Kolkata13 minutes agoAuthor: Tirthankar Das
The 48-year-old Kathak dancer from Chittaranjan in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district was forced to shut down her dance school after being diagnosed with Stage IV HER2-positive breast cancer in 2024. By then, the disease had spread to her pelvic bone and spine, leaving her bedridden with severe back pain.
For someone whose life revolved around dance, the diagnosis seemed to bring the curtains down on her dreams. But Chandrani refused to give up.
Cancer forced her dance school closure
She initially underwent chemotherapy and targeted therapy. However, her treatment was complicated by side effects, and doctors later found that the cancer had progressed. Her medical team at a private hospital in Kolkata then switched her to trastuzumab deruxtecan, an advanced antibody-drug conjugate that delivers chemotherapy directly to HER2-positive cancer cells. The results transformed her life.
Scans showed complete metabolic response successfully
Over the past few months, Chandrani regained her strength, mobility, and confidence. Consecutive PET-CT scans now show a Complete Metabolic Response (CMR), meaning no metabolically active cancer is visible on the scans, although her treatment continues.
Emotional return marked inspiring career comeback
The biggest milestone came on June 21, 2026.
After nearly two years away from the spotlight, Chandrani stepped onto the stage once again and performed before an audience—a moment she once feared she would never experience again.
“Getting back on stage and dancing has given me immense confidence,” Chandrani said. “If God wills, I want to reopen Prochesta, my dance school.”
Dreaming of reopening beloved dance academy
Before her illness, she ran the dance academy from her home and performed regularly with a troupe of women across Asansol and Chittaranjan. Today, she dreams of rebuilding that life. Doctors say her journey reflects the advances being made in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.
Treatment options for metastatic breast cancer now extend beyond conventional chemotherapy to include newer therapies such as antibody-drug conjugates and immunotherapy. For selected patients, these treatments are improving disease control and quality of life,”
said Dr. Rupali Basu of HCG Cancer Hospitals.
Modern medicine revived hope and confidence
Chandrani’s story is more than a medical success; it is a reminder that even after a Stage IV cancer diagnosis, hope, resilience, and modern medicine can help people reclaim the life they love. Sometimes, the most powerful comeback begins with a single step back onto the stage.
