‘Got divorce after years of legal proceedings, then was diagnosed with cancer, I will survive’

Actress and anchor Jewel Mary opened up about her divorce and illness while talking to a YouTube channel. She said that she endured a protracted divorce.

'I got married and then was legally separated. I fought and got a divorce. There are people who got divorce very easily. My story was not like that. I fought and got a divorce. It's only been a year since I got separated. We have been living separately since 2021.

I got a divorce after three-four years. I had some money with me then. I have now decided to enjoy life. There was a show in London, and I went for it. I got one month visa. I contacted all my friends there and visited England, Ireland, and Scotland. It was a wonderful trip. Celebrated my birthday in London in 2023.

Later returned to Kochi. Spent some money I had in hand. Once in a while should spent some money for ourselves.

I have been suffering from thyroid for more than seven years. I have hypothyroidism and PCOD. I went for a regular checkup of my thyroid. I went to adjust the medication. I was lazy. If given a dose, should take it continuously. I had no other problems. All I had was a little phlegm when coughed. There was an irritation in my throat. I am an anchor. I make a lot of noise and thought that it could be because of that. The doctor asked me to go for a scan.

I studied B.Sc Nursing. I understood some things seen in the scanning. I saw them marking something. I realised that there was something wrong. The people in the scanning room identified me. I saw their face changing. They asked me to go out. My friend was also with me. They later asked me to take a biopsy. I got nervous and didn’t know what to do.

They asked me to take the biopsy immediately. When I entered the biopsy room, I was completely frozen. They calmed me down. The doctor said that there is a possibility of cancer. It would take fifteen days to get the results. Life got slowed then. When the results came, they asked to take another biopsy. I had already informed my family about it. I did not show any fear in front of them.

When the second result came, I realized that I have been diagnosed with cancer. The suspicion started in December and in January, it was confirmed. A surgery was performed in February. Since the thyroid is not a large organ, it was completely removed. I lost my sound after the surgery. They said that it would take six months to get better. I wasn’t able to lift my left arm. I did physio and sound therapy.

It was a struggle after that. A lot of time was taken to come out of the trauma during the time of divorce. Went for counselling. I couldn't cry or sleep. I was afraid of everything. I felt that something was controlling me. I couldn't explain it.

I was in the hospital for seven to eight days at the time of my surgery. My first review was after three months. The biggest pain in my life was when I lost my voice. I was able to lift my hand. I decided to fight, should recuperate, there is no one to look after me, I realized that I was alone. This thought made me to live. The day I was diagnosed with cancer, I wasn’t able to live. On the third day, sat in the room upstairs and thought, I didn't die today, one day is left, should die when I die, I have to live until then. I was obstinate then. I went for review after six months. When the doctor handed me the report, felt like getting the report card from school, he then said, ‘Congratulations, you are cancer-free.’ I have to go for review every six months, said Jewel Mary.