Elizabeth
SHINING A LIGHT AFTER BREAST CANCER
Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a nurse, wife, mother of three and breast cancer survivor. In 2016 she found a lump in her right breast and visited multiple hospitals in hopes of being diagnosed. The first two doctors said the lump was fatty tissue, but in 2018, Elizabeth learned that she did have breast cancer. With support from her friends and family, Elizabeth faced chemotherapy, surgery and radiation with a positive outlook and encourages everyone to pay attention to changes in their body.
In the year 2016, I found a lump in my right breast. It was not painful and sometimes it didn’t bother me. Yet still, I had a lump. I had asked my colleagues about it and they told me I should go to see the doctor. I went to the hospital, where I met the doctor and he told me to go and do an ultrasound. The doctor said there is nothing that is alarming because they are fatty tissues. I was not satisfied so I went to a second hospital where they did a second ultrasound for my breast. They told me these are just fatty tissues.
From 2016 through 2017, I was thinking it was not actually cancer. But at the beginning of 2018, I saw that the lump had grown bigger and the nipple is retracted. I started googling the signs of breast cancer. That is how I took the initiative. I then went to the hospital. They did a biopsy and when the results came, my friend, I had breast cancer.
I couldn’t believe it. It was very terrifying moment. I cried. But cancer is just a name. A scary name, but it is not a death sentence.
My oncologist told me I have to go through chemo to shrink the tumor. I went for six cycles of chemo, which was not very easy. It was very tough. It really changed me, in fact whenever I try to remember those stages of chemo, it was terrible. I lost all my hair. My skin was darkened. Yet I had received a lot of support from both my friends and my colleagues. I had a friend who told me, “Even though you have grown dark, I will bring something to lighten you up.”
It was not easy. There were moments of crying, losing your appetite, you lost your hair, your skin changes, your nails. After the six sessions of chemo, I went to surgery.
It was explained that the whole breast would be removed. It was not easy for me to accept. You know, as ladies, breasts are a piece of our beauty. Now imagine losing one. Hair is also part of our beauty. So, I had to accept the way I am. I said to myself, I will fight this cancer, and I was so positive. Let me be a light. I will fight, I was positive in life. So, I went through. The surgery was done, they removed everything. I had a lot of scars. When I looked at myself in the mirror it was not pleasing but I had to accept it. Losing part of it, you become imbalanced. But today, I use an artificial and I’m comfortable. It took me like three months for healing.
Then I proceeded to a private hospital for 25 cycles of radiation.
I thank God I went through and then I was healed by November 2018. So, despite all the challenges, I came out victorious. It was not an easy moment, but I encourage people if you are positive you can get through it, just be positive. Walk with people who are positive in life.
When I was diagnosed with cancer it was difficult for me to tell my children. When they found out they have been very supportive. My husband has been very, very supportive. It was not easy for me to inform my parents. I didn’t want to shock them. I didn’t tell them for six months. I told them in a very soft way.
My brothers and sisters stood with me. They received it with mixed reaction. One of my sister’s really cried. But they told me “Be strong, we will support you.” We don’t have a history of cancer in our family. I’m the first born and the first one to get cancer. I have told them to be checking themselves. People should be going for screening. I encourage each and every person to go for screening.
It took me around 6 months to tell my community. Even during chemotherapy I never told my community. What helped me was Googling other people to see how they fought. Their testimony really led me to be positive. I told my neighbors and colleagues that I had cancer. They were very supportive. They even supported me financially. The community of my friends, families and colleagues came together.
This month is the month of cancer awareness. I want to encourage all patients to be positive. Work with people who are positive. I also want to encourage the caretakers to be positive. Fight together with the patients. I want to encourage everyone who sees any changes in their body to go to a doctor to examine you. Make sure you are examining your breasts every month.
OTHER SUCCESS STORIES
