Today my guest is a woman who has experienced a diagnosis. She asked not to give her name. This is the story she told.
I am 44 years old. I work as a manager at kindergarten since 2008. Previously worked in the Department of Education and Science. Started my professional activity from the age of 18 from the position of a teacher in a kindergarten.
Diagnosis of cancer was delivered in October 2010. RMJ. The disease came unexpectedly and, like many, I didn’t believe it.
Since I was 18 years old, I have been seeing oncologists at a local dispensary. Found lumps in the chest when passing a medical examination to apply for a job. For many years I took medications prescribed by doctors.
After the birth of my daughter at 24, my left breast always bothered me. I was filled with milk, felt heaviness, and had lumps. I really regret that I didn’t pump on time then, there was a lot of trouble with a small child. The daughter was restless, did not sleep well, or rather slept for 15 minutes until she was six months old. At that time auto. there were no washing machines or diapers. My husband was at work until late in the evening, and my mother came to help whenever possible.
Chest pain.
In December 2008 I felt left chest pain. I contacted a mammologist. Surgery to remove nodular mastopathy was recommended. But then I had just started a new position. I felt great responsibility. It was interesting. Not just with a new female team.
What will they think of me if I go on sick leave?
I found a new mammologist who was an ardent opponent surgical treatment, although he is a doctor of sciences. He had punctures regularly, once every six months, and everything seemed fine. How he reassured me, because fibroadenoma cannot always turn into cancer.
But in 2010, something alarmed me. My mother died of cancer in 2001 at the age of 53. The source was never found. MTS in spinal cord. Also a different story. Osteochondrosis was treated for a long time until the loved one was able to get back on his feet. She was bedridden for six months. She died painfully. Enough time has passed, but I can’t write without tears. VERY HARD. Sometimes I think, maybe they looked at the tumor in the chest after all?? And this is my hereditary cancer??
Mom was also always monitored, had regular pelvic ultrasounds (early menopause, frequent bleeding), etc. My maternal grandmother also died of uterine cancer at the age of 76. Painful death. That's why mom asked special attention on the pelvic organs.
Before going on vacation to Italy in September 2010, I went back to my oncology clinic and decided to change my alternative doctor. I did an ultrasound, a mammogram, a puncture from the nodes was taken for cytological analysis, I donated blood for tumor markers - nothing showed anything for Evil. I went to rest peacefully, having signed up for surgery upon arrival. Thanks to Dr. Vasilyeva, who insisted on the operation. She convinced me. Thank God I heard her. Somehow she didn’t like my nipple on my left breast. He was drawn in a little.
Diagnosis of cancer...
On October 8, the express method showed cancer on the operating table!! It was very difficult for me to come out of the state of anesthesia. Was nearby Native sister. I insisted on calling the doctor and explaining why I felt so bad. The manager operated on me. department by agreement. He announced the diagnosis to me. I didn't believe it. I sent my glasses to the RORC in Kashirka in Moscow for review. And he himself advised me. Long days of waiting. Thanks to my friend in Moscow. She has helped me a lot so far. A true friend. We studied with her in ped. school. She graduated from university in Moscow and stayed there.
When the diagnosis was confirmed, I stopped eating, I felt sick, I couldn’t find a place for myself. Nobody could calm me down. There was complete despair. The psychologist at the oncology clinic also could not help me, I felt young doctor a lot of our own problems, in general, we practically changed roles. I talked her over. I had answers to all her arguments.
Only my own aunt, who has no children of her own, found the key to me. She cooked specially for me, came to feed me, and walked with me. Low bow to her. She revealed to me a secret that her cousin (who lives in Baku) also has . And she lives for many years. It was an unexpected surprise for me. I calmed down a little. I began to prepare for the second operation. It took me a long time to decide what to do: a sectional or a mastectomy. Breasts are small. When the doctor said, okay, if it shows up again next year, we’ll remove it. Well, no, I thought. And I decided to delete it completely.
I really regret that my husband did not give me the opportunity to leave for Israel. I would do one-step plastic surgery. Now it's very difficult. It will have to be done in two stages.
Immunohistochemistry was done in Moscow. Breast cancer T2N0M0, hormone dependent.
In Astrakhan, head. The chemotherapy department convinced me that I didn’t need chemotherapy. She prescribed tamoxifen. Rays are also not needed, because they are in the upper outer square.
Six months later, I recovered a little from the operation and went for a consultation at the Russian Cancer Research Center in Moscow. There they prescribed me Zoladex. Thanks to your group (group “this is not a sentence.” Author’s note). I learned a lot. Including about Zoladex for hormone-dependent cancer, given my still young age.
Thanks again for creating the group. At that time it was serious informational and emotional support. I understood that I was not alone with such trouble. The city is small, I don’t want many people to know. It's easier to tell a person who doesn't know you.
I quickly went to work. This also distracts me from all illnesses.
I really regret that I didn’t have the operation, then in 2008, maybe I could have avoided the trouble.
Life after treatment.
Before my illness, I always wanted to be the first everywhere, the best. I was acutely worried about all the children’s problems. garden, worked until 10 p.m., did not spare herself and demanded such an attitude towards the work of all employees.
Of course, there were conflicts, there was a lot of trouble, struggle, I sued the cooks, demanding impeccable discipline (no theft).
After my illness, I understood a lot. You don't have to be first. No one will remember you if suddenly you are gone. There are no irreplaceables.
Now I calmly, at least I try, to treat work. I feel sorry for myself. And now I'm on sick leave. ARVI. The truth was difficult. High intoxication of the body.
I try to argue and quarrel less with my husband, and with everyone. I solve everything peacefully. Became a little more cunning. Probably life forced me.
I began to actively visit the pool. For the hand we need. However, I’ve already missed yoga for six months. I scold myself. We need to improve. I do hardware lymphatic drainage. Thank you, I saw it in the photo.
I began to devote less to cleanliness and cleaning of the house. Previously, the gene exhausted itself. cleaning. I stick with it healthy eating. I don't skimp on fruit. In general, I began to love myself more and appreciate every minute.
You are alone!
