Seema Kamath Breaks Silence on Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Seema Kamath, wife of Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath, has courageously shared her personal battle with breast cancer. She received a Stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis in November 2021, a revelation that came as a profound shock. For many months, Seema confined discussions about her condition to close family and friends. She attributes this initial silence to the persistent stigma surrounding cancer in India, which she compares to the taboo often associated with mental illness.
Finding Strength to Speak Out
Inspired by her husband Nithin and a friend named Kailash, Seema eventually decided to speak publicly. Her primary message is clear and powerful: cancer does not discriminate. It can affect anyone, even individuals with no family history of the disease. People who maintain excellent diets, exercise regularly, manage stress well, and follow healthy habits are not immune. Seema strongly advocates for early detection, calling it the most robust defense against cancer.
"I am, or maybe was, the healthiest and fittest person I knew," Seema wrote. "I absolutely did everything possible to be healthy and I thought nothing could physically slow me down until I was diagnosed with breast cancer."
The Path to Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors discovered her cancer during a routine health check-up. A mammogram revealed a small lump, and subsequent tests confirmed it was localized breast cancer. Medical professionals credit these regular screenings with saving her life. Seema now urges everyone to take health check-ups seriously, even when they feel perfectly healthy.
Once the diagnosis was confirmed, her life descended into chaos. Her family consulted with doctors across India and abroad to determine the best course of action. Despite having the option to seek treatment overseas, Seema chose to undergo treatment in India. She felt this decision was right for her and expressed deep gratitude to her doctors and the team at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru.
Navigating Treatment and Recovery
One of the most challenging moments was learning she required a mastectomy. While emotionally taxing, Seema relied on humour and unwavering family support to cope. Recovery after the surgery proved painful, but her prior fitness level aided a faster healing process.
Further tests, however, indicated a high risk of the cancer returning, necessitating chemotherapy. Seema described chemotherapy as physically exhausting, with severe side effects lasting roughly a week after each cycle.
Family Support and Personal Resilience
Hair loss presented a significant emotional challenge. Seema chose not to conceal it. In a remarkable show of solidarity, Nithin Kamath shaved his head to support his wife. "Nithin has agreed to remain bald until my hair grows back again, which is apparently 2 to 4 weeks after my last chemo session," she shared. "Having a bald Nithin around me has helped me now make me like my new hairstyle. I might just end up continuing to remain bald even after my chemo."
Her son Kiaan was initially the most affected by her hair loss. Like many children, he felt a brief period of embarrassment seeing his mother bald. This phase lasted only a few days. Kiaan, showing surprising maturity for a six-year-old, now accepts it as her "new cool hairstyle." "But, when I ask him if he will go bald for me like Dada, he says no," Seema quipped.
Who is Seema Kamath?
Seema's father served in the Indian Army and later settled in Belgaum. She moved to Bengaluru in 2003, where she first worked at a call centre before becoming a cabin crew member with Air Deccan and Singapore Airlines. She married Nithin Kamath in 2008, returned to India in 2011, and joined him after the founding of Zerodha. The couple has a son and lives with their family in Bengaluru.
