Life After Mastectomy: Confidence, Healing & Reinvention with Rangoli Gupta

A breast lump is easy to dismiss when life is already full — and that is exactly why this conversation matters.

In this powerful episode, Julie Fairhurst speaks with Rangoli Gupta, founder of Inner Beauty Mastectomy Wear, about the moment she discovered a breast lump, told herself it was “probably nothing,” and later received a breast cancer diagnosis that changed everything.

Rangoli shares her personal breast cancer journey, including choosing a mastectomy, going through chemotherapy, and facing the emotional reality of looking in the mirror after surgery. She also opens up about the importance of early detection, self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammogram screening.

This conversation goes beyond diagnosis and treatment. Rangoli explains the emotional and practical side of post-mastectomy recovery, including the importance of properly fitted breast prostheses, wigs, mastectomy bras, compression garments, drain-holding shirts, recovery pillows, and swimwear designed for breast forms.

She also shares her journey of moving to Canada, realizing her medical degree and clinical experience did not transfer easily, and rebuilding her life from the ground up. From working entry-level jobs to learning computers, building her own website content, and becoming an immigrant entrepreneur, Rangoli turned her personal experience into a mission to support women after breast cancer surgery.

This episode is for breast cancer survivors, women facing treatment decisions, caregivers, health advocates, immigrant entrepreneurs, and anyone who believes in the power of resilience, reinvention, and women supporting women.

Please share this conversation with someone who may need hope, guidance, or the reminder that they are not alone.

For more information, reach out to Rangoli Gupta. She's here to help!

Website:  https://www.innerbeautywear.com/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/innerbeauty_breastcare/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575768007520

If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.

Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.

I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.

Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's Podcast

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:14

Well, welcome everyone to another episode of Women Like Me Stories and Business. I'm your host, Julie Fairhurst, and today I am so honored to bring this lady to you. Her name is Raigoli Gupta. She is a founder of Inner Beauty Mastectomy Wear and a passionate breast cancer awareness advocate. Her story is one of courage and reinvention and deep purpose. After discovering a breast lump during a busy season of career and family, she delayed getting it checked only to learn that it was cancer. This diagnosis changed the way she saw her body, her priorities, and her life. And after moving to Canada, she faced another kind of loss when her medical degree and her experience no longer opened the same doors for her here. So she decided that she was going to start her own business and one that truly, truly helps women in their deepest time of need. She speaks on stages and platforms to remind women that breast cancer can affect anyone and that listening to our bodies is not optional. It is necessary. This is going to be a conversation about health, identity, resilience, and the beauty that rises when a woman chooses to begin again. Thank you so much for being here. I just, oh, I appreciate it so much. I know this is going to be such an important conversation for so many women to hear. Would you like to tell our audience a little bit more about yourself?

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Thank you, Julie, for the lovely introduction. You've told basically everything, like my basic introduction you have already given. And yes, Julie is right. I when I moved to Canada, I was at, you know, I didn't have any doors open for me. My degrees in Canada and in India and all my experience, the clinical experience which I had was of no meaning here. So I was kind of lost. And then I realized the post-mastectomy care, which I felt was very much lacking in India, was about the same in Canada. Like if a woman here undergoes a mastectomy, she is not guided as well as she should be. Because I understand the health system here is they're very busy, they really don't have time, they're overworked, so they don't have the time to explain everything in detail. And I saw that gap and I decided to use my own experience, my health, my breast cancer journey, and my medical knowledge, and my compassion, or I would say my passion to work in this field to help women get back to their normal lives after the breast cancer diagnosis and surgery. So I decided to start this business. When I started, it was I like there were so many questions, so many obstacles. I had no experience in this field, and I like in not running a business, I mean. And I was very bad with computers. I had hardly ever used a computer other than the usual browsing. So I had to learn everything. I took up a course in computers and I decided to design my own website. I made the whole website myself because I didn't have that much money that I can pay to professionals for that. And slowly, slowly, I have built it, brought it to a level, and I hope to expand and grow in this business and help more and more women.

Finding A Lump And Delaying

SPEAKER_01 4:27

Yeah, beautiful. I I love that that you you did it from the ground up. You had to learn how to do the use the computer, and and I didn't realize that. So good for you because I've seen your your website. It's beautiful. You did a fabulous job on that. You're welcome. So let's take, let's can you take us back to the moment you first noticed that you had a lump and what was happening in your life at that time?

