At 66, most people imagine slowing down. But for Pummy Jain, life took a turn she never expected. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2024, alongside several other conditions that left her struggling, physically, emotionally, and socially.

And yet, nine months later, she emerged cancer-free, 15 kgs lighter, free from chronic constipation, and brimming with new life.

It’s one of those cancer survivor success stories that inspires you to believe in what’s possible, even at 66.

This is her story.

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

“Cancer—the name itself scares the hell out of oneself. To tell you the truth, I’m basically a very blithe personality, going through life thinking I’m invincible. But the fact that I got breast cancer, the Big C, put a stop to my happy-go-lucky binge eating. On the advice of my absolutely loving children, I went on your lifestyle plan to guide me through this tough period,” shares Pummy.

In October 2024, Pummy was diagnosed with BI-RADS Category 4C carcinoma of the right breast, with a metabolic seroma noted in the pelvis, and this had put an abrupt end to her carefree binge eating and easygoing ways. 

But cancer wasn’t her only battle. She had been living with:

• Arthritis
• Severe constipation (for decades)
• Thyroid imbalance
• Hypertension
• Uterine fibroids
• Excess weight
• Severe bloating, gas, and acidity

Her diagnosis changed more than just her health. She stopped going out, meeting her friends, and even enjoying the little things she once loved. She often missed all of that. And at her age, it wasn’t easy to suddenly give up lifelong habits and adapt to something completely different.

Her chemotherapy began on October 21, 2024, and that’s when her health spiraled further. Her gut concerns worsened, constipation became unbearable, pains grew sharper, and numbness in her hands and fingers added to her distress. Fatigue weighed her down, and it felt like her body was giving up.

Her doctors advised,“Eat whatever you like.” But her daughters, Dipti and Anjali, were not convinced.

They wanted something better for their mother, beyond temporary fixes and quick advice. That’s when they reached out to us.

And our Senior Nutritionist & Lifestyle Expert, Yukti Pahwa, stepped in as Pummy’s assigned coach. But getting started wasn’t simple.

Breaking Old Pattern

Yukti recalled that when she first connected with Pummy, it was far from easy. Pummy had been very stubborn with her eating habits, and the idea of going gluten-free and dairy-free seemed almost impossible to her. Her relationship with food had deteriorated over the years, and she had lost touch with understanding what her body truly needed.

The Baby Steps Approach

It wasn’t always easy. Pummy was very stubborn with her eating habits at first.

“After our first call, she wasn’t sure how much she would be able to follow, as going gluten-free and dairy-free seemed far-fetched for her. Her eating habits were poor, and she had stopped understanding what was really going on in her body. 

I handled her case with a lot of patience and took baby steps. We first started by working on her gut health and simply improving her meal timings. Knowing she was a fan of certain foods, I would share several recipes to keep things interesting and sustainable for her. When she began to see improvements, she slowly began trusting the process. There were days when she felt low, so we cheered her up with reward meals. Every week, during our follow-up calls, I gave her a small task to follow for one week. This helped her build habits slowly and steadily,” shares Yukti.

Yukti explained that their protocol revolved around:

• Gut repair and regularising bowel movements after decades of constipation
• Cellular nutrition to support DNA repair, angiogenesis, immunity, and anti-inflammatory pathways
• Hormonal balance, addressing thyroid issues and estrogen dominance
• Arthritis and joint pain management
• Movement suited to her body
• Circadian medicine
• Managing chemotherapy side effects
• Safe, sustainable fat loss while preserving muscle
• Coaching on emotional health and habit building

With every passing day, she felt better. The side effects of chemotherapy turned out to be far less severe than what her doctors had expected. Through it all, she remained a true warrior—never complaining, never asking “why me,” and always holding onto faith that she would get through it.

The Turning Point

As the weeks passed, the results were undeniable:

• Her gut concerns disappeared.
• Swelling in her feet reduced.
• Her body grew lighter, more active.
• She lost 15 kgs without losing strength.
• She became mindful about food for the first time in her life.

“With the support of her two daughters, we managed to be very strict with her. Her biggest guilty pleasures were munching on candies, chips, and snacks. Within these nine months with us, she is 15 kgs lighter, without losing her health, cancer-free, and has stunned her doctors,” adds Yukti.

Pummy began to understand her body in a way she never had before. Along the way, she even started calling Yukti her ‘third daughter’ and would often mention that whenever Yukti came to Bombay, they would have all healthy food together, but between the two of them, they both knew it would end up being all of Pummy’s favorite dishes.

Not only this, her post-chemo scans confirmed it: cancer had vanished.

More Than Just a Cancer Success Story

But beyond medical reports and weight loss, this journey transformed her life. For the first time in 63 years, Pummy wore a tuck-in with pride. Her daughters call her journey nothing short of a miracle.

“I would like to thank Luke for this beautiful initiative taken towards making India healthy again. Our journey with cancer started with extreme worry, as it always does, but since I have been following Luke for 7 years, I just knew that taking a cancer care programme would be the best thing for our mother. Having said that, it wasn’t easy to convince her to leave all the not-so-healthy habits and live a simple life. 

But after 9 months of hardship, where Yukti stood by us like a pillar—guiding us one step at a time and giving us the courage that all would be good—the positive vibes worked. Today, my mother is absolutely fine, and the doctors were amazed post-chemo at how the cancer had just vanished. 

Yukti has been amazing—such a jolly, happy, positive person. She hand-held my mother like her own daughter, sometimes even coaching me when I got fed up with my mom’s tantrums. Eventually, we won as a team. Thank you, Yukti, for who you are! You rock. I would also like to thank Luke for his selfless work in making India healthy, for his Pink Tiger stamp, and for guiding us through the process of simple living,” signs off Pummy’s daughter. 

We’re also sharing a special message from Luke himself, reflecting on Pummy’s inspiring journey. Listen in to hear his thoughts.

The Bigger Picture

We are deeply proud of Pummy and her incredible daughters. Her journey reminds us:

• Age is just a number.
• Cancer recovery is not only about chemotherapy, it’s about lifestyle, nutrition, movement, sleep, mindset, and emotional healing.
• Lifestyle medicine is not a replacement for medical treatment but works hand in hand with doctors and oncologists to create outcomes that go beyond what anyone imagines.

Pummy’s story isn’t just one woman’s cancer success story.
It’s a reminder that with faith, patience, family support, and the right guidance, healing is possible, even at 66.

To know more about her transformational journey, watch this:

 

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Disclaimer: Please remember, integrative and lifestyle medicine never replaces medical treatment. It works alongside it. We are deeply grateful to Pummy’s oncologists and doctors, whose care and expertise laid the foundation for his healing.

If you or a loved one is going through cancer, remember, you don’t have to walk this path alone. 

Our Cancer Care Programs are designed to work alongside medical treatment, offering personalized support through nutrition, emotional wellness, and lifestyle care. 

Reach out and let us be part of your journey, because healing is always stronger when it’s supported from every angle.

Call us on 1800 102 0253 or email [email protected].