I would like to wish everyone in the block to never despair and love themselves.
The doc helped me. the film “Anti-Cancer” by Ekaterina Gordeeva on NTV and an American doctor.
Yes, I forgot, on October 8, 2010, I had surgery on 2 breasts. A fibroadenoma was confirmed in the right one. And now she has grown again. This worries me. I will go for control in March. Once every six months, as long as I can, I do a PET scan in Moscow. In May it showed accumulation of the substance in the area of the postoperative scar. I experienced fear again. In Astrakhan they excised. Thank God it's a granuloma.
I wish you and your family good health for many years to come.
There is 1 comment on the post "Breast cancer. Your real stories"
Good day everyone!
I underwent surgery to remove a breast tumor.
She underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor, but while removing it, the doctors found another bad one (((.
I didn’t believe this diagnosis and, like everyone else, I was for a long time in depression.
But after completing 4 courses of chemotherapy, I realized that nothing happens in life for nothing and we ourselves are to blame for our illnesses.
And the worst ones come to us precisely when it is urgently time to change something in life.
This scar (or rather, the absence of breasts) now constantly reminds me that I need to live, and not exist. Live life to the fullest, love yourself, those around you, don’t get nervous over trifles and don’t get angry. After all, everything in life can be solved. Life is designed to alternate between difficulty and success. Naturally, we are not robots and are always worried about something. But we must look for positive moments even in the worst. For example: You can’t get to work because of a traffic jam or your neighbor detained you. You are nervous, scolding everyone around you. You are late for an important meeting. The body is constrained and under stress. And now you are at your goal, you run in, the meeting is over, you decide everything, you are on time... And on the evening news you see that just at the very time when you were distracted by a neighbor or a traffic jam, the road collapsed in the area where you were supposed to go and you died People. What will you think at these moments? “Thank you Lord!”
So: LOOK FOR THE POSITIVE IN EVERYTHING!!!
More than 2.5 years have passed. I am undergoing examinations like everyone else after such a sore. And so they prescribed me a scintigraphy of the skeletal bones.
I looked for where to make it on the Internet. I came across this site. Thank you for describing in detail how to prepare and what to do next. The doctor who did the examination didn’t even tell me anything about water.
After going through this examination, I decided to write.
I lay under the device for 30 minutes, and in total it was more than 1.5 hours.
After the scan, the diagnostic doctor showed me that there were clean bones everywhere, but in the area of the left cheekbone dark spot. I said that it couldn’t be meth, because... Having read a lot of literature, I understood that this could not happen in the cheekbone. Unless, of course, I am some kind of unique exhibit))).
But the doctor clearly said that this is also a bone! And anything can happen! and so on. words.
He said: Let me look at this particular place on the device again. I watched for an hour or more. I don’t know what he was looking for there. But while I was lying there, I was very nervous and worried. He didn't do anything to calm me down. I asked what to do. And he advised to undergo further examination: CT, MRI, Biopsy….
It was a sleepless night. But when I woke up in the morning, I felt calm and even some kind of joy. For a minute it seemed to me that I just started living differently again, I was capricious, depressed over trifles, and nervous. God gave me these worries so that it’s just time to think again. There is ME, my LIFE. The rest is all solved!
I did a CT scan. The pictures showed that everything was clean and correct. And the doctor was understanding, he didn’t scare me, but rather encouraged me.
And I am writing all this so that you are not afraid of the diagnosis. Never and None! We can handle anything! Everything comes from us, from our thoughts.
Be HEALTHY and HAPPY!!! And also LOVE GOD, YOURSELF and EVERYTHING AROUND YOU!!!
TURN TURN UP, HAPPINESS IS NEAR! YOU HAVE TO WANT IT STRONGLY! AND THE MAIN THING IS TO UNDERSTAND CLEARLY WHAT YOU WANT! THEN GOD WILL DEFINITELY GIVE IT TO YOU!
I also recommend reading Lance Armstrong’s book “My Return to Life”
My mother had breast cancer four years ago. She herself discovered a tumor - a lump in her breast. I went to a mammologist in Moscow, and when my fears were confirmed, I immediately went to Germany. I was living in England at the time, and she didn’t tell me anything about the illness so that I wouldn’t worry. She just said she was moving. For our family this is nothing special: my mother lived in different countries, traveled a lot for work and pleasure. But then my mother transferred all our property to me. This is where I got worried. “Mom, what happened?” - “I got sick and don’t feel well, it’s hard for me to keep track of things, banking and work now, so I’m rewriting everything to you - sort it out yourself.”
Since this disease progresses differently in everyone, doctors do not use the concept of stages. But you can get your bearings: there is initial stage, when the tumor is up to one centimeter, then when it is larger, but still without lymph nodes. Then the second A - when one lymph node is involved, the second B - these are two or three lymph nodes. On the third, all the lymph nodes around are affected. On the fourth stage metastases appear. My mother had a pre-metastatic condition. Her entire chest was affected.
The chemotherapy worked so well on her that the tumor resolved. After the first operation, only a small piece where the tumor was was removed. The mammary gland was not touched. But then, just in case, they decided to have a second operation, and to prevent the cancer from returning, they removed the breasts and installed implants. It seems to me that they are like this now good quality that the person himself does not feel the difference.
My mother recovered. Before her illness, she was in control of everything: God forbid she drinks an extra glass of wine, God forbid she oversleeps during a workout at 7 am. She never allowed herself to deviate from the regime or eat too much. Now she is completely different - much more relaxed and cheerful, she wants to go everywhere and see everything.
Diagnosis
Mom started chasing me regular examinations, and once every six months I did an ultrasound. I didn’t like it then, but now I think that every person should be examined.
Last year, during one of my examinations, a tumor was discovered. Small, about one centimeter. They did a biopsy - this is when they pierce the chest with a syringe and take a puncture from the tumor. In the conclusion that the laboratory wrote, tumor cells there were, but it is not clear what type. Mom thought that the Russian laboratory had made a mistake. We went to Germany. We had a mammogram. The doctor said that at my age (I was 25 at the time) it was impossible for me to have cancer, but benign tumors- the norm. We relaxed and forgot about it for two months.
