"I was grateful for the side effects of chemo": The 'Mermaid of Russia,' who bathed in icy waters, conquered cancer and now supports others in their battles.

Several years ago, nurse Anastasia Slobodchikova from Vladivostok became known not only in Russia but also beyond its borders. The girl was nicknamed the "mermaid of all Rus'." In winter and summer, she dove into the Sea of Japan in an elegant mermaid tail, inspiring admiration and amazement in those around her. But one day, everything changed. Out of the blue came the diagnosis — stage three non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It was unexpected and frightening. Anastasia did not give up and underwent a difficult journey in her fight for life. Today, she is a victor.

On World Cancer Day, February 4, the girl spoke to KP.RU about her struggle with oncology, her positive attitude towards the illness, and her thoughts on why this happened.

“I don’t perceive the diagnosis as a disease”

Anastasia learned about her terrifying illness at the beginning of 2024. The first "bell" was a strange lump on her neck. Concerned about it, she decided to consult a doctor. An ultrasound revealed the enlargement of all lymph nodes in her body. After thorough diagnostics, doctors gave the "Russian mermaid" the unfortunate diagnosis and began intensive treatment: six courses of chemotherapy, each accompanied by severe side effects. However, Anastasia was even glad about this.

– I constantly experienced terrible side effects, and even six months after the last chemotherapy course, I still hadn't recovered. But I initially approached all side effects with optimism. Before starting treatment, I was warned that we lacked natural medications and that chemotherapy might not work, but only worsen my condition. Therefore, when some side effects developed, I felt happy and viewed them as a sign that the chemotherapy was indeed working.

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The girl was nicknamed the "mermaid of all Rus'" on the internet.

Photo: Personal archive.

During treatment, she maintained her optimism and positive mindset. As Anastasia herself says, this was one of her main weapons in the fight against cancer.

– I don’t perceive my diagnosis as a disease, – she says. – I see it as a defect that can be corrected with modern medicine. I am a nurse myself and worked in the emergency surgery department of a children's regional hospital. There were cases where seemingly hopeless patients were literally brought back to life. I know our medicine is strong, and we have talented doctors. With this confidence, I approached my treatment. If we could save such little ones, I was sure they would definitely save me.

Now, the girl is in remission, but despite this, she continues her treatment. For the next two years, she needs to undergo immunotherapy, which will help her immune system learn to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

Additionally, she has gathered an oncology community around her — supporting other girls who have faced this terrible ordeal.

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Several years ago, nurse Anastasia Slobodchikova became known not only in Russia but also beyond its borders.

Photo: Personal archive.

A beacon for those who are just on the path

Anastasia admits that without the support of her loved ones and followers, it would have been difficult for her to overcome all the challenges. When she changed the theme of her blog from a cheerful mermaid to her experiences, she expected to see people unfollowing her. However, people were drawn to her. She receives gratitude not only from those who are healthy but also from those who have faced illness, as many of them are afraid to speak about their diagnosis.

– I not only didn’t lose my audience but also gained new followers. I didn’t expect that so many sympathetic people would surround me. Sometimes, someone reaches out to me for recommendations. They share their symptoms or those of their loved ones, and I gather their medical history and can suggest going for diagnostics or recommend seeing a specific specialist. This way, I shorten their path to recovery.

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Anastasia did not give up and went through a difficult journey in her fight for life. Today, she is a victor.

Photo: Ivan MAKEEV. Go to the KP Photo Bank

For a long time, Anastasia thought about how to be useful to society and become a socially significant person. This desire became her motivation. Recently, she organized a tour and lecture for her followers who are cancer patients at the largest oceanarium in Russia, the Primorsky Oceanarium. This energized the girls. At that moment, Anastasia decided to continue doing good deeds.

– When you are ill and cannot work, you have no opportunity to entertain yourself. Girls sit at home and get bogged down in their thoughts. I also faced depression, cried a lot, and missed communication. It is very important in such a state to get out of the house and gain new experiences.

Now, Anastasia has created a chat for girls where they can exchange information about their illness, support each other, and plan fun activities. She has already scheduled a visit to a pottery workshop and is considering organizing a trip to the woods. Anastasia also wants to invite other bloggers to the meetings so they can share their journeys and perhaps inspire someone to start their own blog.

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Photojournalist "Komsomolka" Ivan Makeev met the mermaid during the expedition "Hitchhiking across Russia."

Photo: Ivan MAKEEV. Go to the KP Photo Bank

Could cold water swimming have triggered cancer?

Despite her official remission, the mermaid of all Rus’ is not planning to dive into the sea again just yet. She has decided to put her beautiful tail away for better times. The girl explains that it is extremely important for her to avoid hypothermia and not to jeopardize her health at this time. In her opinion, cold water swimming could be a significant factor that might trigger a recurrence of the illness. Anastasia even suggests that there is a connection between swimming in icy water and developing cancer.

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Anastasia Slobodchikova spoke about her fight against cancer.

Photo: Ivan MAKEEV. Go to the KP Photo Bank

– I have studied the opinions of various specialists and the theories described in medical textbooks. When we find ourselves in a stressful environment, our stress hormones become active. They temporarily weaken the immune system. Cancer cells are regularly produced in our bodies, but the immune system should recognize and destroy them. If the immune system weakens due to exposure to cold water (since this is also a stress for the body), it may miss a cancer cell, and it starts to divide and multiply.

Currently, the girl dreams that one day a huge aquarium with warm water will appear in Vladivostok, where she can be a mermaid both in winter and summer.

– My biggest dream right now is to be useful to society. I dream that no one faces cancer, that everyone is healthy, and that no one has to experience what I or someone else has gone through. And of course, I want to solidify my remission.