This is my story too:
I was first diagnosed with breast cancer 7 years ago, when I was only 37. I had already been down the road of learning about the disease because my mom passed away from such an illness.
Surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed. My condition was severe, I just don't want to remember that moment when I, already a mother of a child - a first grader, had to explain to him why I was without hair, why I was absent often and why I was not always in a physical state where I could be there for him and help him with the important things - to play, to learn and to be happy. I continued with hormone treatments and preventative checkups, but still unlocked other ailments. This made me very strict about doing everything the doctors recommended. I had all the necessary tests, followed restrictions and took the necessary medications. In the last 3 years, I had to have five scanners more often because the changes in my lungs had impressed the doctors. Until that moment, when things took a completely different turn. On August 31, 2020, I was again diagnosed with the bad news of metastasis in the pleura of my right lung, accompanied by retention of a large amount of fluid. Surgery was performed to take material for biopsy, withdraw the water and insert a talc. The tumors were growing very rapidly, not amenable to surgery. The doctors' opinions were mixed, which in my eyes reflected as uncertainty. They offered me chemotherapy, others flatly rejected chemo and suggested targeted therapy. Confused by the opinions, coming across different treatment options in Turkey and driven by the desire for the best,, after communicating with a representative of the Health Information Center "Medical Karadži" I decided to trust and visit the clinic "Shishli Memorial - Istanbul" for consultation. There I met a great attitude and good professionals who made me believe that there is a path and that they are ready to walk it together.
The other big drama along the way was raising funds for my treatment. When I did an accounting of the money I needed to start treatment and chemotherapy, I found the amount was prohibitive for me and my family. At the time, I just didn't know or anticipate how many good people there were and how big their hearts were. An instant fundraiser was organized, by some people very close to my heart, I cried a lot because I knew that every penny donated was starved, but it was from the heart, it was suffered, but it was meaningful and that it was my only chance.
I had 12 weekly courses of chemotherapy. After the last infusion, I did a follow-up 5-scanner. It turned out that the tumors were gone. There are numerous other findings from the scanner results, but they are not worrisome.
In order to maintain the condition of the body for 1 month I treat myself with so-called "smart drugs". I am about to start hormone therapy as well.
In sharing what I wrote, I forget the most important thing - I didn't stop working, I was only absent from work on the days I was traveling for another infusion or research. I enjoyed, as much as possible in this state, a good physically active condition.
There is a lot of psychological trauma that goes along with this treatment - getting used to the thought of the scary diagnosis, burdening everyone around you with your condition, the fear of the unknown future, the lack of finances, the uncertainty that you will be alive tomorrow, the scary, purely physical appearance - hairless, eyebrow and eyelashless, chubby and run down from the medication.
But the conclusion I draw from everything and this time is that, what does not kill us, makes us stronger. And now I am more capable, more knowledgeable, stronger. I'm about to go on a lifetime of medication again, hopefully it's long and effective.
Since my treatment from the moment I was diagnosed until now has been supported by kind and good people, I want to thank them:
- Thank you to my family and friends for the sleepless days and nights, for travelling with me - physically and mentally, and for supporting me, to those who were there and those who were not.
- Thank you to people I know and strangers who joined and continue to do so in the fundraiser, without you I would not be able to write, breathe, believe and succeed.
- Thank you to Medical Carnage for finding you, for helping me, and for continuing to keep constant feedback with me, I believe in you, I am glad to have you, and that you do everything simply, clearly, and with good intentions and goals.
- I would also like to thank the team at Shishli Memorial Istanbul for their efforts. Know it was worth it, it is worth it in the future because many people need you. Do it, don't stop, you know how to do it, you're doing great.
Д. L. 43 years old