SPEAKER_00 4:58

Okay, so I had just finished my residency. As you know, I'm an anesthesiologist, and it's a very long process to become an anesthesiologist. I had just finished my residency and a senior residency, we call it in India. And I had two little kids, very busy. I had taken up a new job and in a New Delhi. It was a long commute from my house to the hospital where I worked. And like I left early in the morning and got back home late at night every day, six days a week. So that was the kind of life. And my kids were growing up, they were just uh uh adjusting in a new school. So that was the situation, and I found a lump. I just accidentally I found a lump and I thought, oh, it's just a fibroid denoma. I just being a doctor, you know, you do that. I diagnosed it myself. I thought it's just a fibroid denoma. I've seen so many of them, it's okay. And I just forgot about it. Literally, I forgot about it. And two months later, again, I happened to touch and I found that it was bigger and it was harder. Oh my god, that was such a shock. I'd never expected that would happen. So I consulted a doctor there in the hospital where I worked, and she sent me for a biopsy. Absolutely, she suspected cancer, and she sent me for a biopsy, and it was a cancer, and then everything came to a standstill. Nothing else mattered anymore. Not the job, not the commute, not my colleagues, not work, nothing.

SPEAKER_01 6:51

So, do you think you were putting your health? I guess your lifestyle was so busy. And of course, you have knowledge of these types of things. So, so do you think you you sort of put your health on the back burner? Yes, I did. Yeah. And do you why do you think we as women tend to do that?

SPEAKER_00 7:13

We just have too many roles to play. That's that's I think, and we take it upon ourselves, even if no one is imposing on us, but we are brought up that way. We are taught, like we just look at other women in our lives, and that's what we learn. Yes, and and we feel proud of that. Yes, sadly, we feel proud of that. Yes, I'm this, I'm that, I'm doing this, I'm doing that, but you don't realize what you're losing in the process.

Mastectomy Choices And Body Image

SPEAKER_01 7:43

Yes, exactly. So, how did breast cancer change your relationship with your body, or did it?

SPEAKER_00 7:51

It was a big change. I just decided to go for a mastectomy. I was offered a lumpectomy, but I said, no, I just want to get rid of the whole thing. And because I delayed the diagnosis, the size had become bigger. I went from stage one to stage two, and so I had to undergo chemotherapy just because I delayed it so much. And then I was offered reconstruction, but I decided not to go for it because that meant more surgeries, more recovery time, more days in the hospital.

SPEAKER_01 8:25

Right.

SPEAKER_00 8:26

And I wanted to get back to my normal life, not work, but to my children and my family. And I did get back to work very soon after treatment finished, but that was a lighter work. I decided not to continue with the same job. I changed my job after a few months, took up something which was not very far away from my house, so the commute was not that long, and the working hours were also not that long. And I started doing yoga. Those were the changes which I made. But with my body, to answer your question, it was very, very emotionally disturbing situation. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I was like, I couldn't, it was hard to look at yourself, you know. It's the the day I, you know, and it's all also the chemotherapy and everything, your skin changes, your hair are gone, and you just can't look at yourself in the mirror. That's so the the day I first wore the wig was um a very happy day for me. And the day I wore a prosthetic and went out, I was like, I couldn't stay on the ground. It was such a happy feeling.

SPEAKER_01 9:55

Yes, oh wow. So what do you what do you wish more women more women understood about early detection and paying attention to the changes in our bodies?

SPEAKER_00 10:08

That's the most important thing. That's the most important. I was lucky I detected it still, still detected it at the second stage. And once we detected it, there was no delay. Like everything went just one after the other. And the surgery, the chemotherapy, all the decisions, they were easy for me because I already knew, right? So, but if I had not taken action at that time or not gone for the consult with the doctor, it would have grown, right? And then maybe I would have not survived. Now, it's been many years. I have survived, I've been very lucky. So the best thing you can do is detect it early, get treatment early. After that, it is 100% curable. Now, I've lived so many years. Uh now my risk is the same as other women. It's not higher risk.

SPEAKER_01 11:06

Right.

SPEAKER_00 11:07

So uh early detection is your only chance, I would say. Wow. It's most important.

