Malika Dua: When Life Plans Change Unexpectedly
Malika Dua was preparing for her life to change dramatically, but as life sometimes does, it changed in ways Malika could not have imagined. In the summer of 2021, she and her family were busy prepping for her two sons to leave their home in India to attend college in the United States. Airline tickets were purchased, and all were excited.
“Things changed overnight,” Malika said, when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer before leaving. After experiencing frequent bursts of stomach pain accompanied by indigestion for a few months, Malika was concerned enough to discuss with family friends who are physicians that live in Tennessee. The symptoms, although mild, would appear frequently and caused discomfort in her lifestyle. After consultation and discussion with her friends, Malika got herself scanned and underwent multiple tests which led to the diagnosis of her ovarian cancer.
The family decided to move forward with the trip to the US. Malika would start treatment and her boys would start their studies. As this was during the COVID pandemic, both boys were able to study remotely, remaining close to their parents during treatment.
Her husband made arrangements to access healthcare coverage and her friends in Tennessee (though Malika thinks of them more as angels) made room for the family to stay during treatment, which would last four months and include several rounds of chemotherapy and a surgery in Nashville.
Malika and her husband moved back to India after treatment was completed, but Malika’s husband had applied for a job in Illinois and got an offer. Soon after in April 2022, a follow-up scan showed that Malika’s cancer had returned and metastasized to her liver. Once again, life looked very uncertain, and unexpected changes were happening.
The couple got busy seeking treatment options, but now in Illinois and not with friends in Tennessee. While searching online, they found Dr. Srilata Gundala of Hope & Healing Cancer Services in Hinsdale. Dr. Gundala had the first available appointment among the doctors they were looking at, so they booked it, though with reservations.
While Malika appreciated the idea of being treated in a smaller clinic rather than a large hospital setting, she was nervous about switching to a doctor she did not know personally. “Trust is the first thing you should have with a doctor,” says Malika, “When I got diagnosed and went to Tennessee, we went to doctors we knew. I was in a comfort zone, even in a new place.” In Illinois, the couple did not know any doctors.
The first appointment put her more at ease, though the deal was sealed after Dr. Gundala agreed to speak with the couple’s close friend, the oncologist who had treated her in Tennessee. “He was so happy,” says Malika, about the conversation between her former oncologist and Dr. Gundala, “He said, ‘She is capable and knows her field.’ He was very positive about her.” The decision was made.
Malika and her husband have made a comfortable home in Illinois. They had a few friends close by and new friends have been made. Their boys are home from their studies and Malika’s treatment continues, though it has not always been easy. “Treatment is not simple. There are high levels of toxins in my body,” acknowledges Malika, “It hit me hard in the beginning. I had nausea, mucositis, and horrible skin rashes at different places on my body. I have bad days, but then I come out of it. I am blessed to have such a loving family and a strong support system of family and friends.”
Malika had an active lifestyle before her diagnosis, including early morning bike rides, yoga, and gym activities. Cancer changed that. Now, almost two years after her diagnosis, Malika is back on her feet and an active woman once again. She has resumed yoga and often goes on long walks. Her cancer and the effects of the chemotherapy she receives are almost unnoticeable to a stranger, and Malika comes off as a happy, active, and radiant person to anyone who comes across her.
Malika is grateful she decided on Dr. Gundala and getting treated in an independent clinic, “At large hospitals, like where I got my surgery, you find yourself lost. The smaller set-up at Hope & Healing is personalized. The people who work here all know you and Dr. Gundala is always available to you. Nothing is rushed.”
Being able to provide personal care is part of the reason Dr. Gundala founded Hope & Healing Cancer Services, “Our clinic works exactly as I was hoping it would. Patients are seen quickly by a team of healthcare providers who know them all by name. There are no long waits and the patient’s comfort is one of our top priorities. Patients like Malika are not treated as a number, but as the individuals they are.”
The plan is for Malika’s treatment to continue. She is confident she made the right decision in choosing a new oncologist in Illinois, “There are no proper words to describe Dr. Gundala. She connects with patients like a family member. She has empathy, listens, understands, and explains everything in detail. It’s sometimes just chance and luck where you land, but I found the right place.”
Written By: Sheila Quirke, MSW
Reviewed By: Srilata Gundala, MD
