Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Verma.
Natasha, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am an anchor and reporter for NBC10 Boston and most recently, a cancer survivor.
One year ago, I was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Today I am in remission and through my 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Verma Foundation, we make and give free high-quality cap wigs for women and children fighting cancer. We help hundreds of patients in Boston and across the USA. Most recently, we hosted our first annual fashion show fundraiser where the patients we help modeled fashions and cap wigs. They were escorted by Patriots players. We raised close to $80,000!
I have a unique upbringing having graduated from high school at the age of 15. By 17, I became the University of Texas’ youngest-ever graduate, earning two undergraduate degrees – in broadcast journalism and biology/pre-med. At 18, I earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.
After working my way up the ladder in the television industry, I became an anchor and reporter for NBC10 Boston in 2016.
I had no thoughts of slowing down until one morning in August, I felt a sharp pain down the left side of my shoulder. I felt around that area and find a lump. I didn’t think anything of it at first. I thought maybe I had pulled a muscle at the gym and a cyst had formed so I went about my morning. My father is a physician, so I asked him what he thought might have happened. Both of his parents passed away from cancer. My grandmother – stage 4 pancreatic cancer – who was given a “you have 30 days to live” diagnosis. She died a few weeks later. My grandfather suffered from tongue cancer complications. So, when my father heard about the lump on my collarbone, he was understandably concerned. The pain sent me to the emergency room where I clearly remember the ER doctor examining the area and saying, “Oh the lump moves that’s a really good sign!” She sent me on my way with pain medications. The pain improved, but the lump didn’t go away. I was concerned.
A few days later, I started to feel chest pain. I’d take a deep breath and feel push back. This time, I went to a different doctor at Beth Israel Boston, and even that doctor tried to turn me away. He said, “Sweetie, you’re going to find bumps and bruises all over your body. You don’t need to come in for every single one of them.” He refused to do an ultrasound or CT scan, which is what my father recommended he do as none of my questions were being answered. I remember asking the doctor point blank – is it cancer? He said, “No way! You’re 23 with no pre-existing medical conditions.” He was actually telling me to go back home to Austin, TX, which is where I’m from, to get an ultrasound at my father’s clinic in a month. After basically begging him for an ultrasound, he did one.
It took a while to get the results back but the doctor came back into the examination room – the color had drained from his face. He looked at me and said, “We found an enlarged lymph node, and we need to do a CT scan.” That’s when I started to panic. They did a CT scan. A few hours later, he came back to the room, sat down and said given your age…
“We believe you have Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”
It’s a cancer of the lymphatic system which is apart of the immune system. It’s basically a cancer of the healthy – there’s no known cause – and it affects people in their 20s and in their 50s. Beth Israel immediately scheduled a biopsy and a PET scan.
I was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Not only was there a tumor on the left side of my collarbone, but I had a tumor on the right side and a mass growing in my chest. And it was growing fast. I remember sitting on the bed in the examination room and watching my scans light up like a Christmas tree showing all the cancerous activity thinking there’s no way that’s MY body!
With a race against time, I started chemotherapy at Beth Israel Boston. The initial plan was two rounds with radiation, but they decided to do three rounds without radiation which was huge because I would have been radiated in my chest… which means a risk of breast cancer down the road and fertility complications.
I am so happy I advocated for my health. If I had waited a month to get an ultrasound like that second doctor had told me to do – who knows where cancer would have spread – possibly stage 4. It’s so important to listen to your body. If you feel something is wrong or notice unusual pain like I did, go and get it checked out. Get your questions answered.
After hearing about my diagnosis, I was shocked, heartbroken, and honestly, angry. Why me?
I had a very difficult time with chemotherapy. I was on 15 different pills a day – on pain medication around the clock. Each muscle in my body from my jaw, throat, shoulder, back, arms, stomach to my kneecaps writhed in pain from cramps and spasms. I laid in bed motionless as if a Mac truck had repeatedly run me over. It was the worst pain I ever felt in my life and it knocked me to the ground on most days. Thank God for my family, who was my greatest support system. I could not have done anything – physically or mentally – without them. I put every ounce of faith in the brilliant doctors at Beth Israel. Thank you to Dr. Robin Joyce, Dr. Kartik Sehgal, nurse Jade Hering and my oncology team for saving my life.
Then, came the hair loss.
It may sound trivial and superficial, but most women will tell you that hair is a big part of our identity. While I knew hair loss was imminent, nothing prepared me for the emotional toll it would take.
One day, after my second round of chemotherapy, I remember taking a shower at night, and as I massaged the shampoo into my hair, strands of hair wrapped around my fingers and went down the drain. To my horror, I would gently tug a long piece of hair and it would painlessly fall out.
One piece, two, three and then whole chunks were coming out as I brushed my hair. Every pillow I laid on and chair I sat on would be covered with dead hair. The next night, I decided to just close my eyes and comb out the dead hair. It was horrifying to watch fistfuls tossed into the trash. After a week, most of my hair was gone, and I had lost my eyebrows and eyelashes too.
I could no longer recognize the bald figure staring back in the mirror. Most women facing cancer would tell you the sight is depressing.
I bought a synthetic wig. I hated it. It didn’t look like me. I didn’t like the hairline, the hair was too big, I couldn’t style the hair and worst of all – it was so itchy. It stressed me out so much that I would just put a baseball cap on top of the wig, and that solved the problem except for the itchiness. I always wished I had a cap wig – hair attached to the brim of the baseball cap, so I got to thinking, I moved some resources around and I designed just that. Cap wigs. 100% human hair attached to cotton or velvet cap wigs.
Through my 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, I gave FREE cap wigs to women and children fighting cancer. I believe every woman and child going through cancer treatment deserves access to a quality wig in which she can feel beautiful and confident in. Wigs can cost $1000 so that’s why we give them for free. On top of amounting hospital bills, the cost of a wig is the last thing a cancer patient is paying for. The gift of a cap wig can give patients hope, confidence, and strength.
Today, I am in remission.
I returned to work at NBC Boston in January 2018. Initially, I wore a wig on TV, but a couple of months later when I was comfortable, I decided to ditch the wig and reveal the hair growth underneath. I overcame my vulnerability and was very proud to debut my newfound strength. My new hair is a symbol of struggle, rebirth, and growth. I’m moving forward and have found my purpose in giving hope and inspiration to others battling cancer through the Verma Foundation.
You’ve been through a lot and have no doubt learned much along the way. Any advice for others?
It’s not an easy ride. My advice is to quickly surround yourself with positive and well-meaning people who will support and encourage you. You are who you surround yourself with.
We’d love to hear more about your work at NBC10 and the Verma Foundation.
I’m an anchor and reporter for NBC10 Boston. I am the founder of the Verma Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to giving free high-quality cap wigs to women and children fighting cancer. We launched the “Put A Cap On Cancer” project after my personal battle with cancer. If you know of a patient who would like a cap wig, please visit VermaFoundation.org.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Finding a mentor is very important. He/she will guide you in the right direction. You’ll learn to work smart not hard.
Contact Info:
- Website: NatashaVerma.com
- Email: contact@natashaverma.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Natasha_Verma
- Facebook: Facebook.com/NatashaVermaTV
- Twitter: twitter.com/NVermaNBCBoston
- Other: VermaFoundation.org
Image Credit:
Tom Fleming, Paul Vicario
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