Starting Over As An Immigrant

SPEAKER_01 11:14

Yes. Well, thank you for that. So you and your family moved to Canada. And of course, you explained a little bit about the difficulties when you come to a different country with a different type of education training and education. And I know you and I talked a little bit about that a few days back when we met. What was it like going from the medical profession to learning completely new skills to survive? Because I mean, I can only imagine to to the training, the education, the the the energy it takes to become doctor. Yes. And then for that to just be set aside. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:58

Yeah. It was it was really difficult. It was a struggle. When we landed here, the first thing I did was I worked in a store, like a grocery store. So I was standing at the counter doing billing and uh taking cash. I didn't even know what the coins looked like, the currents. Initially, I was just looking, oh, is this 25 or 5 or whatever, you know?

SPEAKER_01 12:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:25

Uh so learning that, then uh speaking, like we talk differently. The the terms we use, the phrases, the words, the even though I can speak English, but there are so many things you have to learn the way Canadians speak. So learning that and the you know, small talk, because when I was in India or all these years, I was a very shy person. I was always to myself, like I worked in the OR. So an OR is a very confined space, you're not interacting with too many people, and I was a quiet, shy person. And now suddenly I have to interact with people and greet them and like so. After after that job, I took up a job, I was applying for jobs like left, right, and center. I wanted to get a better job and that paid a little more. And I applied for so many jobs, like for lab assistants, for pharmacy assistants, and whatever was related to the medical field. For research, research assistant, I also did a course in clinical research, an online course. I tried there, but I didn't get a job there. Then I finally got a job in a medical clinic at the reception, the medical office assistant. That was again a challenge. I had to be on the phone all the time, booking appointments and helping patients who called. So that was again a lot of training.

SPEAKER_01 13:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:58

To talk, talk, talk, talk all the day.

SPEAKER_01 14:01

It must have been hard not to help. Yes. Yeah, because you know the answer, but you can't say the answer. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:09

So yeah. So we say if an anxious uh patient called, now I cannot reveal what I'm thinking, right? So of course not. Of course.

SPEAKER_01 14:20

So was there a when was the moment that you realized that you needed to reinvent yourself?

SPEAKER_00 14:27

Because that wasn't enough. Like I was whatever I was getting paid, it that didn't matter much. But I was like eight hours every day I was working, and when I came back home, then all the housework, I didn't get any time for anything. So it was during that time I because there I met a few ladies who had undergone mastectomies, and I could see that the situation in Canada was not very different from what it was in India. So I decided to do this. I wrote emails to a few of the companies, the companies that manufacture these products, and most of them didn't answer, only one answered. So I got a lead from there. And uh that that lady, she helped me a lot. I'm really thankful to her. Yeah, she helped me, she encouraged me, she said, okay, I'll help you with the initial whatever you need.

SPEAKER_01 15:25

Well, can you tell us what is it? So you've said a couple of times that the situation in Canada was very similar to what was happening in India. Well, what is that situation exactly?

SPEAKER_00 15:38

Here in India, it it's absolutely very bad situation, I would say, because the one reason is that people cannot afford those products because they're expensive. The difference here is that the government covers, so people can afford. There are still some women who cannot afford, but majority can. But the the same, the thing which is the same, which is similar, is that the guidance. When you get out of the hospital, get discharged. Many women they are not told where to go, whom to contact. They have to fend for themselves, they have to go do Google searches, they have to ask here and there. And especially the elderly women who are not good with uh the computers, they have a hard time. They have to be dependent on their daughters. I I've been contacted by many daughters for their mothers.

SPEAKER_01 16:39

Oh wow. So so that's how so that's how inner beauty massectomy wear began then. Yes, yes, yes, yeah. And so why was it important for you to create something specifically for women?

SPEAKER_00 16:56

I relate to women, yeah. I think that's the main reason. I've been through this, and I know women they do neglect themselves, they need this, and I'm somehow I'm just comfort more comfortable with women.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. Well, and I think when you when you were describing when you had your wig and then you put your prosthetics on, you said, you know, you could hardly touch the ground. You just so what was that? Was it just feeling that you like what was what was that was that what was that feeling exactly?