When they say that you have cancer, the first feeling is: everything inside is falling, the world has collapsed. But then nothing. I went on a date that same evening to take my mind off
At this time, I was planning a trip around the world - I saved money for a year, found a volunteer organization where I was supposed to teach English. Five days before departure, when I had already packed my suitcase, my mother asked me to come to Germany again for examination - for her peace of mind. The tumor has already grown, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. The doctor said that everything looked very bad and that he needed treatment.
When they say that you have cancer, the first feeling is: everything inside is falling, the world has collapsed. But then nothing. I went on a date that same evening to take my mind off things. Had a great time. Then, when my hair had already fallen out, I told this boy: “I’m sorry, I can’t see you because my hair has already fallen out. Let's see you when they grow back." And we correspond with him once a month, he asks if our date is still valid.
How is cancer treated?
The attending physician told me about our plan. There is only one chemo in the entire world that is used on all breast cancer patients. At first, the so-called once every three weeks is heavy chemistry, you need to go through it four times. Then once a week for three months - Taxol. This is already easier. Then they perform an operation and fix the effect with radiation. But everything depends on the results. If the chemistry doesn’t work, then the course is interrupted and you have surgery, they can remove your breasts.
The first thing I needed to do before starting therapy was to freeze my eggs, because after treatment there was a risk of remaining infertile. I gave myself hormonal injections in my stomach for two weeks. It doesn't hurt, but it's strange and scary. My eggs felt like they were growing: my stomach was swollen, it was uncomfortable to walk. Then a 15-minute operation and you're done. After it, I passed all possible tests in one day. They injected me with contrast fluid and scanned my entire body to see everything. cancer cells and whether there are metastases. The tumor was marked with metal staples in order to then monitor how it shrinks, and so that if it resolves due to chemotherapy, they would know what part of the tissue to remove during surgery.
The chemotherapy is an IV, but it is not injected into a vein in the arm, but through a port - a plastic box in the area of the collarbone - into the vein that goes to the heart. During each procedure, the skin is pierced with a special needle, into which a dropper is already inserted. Therefore, the next step was to install a port for me. This is also an operation, under local anesthesia. They fence you off with a screen so that you don’t look or be afraid, but you can talk to the doctor. He tells you: “Now I’m cutting you open, now I’m looking for a vein to your heart. Oh, I found it! I’m putting the phone in.” But you really really want to talk, because under anesthesia it seems that everything is great, there are no problems - it’s wonderfully simple.
The next day you come to your first chemistry session. Thus, it takes about three weeks from diagnosis to treatment, but the clinic tries to do everything as quickly as possible. We even had one piece of paper missing for billing, but this did not affect the start of treatment: bring it when you want, pay when you can. The Germans do not require papers or evidence at all - they always meet halfway. For example, I received a residence permit. I explained to the employee that I needed treatment. He took it in a comradely way: “Oh, you poor thing, let me run and collect all the papers, since you don’t speak German, I’ll arrange everything for you myself, I’ll call all the institutions for you and do everything.” And so it was in everything.
We also chose Germany because, oddly enough, with an Israeli passport it is cheaper here than in Israel. The entire treatment cost around 5 thousand euros, and I saved even more for the trip. We had money. It would be possible to meet the sum of 20 thousand euros - it would be enough to sell the car.
Chemotherapy
You cannot eat the day before chemotherapy. It is believed that this will make you feel less sick. Although theoretically the only thing you can’t do during treatment is grapefruit juice (I don’t know why), everything else depends on how you feel. Smoke it if you want, drink it if you want, whatever you want. I just don’t really want anything.
The area where everyone comes for chemotherapy is like a spa: large chairs, candles and aromatherapy lamps. Patients gather at approximately the same time, all in good mood, because each chemotherapy is minus one point in the treatment plan, this is closer to recovery.
The girls, mostly, however, all 50–60 years old, are discussing who has what symptoms and how they are feeling. If you don’t want to sit, you can walk with an IV throughout the hospital. Yes, I feel a little nauseous and my head is cloudy, but nothing supernatural or terrible.
To prevent my hair from falling out, I decided to do a “cooling cap” during chemotherapy. This new technology, she is only two years old. The hat is large and connected to all sorts of sensors, so you can’t walk around with it. You put it on half an hour before chemotherapy and take it off two hours after it ends, that is, you sit in it for about seven hours. This is the worst thing. It's hellishly cold in there, so cold that it's worse than any pain, or anything at all: you can't run or jump to warm up. You sit and freeze. I did two treatments and my hair still fell out. The hat really helped my friend, but she couldn’t stand it more than six times.
Two hours after EC, when you’ve already arrived home, you feel incredibly ill. Terrible nausea, but you don’t vomit, your head and muscles hurt a lot, pain relief doesn’t work. You can't sleep. But after a few days everything goes away.
In a week, menopause begins. The body believes that it is dying and discards all unnecessary functions - reproductive functions in the first place. Hot flashes happen: when you are first unrealistically hot, then unrealistically cold. This is enough.
After EC, a course of Taxol began. It is dripped once a week. I came to the clinic, prepared that now, as usual, after the procedure I would feel bad. But it didn't. There is no nausea, on the contrary, I want to eat and sleep. After the first taxol, I slept for a day, but then I got used to it and slept like a normal person.
I was always craving bread and sweets. The hunger is terrible, but you can eat right away with chemotherapy - and that’s what everyone does. As a result, I lost 10 kg with EC, and gained it back on Taxol.
Normal life
My mother believes that a person is obliged to enjoy everything and do what needs to be done. My mother and I are friends, but I don’t need her support. I don’t need support at all - I can handle it just fine on my own. I am always glad to see my friends, I love them very much - someone came to see me almost every weekend. But I don’t need someone to sit next to me, look into my eyes and hold my hand. I need to be entertained, well, taken to a bar, for example.
I exercise a lot, and chemotherapy has not affected my training at all.
When you're in treatment, you don't constantly think, “Oh my God! I have cancer!" No, you live your normal life, you just come for treatments from time to time. It becomes a habit.
