Tahira Kashyap is a survivor in the truest sense. Her fierce attitude and her journey towards battling breast cancer have been an inspiration for millions of cancer patients. Tahira was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in 2018 and underwent a mastectomy last year. The filmmaker has never shied away from embracing her scars and has always been vocal about her battle with the disease.
Last year on World Cancer Day, she shared a powerful message showing her surgical scars and bald head. This year, she’s shared yet another heartwarming and inspiring poem about cancer awareness.
Tahira took to Instagram and recited a poem that not only narrated her own battle with the disease but also urged cancer survivors and patients to embrace their scars and own them like a badge of honour. She also urged people to spread awareness about early breast cancer detection, and remove any stigma associated with it.
Video Credit: Instagram/Tahira Kashyap
Here’s an excerpt from her poem.
“Some scars are deep, some within.
Some are seen, while some are hidden.
The thing about scars is, it reminds you of the past,
The moments of suffering that you thought would forever last.
Stressing on how the fight against cancer is not just physical but also mental, she recited, “Some battles are tougher to conquer especially if they’re internal. But hear me again, we all have that fighter which has the universe’s might. The indomitable spirit that can’t be crushed by any fright.”
Image Credit: Instagram/Tahira Kashyap
Inspiring people to embrace their scars, “Hide not your scars, my love, show them, flaunt them, just like your bright smile, soothing to other eyes. And when you do that time and again giving people nowhere to run and hide, They will have to fall in love with your badge of honour, your prize. So hear me one last time, fall in love with yourself, all with dusks, scars, and cry, That’s what makes you you. Faulty, imperfect, blemished, but all true.”
More power to you, woman!
Lead Image Credit: Instagram/Tahira Kashyap