SPEAKER_00 17:34

That it brought back my confidence. Like when before that, when I didn't get the right size of the prosthetic, I I got something makeshift, but that wasn't the right size. There was asymmetry or whatever, my my clothes didn't fit well. So I was always conscious that people are just looking at me, even though they were not, but I just felt that they're just looking at me. And you know, you get that posture, you you kind of slouch, you like teenagers do, you know, yes, that same posture. You're not confident when you enter a room. So when I got the right size prosthetic, and I got the wig was earlier, like that was an initial when the treatment was going on, but the prosthetic I got later, and it changed the way I walked. I suddenly felt complete, felt whole, like before that something was missing, and then slowly the prosthetic became a part of my body. Now I don't feel I'm wearing one.

SPEAKER_01 18:46

Yeah. What do you think women uh need emotionally after breast cancer that other people might not understand?

SPEAKER_00 18:57

They need to talk to survivors, that's what I realize. That it's very important to give them hope. Because these days when they're reading everything on the internet, you you just read the worst uh things, right? So you need someone to tell you that no, this will not happen to you. But if you keep thinking this will happen to you, then there are chances that you know you will not get good results. So it's very important to have a positive attitude during your treatment, and then that can be given to the person by giving them hope, telling them about experiences of people who have been through this, and it's very important that they meet other people who have survived.

SPEAKER_01 19:47

It's um knowing they're not alone. Yes, yes. So, how has advocacy helped you heal?

SPEAKER_00 19:58

I would say what I feel is when I'm advocating, I feel that I'm probably saving someone from going to that extent of the disease. I'm telling them to be cautious, be aware, so that they can detect it in the first place early, like detect it in the first stage. So that's that gives me a kind of satisfaction. Okay, I'm doing my part. I've been doing this for many years. Like I when I even when I was in India, I volunteered with an organization and I've been doing it. I've just been telling everyone, all women, that please, please do your self-exams, go do get your mammogram, talk to your doctor. I've been telling them all these years. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:51

So can you tell me a little bit about the products that you that you sell and how because you do fittings, yes, but you can also do did did I read correctly on your website that you can do it on the through the through Zoom or something or the internet as well.

SPEAKER_00 21:08

Yes, yeah. So that's not the best uh way to do it to video call or a Zoom call. Best is to do it in person. But if somebody cannot do it in person, then a video call is better than just blindly ordering online. So so the products which I have, they start from the day the surgery is done. Right after the surgery, you need a compression bra. And from there, the whole thing starts. When you go home after surgery, if you have a missing breast, that's how you look at yourself in the mirror, and that's how people look at you, even if it's your family. Uh it's kind of a shock for the family and for yourself. So it's best to when you reach home before that, you have something to replace the breast in your bra. So I give those their cotton puffs, at least they give an illusion, right? And it gives an illusion of normalcy, even if it is not normal. So I give that. And then I there are several other products which like cushions and pillows, which make you comfortable in bed and in your car, and something to carry your drains. You can wear a mystect me shirt which has pockets inside, so the uh drains are not visible outside. So when you're walking out of the hospital or going somewhere, no one can see that you're carrying drains or you're even coming from the hospital, right? Because you look absolutely normal. I wouldn't use the word normal again, but I understand what you mean.

SPEAKER_01 22:59

Yeah, yeah, I do. I understand.

SPEAKER_00 23:01

So it starts from there, and then as you recover a few weeks later, you need some comfort bras, which you can sleep in, and those bras which are they've those bras have been made just for this purpose, just for women who've just had breast surgery. It could be a reconstruction too, but mostly I work with mastectomy. And after that, when you're healed, when the incision is properly healed, the drains are out, everything is done, bandages are out. About six to eight weeks after the surgery, then I give a silicon prosthesis. And then you can also wear regular bras. Regular bras means bras which are mystechmy bras, but regular in the sense that they have all kinds of patterns and styles. Some are lacy, some are plain, seamless, t-shirt bras. We have a whole variety of bras. So you you will not feel that you're not you're being denied something. Everything is available.

SPEAKER_01 24:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

Swimwear.

SPEAKER_01 24:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:10

Yeah. There is pocketed swimwear, there's special swimwear, and there are special prostheses for swimming. I did see that on your website.

SPEAKER_01 24:19

Yes, yes, yeah, yeah. Wow. It's um, I think it's just so important what you're doing. Just so important. The emotional part of all of this must just be overwhelming for so many. Yes, yes, it is. Yeah, wow.

