This World Cancer Day, we spoke to Darshana Ramesh, who was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2021. Her journey - from an unexpected diagnosis in a foreign country to finding the right treatment and understanding her new reality - highlights both the incredible progress in CML care and the challenges that still remain. We spoke to Darshana from her home in Singapore.

Every year on World Cancer Day, we come together to raise awareness, celebrate progress, and advocate for equitable cancer care worldwide. This day serves as a reminder that behind every statistic is a personal story - of resilience, of struggle, and of hope. My story is just one among many, but I share it in the hope that it can help others facing a similar journey.

I never imagined I would be here talking about my experience with cancer. It’s one of those things you hear about happening to other people, never thinking it could be you. But in 2021, at 39 years old, my life changed forever when I was diagnosed with CML.

I was in the middle of a major transition - moving from Hong Kong to Vietnam for a new job. I had packed up my life, started COVID quarantine, and was preparing for the next chapter of my career. I felt tired, but who didn’t? It was the pandemic, and exhaustion felt like part of everyday life. Even the weight loss seemed explainable - I had been eating better, exercising more.

But then, in a routine medical check-up, my bloodwork came back with alarming results. I still remember sitting in the doctor's office in Vietnam, trying to understand what he was saying. He spoke in Vietnamese, and I couldn’t understand a word - except one: cancer. I thought it was a mistake.

Navigating a diagnosis in a foreign country

Hearing that word in a foreign country where I didn’t speak the language made the experience even more surreal. I sat there in disbelief, struggling to grasp what was happening. The translator explained - CML is rare, usually diagnosed in men over 60. How could this be happening to me?

The doctor told me I could start treatment in Vietnam or return to India. There was no question in my mind - I needed to go home. But traveling during the pandemic wasn’t simple. After a grueling 32-hour journey, I arrived in India, where my parents had already arranged for me to see a specialist.

A lonely and uncertain road

CML is a slow-growing cancer, but the uncertainty was overwhelming. I went through a very painful bone marrow aspiration, something I wish I had been better prepared for. The doctors were reassuring, but there was so much they didn’t tell me. No one explained the side effects of treatment, the emotional toll, or what life would look like moving forward. I had to figure that out on my own.

I was started on a first-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), but I struggled with side effects - crippling fatigue, swelling, vision issues. It took nine months before I was switched to a second-generation drug, which finally gave me relief. Why did I have to suffer for so long before trying another option? Why wasn’t there more guidance?

Finding my community

Through it all, I searched for support. I asked my doctors if there were any CML-specific groups in India. The answer was always no. Eventually, I connected with a woman in the U.S. who had CML, and later, I found an online support group in the UK. At first, I just observed. But as I learned more, I realised how vital these communities were. They helped me understand my treatment, gave me a place to ask questions, and reminded me that I wasn’t alone.

CML may be rare, but I am not the only one living with it. And yet, in India, it still feels like a hidden disease. People don’t talk about it. There’s stigma around cancer, and many patients don’t even say the word out loud. That needs to change.

Living with CML, not in fear of it

When I first read about TKIs, I was in awe of the scientific breakthroughs that made them possible. Before these drugs, a CML diagnosis was essentially a death sentence. Today, people like me can live full, normal lives with treatment. The dedication and perseverance of doctors and researchers have completely changed the landscape of this disease. Their relentless commitment to improving treatments, reducing side effects, and making CML a manageable condition is nothing short of incredible. I owe my life to their work, and I know that so many others feel the same gratitude.

But while treatment has advanced, there’s still so much more that can be done to improve the patient experience. What I want doctors to know is that information is just as important as medicine. Patients need to understand their options - what their treatment journey might look like, how to manage side effects, and what resources exist to support them. So much of my early suffering could have been prevented with clearer guidance. There needs to be a stronger bridge between doctors and patients, one that includes not just medical treatment, but also emotional and practical support.

If you’re facing this, you’re not alone

On this World Cancer Day, my message to anyone facing a diagnosis is this: You are not alone. There is a community waiting for you. Ask questions. Seek support. And most importantly, remember that CML is part of your story - but it doesn’t have to be the whole story.

Darshana’s story is a powerful reminder that a CML diagnosis is life-changing - not just physically , but emotionally as well. While incredible progress has been made in treatment, many patients still face uncertainty, unanswered questions, and challenges in accessing the best possible care.

At the iCMLf, we work to ensure that doctors around the world have the latest knowledge and resources to provide the best care for their patients. We connect experts, share critical insights, and support research that continues to transform the future of CML treatment.

On this World Cancer Day, we recognise the dedication of the medical community and the researchers whose work has given hope to so many. But we also acknowledge that there is more to be done - ensuring that every doctor, no matter where they are, has access to the information and tools they need to guide their patients through this journey.

By closing the gap in knowledge and access to care, we can help change outcomes for people living with CML across the world.