Seema, wife of Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath, shared her deeply personal experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in November 2021 was a shock. For a long time she talked about it only with close family and friends. One of the reasons, she says, is that mental illness is still considered taboo in India.
Inspired by her husband Nithin and friend Kailash, Seema decided to speak publicly about her experience. Her main message is that cancer can affect anyone, even those without a family history.
Even those with a good diet, regular exercise, low stress and healthy habits can get it. According to her, early detection is the strongest defense.
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“I am, or maybe I was, the healthiest and fittest person I knew. I did absolutely everything to be healthy and thought nothing could slow me down physically until I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” she wrote.
She was diagnosed with cancer during a routine check-up when a mammogram showed a small lump. Further tests confirmed that it was localized breast cancer.
According to the doctors, regular check-ups saved her life. She now urges everyone to take health checks seriously, even if they feel perfectly fine.
Once the cancer diagnosis was confirmed, her life quickly turned chaotic. Her family spoke to doctors across India and abroad trying to decide on the next course of action.
Despite having the option of seeking treatment overseas, Seema chose to seek treatment in India. She says the decision was the right one and expressed her gratitude to her doctors and the team at Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru.
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One of the hardest moments was finding out she needed a mastectomy. Although emotionally difficult, humor and the support of her family helped her cope.
Recovery from surgery was painful. However, her fitness helped her recover faster.
However, further tests showed a high risk of the cancer returning, necessitating chemotherapy. She described the chemotherapy as physically exhausting with severe side effects lasting about a week after each cycle.
Why did Nithin Kamath shave his head?
Losing her hair was emotionally difficult, but she chose not to hide it. Nithin Kamath decided to shave his head in his wife’s battle with cancer.
“Nithin has agreed to stay bald until my hair grows back, which is apparently 2-4 weeks after my last round of chemo. Having a bald Nithin around has helped me now that I like my new hairstyle. I might end up going bald after chemo,” she wrote.
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Seema shared that her son Kiaan was the most affected initially when she lost her hair. Like many children, he felt embarrassed to see his mother bald. However, this phase only lasted a few days.
Kiaan adopted it as her “new cool hairstyle”. At just six years old, he showed surprising maturity.
“But when I ask him if he’ll be bald like Dada, he says no,” she joked.
Who is Seema Kamath?
Seem’s father served in the army and later settled in Belgaum. She moved to Bengaluru in 2003, worked briefly in a call center and later became a flight attendant with Air Deccan and Singapore Airlines.
She married Nithin in 2008, returned to India in 2011 and joined him after Zerodha was founded. They have a son and live with their family in Bengaluru.