I started treatment in October, and in November I went to German courses - so I study the language four hours a day. I also keep my diary in German to practice.
I exercise a lot, and chemotherapy has not affected my training at all. Now I'm into CrossFit. The coaches all know that I do chemistry, but if I hadn’t said it, no one would have noticed. Nothing happens to your muscles, you may get tired faster if you walk around the city all day, but you are not weak, you don’t want to lie down all day. I just usually wanted to sleep not at 11, but at 9 pm.
Before chemo, I didn’t think hair was important. Just think, they will grow back. When they fell out, I was even glad - at least I won’t suffer in a cooling hat, I don’t have to bother with my hair: I put on a hat or scarf - and it’s good. But after some time it became difficult.
For example, when men stopped looking at me as a woman. I’m used to, for example, coming to a cafe and the waiter there is young. I tell him: “Bring me this.” And he said to me: “Yes, I’ll bring it to you quickly and also give you some candy for your coffee.” I don’t do it on purpose, that’s how I communicate. And now you flirt, and there is no backlash. It's a shame.
I wore a hat all the time and felt that people were looking and thinking: “Why are you wearing a hat?” I just bought a wig a month ago, it's an amazing thing. I hadn’t thought about it before only because my mother said it was hot and not comfortable.
Heavier than hair, lack of eyebrows and eyelashes. I dye my eyebrows all the time. Without them, or if I take off my makeup at all, I look like... like I have cancer.
During treatment, I traveled only twice. For Christmas I went to visit a friend in Hannover. This was difficult; you are still very tired for traveling. On New Year I wanted to go to Munich. But they told me to stay at home because the leukocyte level was immune cells- was very low and the risk of catching any disease was high. I called a friend: “This is how bad I feel. I’m alone for New Year, everyone will go to Munich, but I won’t.” He arrived the next day, but the first thing he said was: “I’m so sick, I’ll go to the pharmacy and buy an inhaler.” Naturally, I became infected.
Having cancer is very strange. Actually, you know how sick you are, you've been sick a hundred times in your life - you know that a runny nose goes away in a couple of days. And then a week passes, and the runny nose is like the first day.
The taste of food and smells also change. You stop loving some foods. It seems to me that the brain just plays some strange tricks: I once drank fruit tea during chemistry, and after that I can’t stand strawberries. The same thing happened with ginger or my mother’s favorite perfume, which I also used to perfume myself with.
Recovery
The same doctor performed the operation on me as on my mother. The day before, I passed all the tests, they scanned me again after administering a contrast liquid, and they also inserted a wire into the lymph node in order to find the path to the tumor during the operation. The wire stuck out from under the armpit - it was inconvenient.
When I was wheeled out into the corridor on a gurney, every nurse who was undergoing chemotherapy (there are only 10-15 people) came up, hugged me and wished me good luck. In a hospital in Germany, everyone hugs all the time.
After the operation, everything came to me sports group, with whom I studied to support. And the pharmacist from whom I bought painkillers sent flowers along with the order. Classmates from Moscow recorded a video with songs and dances.
After the operation, I have to come for an ultrasound once a month. I am now on a course of radiation - it is done every day for five minutes for six weeks. It consolidates the effect of chemistry. Radiation has no side effects, but it does make you very tired.
After this is over, I will need to take anti-cancer medication for five to ten years to prevent the cancer from coming back. I will be participating in an experiment testing a new drug, and there is a 50% chance that I will be given a placebo.
I am healthy again and now I feel immortal. I want to teach English and work in a kindergarten.
This happened seven years ago. I was 36. One day I felt some kind of lump in my chest. My husband urged me to go to the doctor, but I was afraid and calmed myself down. Three months before, we had undergone examinations when we were collecting documents to become adoptive parents, and there were no problems.
A friend advised me to apply a downy scarf at night: they say, it’s probably a cyst that will resolve on its own. I did this a couple of times, but on the third night I woke up with the realization: this is wrong. I realized that the lump was getting bigger. Moreover, a lump appeared under the armpit.
The next day I went to the doctor and from his worried face I immediately realized that everything was serious. An ultrasound confirmed my worst fears: it was not a wen or a cyst, but a tumor. When I was given a referral to the oncology clinic, I experienced panic fear. I didn’t even know where he was, but it always seemed to me: if you get there, it’s death. None of my friends had cancer. I haven't had anything more serious than the flu. In her youth, she was a tomboy, rode a motorcycle, played football, led an active lifestyle and never went to the doctor.
There will be a scar
At the dispensary they took a puncture and five days later the doctor informed me that I needed to undergo surgery. The words “cancer” or “oncology” were not mentioned. They simply told me: “Get tested quickly, you need to have your breast removed.” I asked: “What will happen in her place?” And the doctor quietly answered: “Scar.”
I had so many questions. Why? What to do next? I have a family - a husband, three children (14, 12 and 11 years old). We have big plans, we wanted to go on vacation and celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. And most importantly, we were going to adopt four children, we were visiting them in orphanage, we had all the documents ready.
I asked: why did God allow this? What did you mean by this? Maybe it's the word "STOP" in big red letters? A signal that these children should not be taken? After all, friends, twirling their fingers at their temples, said: “These are the children of alcoholics and drug addicts with bad genetics. Do you want to take a piece of bread from your own children and divide it among everyone?”
On Monday, December 1st, I received a referral for examinations before the operation, and on Friday I arrived at the hospital with all the results. The doctors didn’t even believe that I did everything in a few days.
Many people have a moment of bargaining with themselves. I almost gave up on surgery
On the morning of December 7, I had to go to the hospital. And then doubts crept in: maybe the operation is not needed? What if they were wrong and it’s not cancer at all? During the examinations, I was told that there were no metastases in the heart or bones. Or maybe God will heal me without doctors? I want to warn all women against these thoughts. Many people experience this moment of trading with themselves. I almost refused the operation.
