cancer thrivers who have healed themselves from breast cancer using CAM procedures and are now Certified Cancer Coaches supporting women like her on their journey to beat breast cancer.
Your contributions will help Farahana to receive CAM treatments as it is not covered by traditional marketplace healthcare.
ABOUT
Farahana is a published author, speaker, mindfulness coach and single mom located in Dallas, TX. She was born in Vancouver, Canada and was raised in Nairobi, Kenya with Gujarati, Indian roots. After the break up of her seven year marriage, she began to search for her purpose in this life.
BIO
Farahana’s experience with divorce and being a single mom cracked her and broke parts of her she never thought she would be able to heal. The experience, however, pushed her to begin a journey of healing that led to a better understanding of knowing herself.
Mindfulness and meditation became her most important tool to help her on her journey of healing. It has helped her tremendously in her role as a mother to her son as well as receiving and digesting the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer.
Not only does she believe in the healing impact of mindfulness, but she has turned this practice into her purpose and her career. Farahana’s passion is to celebrate and appreciate diversity comes through in all aspects of her work.
ALTRUISM
While on her own journey with Cancer, Farahana continues to support caregivers and other cancer patients on their own journey. She has been doing this work since 2016 and is committed to not only sharing mindfulness and meditation with the cancer community, but also shares her knowledge, experience and healing journey with breast cancer. She believes in the power of healing the mind, body and soul. Her journey began many years ago and with your support, she hopes to completely heal from cancer and continue living her life with purpose, service and grace.
MOTTO
"Life experiences do not happen to us, they happen for us."
PURPOSE
“My gift to my clients is to empower you with tools that help you realize that everything you are seeking in your life to bring you joy, love and fulfillment is already within you.”