SPEAKER_00 24:40

Yeah. So no, I'm sorry, go ahead. I said if I if I meet a woman right after her surgery, or even better, if I meet her before the surgery, I can really guide them. Yeah, I have uh guided a few ladies who met me before the surgery. And they were so thankful because they don't have to think then. They don't have to do the research of where should I buy this from, what I need. They don't even know what they need. No, of course not.

Confidence Inner Beauty And Hope

SPEAKER_01 25:09

Of course not. Yeah, and to have you there to be able to guide them through that whole process is would be such a comfort. Yes, it is. It is yeah, wow. So, what does inner beauty mean to you now?

SPEAKER_00 25:25

I think beauty is both inner and outer. But if you're not looking, you're not feeling beautiful outwardly, somehow your inner beauty gets, I would say, downplayed, or I don't have the exact word for that. But if I feel that if you look good, you feel that you're looking good, you feel better inside. And then you are able to become a better person, happy person. When you're happy inside, you spread happiness, you can give happiness to others. But if you're not feeling good inside, you're not able to do that. To feel good inside, it's important that you look good outside.

SPEAKER_01 26:14

Yes, yeah. Wow. I I just love that you said that because it's it's the truth, no matter what's going on in your life. Yes, and we should all be spreading some sort of happiness wherever we go because people are, you know, people are hurting, and we and we you never know how they're hurting, right? Wow. So, how can listeners learn more about inner beauty, mass ectomy wear, and how can they support your work?

SPEAKER_00 26:43

Just spread the word. Just if you meet someone who is going through this, just tell them about me and tell them about what I do. That's all I need to do. Like that's all I need from everyone who is listening to this. And the other thing, take care of themselves, take care of their breast health.

SPEAKER_01 27:05

Yes, exactly. Yes. So on your website, they can, if I remember correctly, they can actually book an appointment with you. Yes. Yes. And and then there's products that they can have a look at.

SPEAKER_00 27:17

Yes, it would also order online.

How To Support Women And Close

SPEAKER_01 27:20

Oh, they can also order off your website as well. Okay, okay. Yeah, it was very when I was reading it, it was you've done a great job for someone who has who said you didn't have any computer skills. And it's very informative and easy to understand. Not not like a doctor wrote it, but very easy to understand. I found when I was reading it. And and I did, and I passed that along to a friend of mine. So I hope that that uh that she'll find some comfort in in what you're doing and and maybe find some help as well. So yeah. So if you could leave women with one powerful reminder today, what would that be?

SPEAKER_00 28:06

I would like to say to all women that yes, we have a lot of roles and responsibilities, but we can fulfill all those roles and responsibilities only when we are healthy and happy. You know, a happy mother is a lot is a lot better than sad mother or a frustrated mother or unhappy mother, I would say. And same goes for a wife. So if you are happy inside, if you're healthy inside, only then can you fulfill your roles fully, I would say.

SPEAKER_01 28:47

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:48

So uh take care of yourself, take care of your health, don't neglect your health. Take your put your happiness first. We always have this habit of putting our happiness last.

SPEAKER_01 29:00

Yes, we we we are so we are so bad at doing that. Yes, yes, because every we put we tend to put everyone ahead of us. But but I think what sometimes we forget is that if we're the you know, if if we're the caregivers of the family and we need to be there for others, then it's it's that it's it's just like the most important thing we can do because if we get ill, we can't take we we're no good to anyone. Yes, yeah. So wow. Well, I appreciate you so much for coming on and doing this. And I want to let all of our listeners know that I will have in the show notes there will be her website and lots of information. So, and if you know of any any women that are that are going through this, you know, help them out by by spreading the word because they they might not even have the energy to to search it out. Yes. You know, just yeah. So they they need help and uh and they might not know where to go for help. And and but we have some beautiful help here. Ragnoli is here and willing to help. So her all of her information will be in the show notes. So again, I would just love to thank you so much for doing this. I I I think what you're doing is is is so incredibly important. So incredibly important. And it's bad enough the stress that a woman goes through dealing with this, but to know that there is some help on the other side, which is so important. So thank you for everything you do. Thank you, Julie.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

You're doing a great job too.

SPEAKER_01 30:45

Oh, well, thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you so much. Thank you. Okay, everyone. Well, that's the end of our podcast for today. And I would like to thank you all for being here. And we will see you again on the next episode of Women Like Me Stories and Business. Take care, everyone. Take care.