As a believer, I went to church with my doubts. The clergyman told me: “No, child, you will go to the hospital and do whatever the doctors tell you.” He prayed over me, anointed me with oil and blessed me: “We have done everything that can be done before God. Give to God what is God's, and to Caesar what is Caesar's. Go and trust the doctors. God controls their hands." I hastily threw my things into my bag, and my husband took me to the hospital.
I didn’t negotiate with anyone, I didn’t choose a doctor. I decided: let whoever God sends do it, and ended up with the head of the department. Just before the operation I asked her: “Do me good.” I will never forget her answer: “We do everything the same for everyone. But some live for a very long time, while others leave. And no one knows why this happens."
Crisis and humility
When you end up in a hospital with such a diagnosis, you reevaluate your whole life. You start to love every day. You rejoice in both the snow and the sunshine. You understand how many insignificant things seemed important. Why all this envy, gossip, gossip? Why worry about what you're wearing and what others think of you? It becomes a pity for wasted time. In oncology, everyone cries at night. Everyone goes to their own pillow.
My husband supported me: he came every day and helped with everything. We have become one. And one day I told him: “Don’t make an idol out of me. Promise that if anything happens to me, you will marry again. If not for yourself, then for the sake of the children. After all, life must go on." He was indignant, but I mentally already let him go.
And on the ninth day after the operation, a crisis occurred. In the evening, on the way to the dressing room, I lost consciousness twice. Then the temperature rose, the body shook. And my roommates - there were nine of us - covered me with their blankets. At that moment I had already resigned myself and prepared to die. I decided that I would die with gratitude.
I didn’t feel my body, I felt like a speck of the universe
It was only difficult to mentally say goodbye to the children. I reassured myself: God would take care of them. But I regretted that I wouldn’t see my daughters grow up and I wouldn’t share them with them. women's secrets, I won’t fasten them Wedding Dresses and I won’t help babysit the children. I understood that no one would love them as much as I do. But I realized that I am grateful to fate for everything. Not everyone saw as much happiness as I had. I didn’t feel my body, I felt like a speck of the universe. And at that moment I was struck by a thought that came out of nowhere: “This is appendicitis, which was cut out, and it will not happen again.”
With this I fell asleep. I woke up when everyone was asleep. In the window I saw the paws of pine trees covered with snow and the soft light of lanterns. I stood up, quietly walked past the nurse sleeping at the post to the dressing room and never fell. At that moment I realized that I would live.
You don't need beautiful hair in a coffin
In the morning, the doctor explained that my lymph drainage tube was clogged. This provoked a crisis, but it passed.
The next day, December 16th, was our 15th wedding anniversary. At lunchtime the nurse came and asked if I wanted to go home. Actually, it was too early to discharge me, but the oncology clinic was overcrowded. Operated patients lay in the corridors. I lived nearby and could come for dressings, but patients from other cities in the region could not. Many, in response to a request to vacate the place early, were indignant: “That’s not possible! Nobody needs us." And I was very happy that I was allowed to go home, especially on my husband’s holiday.
Histology showed that the tumor was malignant, I was prescribed 25 sessions of radiotherapy and 6 sessions of chemotherapy. At first I refused it: I read on the Internet that chemicals cause hair loss, liver damage, and cancer can be cured proper nutrition and herbs. But a few days later a lump popped up on my neck. I thought it was metastases and ran to the doctor in panic. She reassured me that this happens after breast removal. But she began to scold me for refusing chemistry.
“You definitely need to undergo chemotherapy. Not needed in the coffin healthy liver And beautiful hair»
Still doubting, I went to Moscow for a consultation with a famous professor. She confirmed all the appointments and sternly said: “You definitely need to undergo chemotherapy. You don’t need a healthy liver and beautiful hair in a coffin.” This argument worked.
No matter how much I hoped to keep my hair, by the third week it fell out. I signed up for a salon where they train future hairdressers so that someone could practice on my hair, and there I shaved my head. I put on a wig and went to Parent meeting. It turned out that I worried in vain. No one even noticed my “transformation”.
Support
Before the third chemotherapy, I felt fine and continued to work as a cook in the canteen. She hid the wig in the locker, put on a cap and smiled to herself: “The best cook is a bald cook: hair definitely won’t get into the food.” My husband tried to persuade me to quit, but it was important to me that I was busy all day, which meant there was simply no time for tears and bad thoughts. Besides, cooking for 350 people and distributing food is good exercise stress, which disperses lymph.
At night, of course, I cried into my pillow and read the Psalter. I loved Psalm 126, which says “unless God preserves the city, the watchman watches in vain.” In other words, everything is God's will. This calmed me down. And still, you wake up in the morning, look out the window and think: “What a good day, and I have cancer.”
Doctors did not give any prognosis. And this uncertainty lost ground under our feet. I was afraid to make plans for my life.
I asked: “Will I have these too?” And everyone smiled: “Your hair will grow, don’t worry.”
One day at the oncology clinic I saw an advertisement for a mutual aid group “ Women Health" Psychologist support, swimming pool, water aerobics - all free. I wrote down the phone number hotline, but for a long time I did not dare to call. What new can I learn? How can they support me? I already know everything. And yet one day I dialed the number. A woman who beat breast cancer answered me. It was such a joy to talk to her heart to heart. She understood me, consoled me, advised me. She knew how I felt because she had been through it all herself.
I started going to the pool with other women like me. I remember the first time I was worried about how I was going to change clothes, since I had a scar. But everyone there is like that. Some don't have breasts at all. And only part of me was removed. They put on swimsuits, talk, laugh, and share their everyday problems. Some people are already growing their hair: some have a crew cut, like a rookie, others already have curls. And I asked: “Will I have these too?” And everyone smiled: “Your hair will grow, don’t worry.” They looked at me like a little sister, with tenderness and love.
Then I went to a group meeting and saw women who live after breast cancer for 5, 10, 15 years. One is already 22 years old! For me it was some kind of fantasy. I didn’t know what I could count on myself.
Life goes on
After that group meeting, I told my husband: “We have to take the child. Even if I only live five years, a lot can be done in that time.” And my husband said that he also thought about it. It turned out that the children we wanted to take before the illness (Maxim, 7 years old, and Denis, 4.5 years old) were still waiting for us. This time we didn’t tell anyone about our plans so as not to be dissuaded.
