Chhavi Mittal shares health update: ‘Not all days are good’

"I am sharing my experience because life throws curveballs, yet mental resilience is vital," she said

Chhavi opens up about her health (Source: Chhavi Mittal/Instagram)

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Chhavi Mittal, who fought against breast cancer last year and successfully recovered from the deadly disease, has always been candid about her health on social media. From sharing day-to-day fitness and diet glimpses to posting her family moments, the actor never shies away from being her most authentic self on social media.

In the same vein, she recently gave fans a health update, days after revealing her Costochondritis diagnosis. “It’s not a very good day for me. There is a lot of pain and I am facing quite a lot of problems. Sometimes as actors, we have to put up a happy face for our audience. But, I guess it would be unfair if we don’t present both sides of the coin. There are good as well as bad days in everyone’s lives. I want to talk about my bad day today,” she started out saying.

Acknowledging that her breast cancer recovery went well with her stitches being healed, Chhavi opened up about the side effects of a post-cancer medication. “I’m now taking a pill called Tamoxifen, a post-cancer treatment. This daily pill, prescribed for a decade, shields against cancer recurrence. However, it comes with its own set of side effects. Being a hormonal medication, it triggers fluctuations like irregular periods, mood swings, and joint pain. My doctor emphasises monitoring potassium and electrolyte levels,” she said.

She added that after realising that coffee is intensifying her cramping, she reduced her intake by 75 per cent. “That’s a major change in my life but it’s a small price to pay,” Chhavi said.

Medically, Tamoxifen is considered safe, which it is, and I don’t intend to mislead, she clarified. “Yet, since starting, I’ve been grappling with severe joint pain, low stamina, fatigue, and reduced bone density. Scans revealed osteopenia, a mild form of osteoporosis where bones release calcium into the bloodstream.”

For the treatment of osteopenia, she received an injection which brought its own challenges — fever, fatigue, and rib joint pain. “I woke up the next day with intense rib pain, even when breathing deeply. Muscle relaxants eased it, but the discomfort persisted during a work trip. A later discovery revealed that coughing during the rib pain had injured my cartilage, leading to Costochondritis. It’s a condition that takes three weeks to settle, but I can’t halt my life or I’ll succumb to depression,” she said.

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Amidst all this, she also developed tennis blow. Despite these health challenges, Chhavi continues to not lose hope and remain positive. “I am sharing my experience because life throws curveballs, yet mental resilience is vital. Strength of mind is essential to overcome challenges,” she concluded.