Our children were very happy about their new brothers, they immediately gave them all the toys and began to look after them. They became proof that I was fine and that I would live. And again, I had no time to cry and think about bad things: Denis, at 4.5 years old, was very small, weighed 12 kilograms and needed care. He was afraid to be alone, I carried him in my arms all the time. Put me to bed like infant, sang songs that she knew.
Then we decided to take another child. We liked the boy Vova, 8 years old. But it turned out that he has brothers 9 and 10 years old. On the one hand, we did not expect such an age. On the other hand, they understood that no one would take three children, and it was impossible to separate them.
So we had eight children. Now I have been deregistered, but every year I go to the oncology clinic for diagnostics. I became a volunteer for the Women's Health group. We visit women after surgery, bring gifts, talk and tell our stories. My task is to explain to them that they must listen to doctors, not be afraid of anything, follow all instructions and overcome the disease - in spirit, in soul and in body.
#I'M PASSED
As part of World Breast Cancer Month, Philips and Women's Health are continuing their annual social campaign #I'M PASSED.
In October, a charity documentary film by Leonid Parfenov and Katerina Gordeeva about the fight against breast cancer will be presented and free diagnostic examinations for women throughout Russia. The film tells real stories with the main goal of inspiring as many Russian women as possible to take care of their own health. One of the heroines of the film was Svetlana.
Watch the film trailer.
Detailed information about the campaign and surveys is available on the website.
On January 20, the family of Zhanna Friske officially confirmed the information that the famous singer, TV presenter and actress had been diagnosed with cancer, thereby confirming recent rumors about a serious illness.
We wish Zhanna a recovery and, with hope for the best, suggest we remember the stories of those celebrities who once suffered from cancer, but were able to overcome this terrible disease.
(Total 17 photos)
Post sponsor: Castings: ACMODASI.ru AKMODASI is the largest and most popular casting service in Russian-speaking countries. Our service is a free, convenient and simple tool where anyone can conduct castings and select artists for their projects.
1. Angelina Jolie
The Hollywood diva underwent breast removal surgery in May 2013 to prevent the risk of developing breast cancer.
— Doctors decided that I have an 87% chance of developing breast cancer. As soon as I found out about this, I wanted to minimize the risk,” Jolie told the press.
She noted that her cancer is hereditary. The actress's mother died from this disease at the age of 56, after an almost 10-year battle with cancer.
2. Robert De Niro
The famous American actor faced a terrible disease in 2003 at the age of 60 - he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. De Niro, however, did not despair, especially since the doctors' forecasts were optimistic.
"Cancer was discovered on early stage, so doctors predict full recovery“, - the press secretary of the actor’s fans reassured. Robert De Niro undergoes radical prostatectomy - most effective operation in the fight against his type of disease. The recovery was extremely fast, and after some time the doctors declared that De Niro was absolutely healthy.
The actor did not allow the disease to ruin his creative plans and almost immediately after treatment began filming the film “Hide and Seek.” Since then, he has managed to star in more than twenty films, including “Area of Darkness,” “My Boyfriend is Psycho,” “Malavita” and “Downhole Revenge.”
3. Christina Applegate
Actress Christine Applegate, best known for her role as the daughter of the Bundy family in the TV series Married with Children, not only beat breast cancer, which she was diagnosed with in 2008, but also gave birth to her first child after treatment.
The disease was diagnosed at an early stage. The actress chose the most radical method of treatment, which is why she had to remove both breasts, but this deprived her of many problems and also 100% prevented the possibility of relapse. The removal operation was successful, after which plastic surgeons Christina's breasts were restored.
4. Kylie Minogue
The Australian singer was touring Europe when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 at the age of 36. The star immediately postponed her tour to undergo surgery and chemotherapy. At the same time, loyal fans who bought tickets to the Australian concerts decided to support their idol and did not return the counterfeit stamps after hearing the sad news.
“When the doctor told me the diagnosis, the ground went out from under my feet. It seemed that I had already died,” the singer recalls. However, Kylie Minogue found the strength to fight, she had surgery to remove the tumor, and she underwent an eight-month course of chemotherapy. Fortunately, the disease receded, and since then the singer and actress, while continuing to delight fans with her performances, has also been organizing campaigns aimed at educating women about diagnosing and combating cancer. “With the current level of development of medicine, it is possible to overcome breast cancer. The main thing is to detect it in time,” Minogue is convinced.
5. Yuri Nikolaev
The Russian TV presenter battled colon cancer for several years. When doctors told him in 2007 terrible disease, in his words, “the world seemed to have turned black.” However, this was only a moment of weakness. Yuri Nikolaev managed to gather his will into a fist and not fall into despair. He preferred a specialized center in Moscow to foreign oncology clinics, where he underwent more than one operation and underwent a full course of treatment. As a deeply religious person, Nikolaev is convinced: “It is only thanks to God that I am alive and no longer need doctors.” Now the presenter is involved in several television programs at once, such as “Property of the Republic” and “In Our Time.”
6. Anastacia
The American singer knows about the struggle cancer not by hearsay: twice she heard the fatal phrase “You have cancer” from doctors. This happened for the first time in 2003, when the star was 34 years old.
“I’ve never been as scared as I was that time,” she said about the day the doctor told her about a malignant tumor discovered in the mammary gland. Anastacia underwent surgery and had to agree to have part of one of her mammary glands removed. The disease subsided, but returned in early 2013. Having canceled all performances, the singer began treatment again, and six months later her fans rejoiced again - Anastasia did not allow the disease to break her for the second time. “Never let cancer take you, fight to the last,” the singer addressed all those who also faced a terrible illness.
Today, Anastacia is known not only as a singer and songwriter, but also as the founder of a foundation that bears her name and is dedicated to educating young women about cancer detection and treatment.
7. Hugh Jackman
In November 2013, the American actor announced that doctors diagnosed him with skin cancer - basal cell carcinoma. At the urging of his wife, Deborah, he saw a doctor to examine the skin on his nose, which resulted in a diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma.
“Please don't be stupid like me. Be sure to get checked,” Jackman wrote. He also advised everyone to use sunscreen.
The form of cancer diagnosed in the actor is the most common malignant tumor in humans. It differs from other types in rare metastasis, but is capable of extensive local growth.
8. Daria Dontsova
The popular writer managed to defeat breast cancer, despite the fact that the disease was discovered when it had already reached the final, fourth stage. As Dontsova said in one of her interviews, when in 1998 she turned to an oncologist, he told her bluntly: “You have three months left to live.”
“I didn’t feel any fear of death. But I have three children, an elderly mother, I have dogs, a cat - it’s simply impossible to die,” the writer recalls the terrible event with her characteristic sense of humor. The woman endured the most difficult treatment - courses of chemotherapy and a number of complex operations - steadfastly, without complaining about her fate. Moreover, it was during the period of endless procedures that she first began to write. At first, just to not go crazy, then - because I realized that this is exactly what I want to do in life.
Having completely defeated the disease, Dontsova now does not avoid talking about cancer, but, on the contrary, talks about this ordeal, giving hope for recovery to cancer patients: “You can feel sorry for yourself for the first two hours, then wipe your snot and understand that this is not the end. I'll have to get treatment. Cancer is curable."
The American actor underwent chemotherapy in 2010 because he was diagnosed with malignant tumor on the tongue. At that time, she was the size of a walnut, but was subsequently successfully cured. However, real danger still threatened him - in the form of amputation of his tongue and lower jaw.
Already in January 2011, the actor announced that he had defeated cancer and was feeling great. “The tumor has disappeared. I eat like a pig. “Finally, I can eat whatever I want,” Douglas commented on his “cure.”
The American actor, famous for the TV series “Dexter,” was also diagnosed with cancer.
In January 2010, the actor's representative confirmed that he was undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Because of this, the continuation of filming of the series was under threat. big question. Treatment for the disease ended in remission, and a few months later it became known that Hall was completely healthy.
The Russian journalist and TV presenter began the fight against cancer in 1993. Then, during an examination in one of the US clinics, doctors literally stunned him with terrible news. “It felt like I flew into a brick wall at full speed,” the famous TV presenter later said in an interview with a correspondent for the Sobesednik newspaper about that day. However, experts assured Posner that this diagnosis was not fatal, especially since the disease was identified at an early stage. According to the TV presenter himself, he did not undergo chemotherapy; doctors insisted on an early operation to remove the malignant tumor.
“When I left the hospital, my strength left me for some time. Then I somehow managed to tune in,” says Posner. A big role in the fight against the disease was played by the support of family and friends, who never stopped believing in his recovery for a minute and at the same time treated him as if nothing terrible had happened in his life. Eventually the cancer subsided.
20 years have passed since then, Vladimir Pozner regularly passes medical examination and encourages others to follow his example. In 2013, he became an ambassador for the international program “Together Against Cancer”.
12. Sharon Osbourne
The wife of famous rock musician Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, had her mammary glands removed in 2012 as a preventative measure. Some time before this, Osbourne had colon cancer, and doctors warned Sharon Osbourne about the possible onset of the disease, which is why she agreed to a double mastectomy.
The British singer underwent cancer surgery in July 2000. thyroid gland. A few months later, in January 2001, he declared that he was completely cured.
Then Rod looked at the disease as a sign, and dedicated the song to Canadian runner Terry Fox, who, having lost his leg due to cancer at the age of 19, ran across the country a few years later with a prosthesis to raise funds for cancer research.
In 2005, the famous singer underwent a complex operation in Germany to remove a tumor. However surgical intervention led to a sharp weakening of the immune system, the formation of a blood clot in the lungs, inflammation of the lungs and inflammation of the tissue in the kidneys. In 2009, Kobzon was re-operated. The artist continues treatment to this day.
Performer of the role of Miranda in the TV series “Sex in big city“In 2002, she fell ill with breast cancer. She did not want to create a fuss and told reporters about her illness only a few years after her recovery. She later played in a theater production of Margaret Edson's play "Wit" as poetry teacher Vivian Bearing, a cancer patient. For this role, the actress shaved her head.
The strongest cyclist on the planet, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, a living legend, also became a victim of cancer. Armstrong was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer with multiple metastases throughout all organs in 1996. However, the strong-willed athlete did not give up and agreed to a risky method of treatment with possible side effect. There was practically no chance of survival, but he won. The cyclist created the Lance Armstrong Foundation to help cancer patients and decided to promote the fight against this disease by riding a bike again.
17. Laima Vaikule
The famous Russian singer faced the disease in 1991: in America, doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer. However, there was not much chance that she would survive.
In a media interview, she said that the illness turned her life upside down, made her think about many things and look at familiar things and relationships differently. “Only after experiencing what happened to me, I began to look at life differently,” said Laima. After treatment, the singer decided to return to the stage as quickly as possible. She began to pay more attention to her family and friends.
40-year-old Liz O'Riordan, an oncoplastic surgery doctor in Suffolk, UK, was diagnosed with cancer third degree breast in 2013. After chemotherapy, subsequent breast amputation and radiation therapy, Liz was even able to return to work until she was diagnosed with cancer again in the same place. Once again, after treatment, she came back to life and co-wrote a book with another cancer survivor to help others in the same situation.
“I never thought this would happen to me. I was 40 years old when I was diagnosed and have never felt better. No one in my family had cancer. In addition, I always sat on the other side of the patient - as a consultant surgeon for oncoplastic surgery. I was the person who reported terrible news and talked about the operation, prescribed chemotherapy. And not that crying and at the same time embittered woman.”
I've had cysts in my breasts before, so when I noticed a new one, I wasn't too worried. And I only went to check on her at the insistence of my mother, who worked as a nurse. The mammogram results were normal, but the x-ray was not. The radiologist and I were sitting and looking at the screen together when we saw a large, black mass: cancer. A subsequent biopsy revealed that it was mixed ductal and lobular carcinoma, highly advanced and aggressive.
In one second, what awaited me flashed before my eyes: a mastectomy, chemotherapy, the devastation and destruction that would fall on my family, marriage, body and career. I finally learned what it was like to have cancer and not just be an expert on the disease.
The purpose of our book is to tell women everything we wish we knew from the very beginning. I tell all these things to my patients now because I know what it’s like to be on the other side of the table. In May, during a routine examination, I was diagnosed with cancer again. Of course, I'm shocked and scared, but it can still be cured. At least this time I know much more than the first time.
So here are 11 things every woman should know.
Don't be brave
My husband and I were still considering whether to have children when I was diagnosed. In young women, chemotherapy causes early menopause and with it infertility. When I realized this, I broke down, grieving for the child we would never have. Another time, I was so upset driving away from the clinic where I worked as a consultant surgeon, trying to get an appointment for my own treatment, that I almost vomited in the car.
You don't have to put on a brave face and pretend everything is fine, it's better to deal with it negative emotions openly. Feeling empty, angry, scared, or simply feeling sorry for yourself does not mean it will have any impact on your recovery. However, if these feelings completely consume you, then it is better to seek help from a doctor. The same goes for physical pain- ask for everything you need to reduce it.
These days, most women with breast cancer do not have their breasts completely removed. Instead, surgeons may perform a lumpectomy, removing just one-fifth of the breast and then repairing the damage with cosmetic surgery. Very big size By the way, breasts can also be reduced. Women have a choice. You will look good naked or in lingerie again.
If you need a mastectomy, like me, your breast will be completely removed and then reconstructed using an implant and your own skin. I decided that I needed reconstruction. I didn't want to change the way I dressed. And since I’m thin and they couldn’t take skin and fat from another part of my body, I chose an implant.
I performed these operations myself regularly, and, admiring the careful work I did, I told the patients how well everything was healing. However, now I know much more about it. The skin on the chest is numb, and the inserted implant is cold. Most women are okay with this, but if you are not, then you should tell your doctor about it.
I had to have the implant removed when the cancer came back. Now I have a flat surface instead of one breast. And nothing can prepare you for what you'll look like without one breast. I'm still getting used to it.
You may not need chemotherapy
Only a third of people with breast cancer need chemotherapy. It is done if you are young or the cancer has grown so much that it has reached lymph nodes. Many women only have surgery to remove the tumor and possibly radiation therapy. If the cancer is sensitive to estrogen, then they will be given anti-estrogenic drugs. We know that chemotherapy will not affect the chances of recovery and possible relapse, so what's the point of holding it.
But you will still cope, even if chemotherapy is prescribed
Chemotherapy is carried out in courses of one to three weeks, taking a total of five months. You only spend a few hours in the hospital.
I had chemotherapy due to my age and the size of the cancer. If you're losing your hair, treat yourself to a Turkish barber shop or watch YouTube for cool ways to wear a headscarf. At first I hated going bald and didn't want to wear wigs. Then I bought unusual glasses in the hope that people would look at them.
You need to drink a lot of water. It will taste terrible, so stick to squash (a drink made from citrus juices and sparkling water). Apply Vaseline inside your nose because it will dry out the mucous membrane there.
If you suffer from insomnia - a side effect of steroid drugs, join online forums, there will always be someone to talk to at three in the morning.
What no doctor will tell you: pubic hair is the first thing to fall out, so here's free Brazilian hair removal.
Dr. Google can be helpful
I used to tell my patients not to Google “breast cancer.” I naively believed that I was giving them all the information they needed. But the first thing I did after receiving the results of my biopsy was go to Google. Yes, a lot of what you will find when searching will be scary and incorrect. However, we live in the digital age, and it is impossible to ignore this. Look for secure sites and apps that are approved by most major charitable organizations.
Don't give up your intimate life
Many women react to the diagnosis by thinking that their husbands will divorce them to find someone healthy. I thought so. This is the feeling of guilt that you feel because your husbands have to go through all this with you.
You'll already have to cope with body changes and menopause, don't let cancer ruin your physical connection. Treatment will lead to a decrease in the level of estrogen, which is a natural lubricant; without it, everything dries out. There are many products for this case, such as lubricants. Your partner may also need help, talk to him about it.
Don't be like one friend of mine who asked if she could have sex with her husband during chemotherapy because she was afraid of poisoning him.
Ignore quack drugs
As a doctor, I had no idea how huge the industry is that feeds off the fears and vulnerabilities of cancer patients. And I saw it as a patient. Think about it: if turmeric and alkaline diets really helped you get better, then a doctor would prescribe them to you. For free.
Here's the evidence that physical exercise help with fatigue and reduce side effects chemotherapy exist. So try to walk or do a little yoga every day. This will give you the strength to trust your body again. I returned to triathlon training as soon as I could.
Cancer may come back
Many people do not realize that cancer can return even 20 years later. And when it comes back, it is most likely incurable. I avoided this - I had a local recurrence of my first cancer, it did not spread further. No one knows what the symptoms of secondary cancer will be when it returns to your brain, lungs or liver.
So if you have new symptom- for example, cough, aching bones, headache or vomiting - and this lasts more than a month, consult a doctor.
Hope for the best...
But prepare for the worst. Thank God, most women diagnosed with breast cancer will live a long and healthy life and die from something else. But we must not forget that 30 women die from it every day in the UK. If treatment doesn't work, you must decide where you would like to die, at home or in a hospice. Plan your funeral and get your affairs in order.
One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was write a will and discuss my funeral with my husband. The relapse forced us to face this. But as soon as you do this, you will immediately feel easier and calmer.
You are not just a number
The chances that I will be alive in ten years are 60 percent. I could be one of the six out of ten people who survive, or I could be one of the four out of ten who die. But these numbers are based on studies that are at least 10 years old. New treatment methods are being developed all the time. You can't live every day as if it were your last.
Start a “jar of joy”
The idea came from Dr Kate Granger, who died of cancer in 2016. Every time something good happens to you, write it down on a card and put it in a jar. If you're having a bad day, take a couple of cards out of the jar of joy and read them. It will work, I promise.
