My mom is
now 62 (I'm 26) and she got breast cancer four years ago in May. It started
without a lump. She was told it was just a bruise but I encouraged her to
get it checked out at the hospital. Deep down inside, I knew it was not just a
bruise. She went. We were in the hospital for over three hours. It started with
mammography, echo and ending with a biopsy.
After less than a week she has to go back for the results. After the big words
"You've got cancer ma’am'", she had some tests, and within a week she
had her first surgery to remove her left breast. After one week the scary
words, “The cancer is spreading” came. A week later she had her second surgery.
Another week went by and she went home. She did not want to talk about it, not
the tests, medication, results – nothing.
She
started chemo shortly thereafter. She had a very aggressive type of breast
cancer and they did not know if there was any cancer left in her. She was
scared to death. She had chemo six times, which made her lose a lot of weight so
she started a feeding tube. Currently she is on anti-hormonal medication
treatments which are very intense for her.
Ever
since my mom had breast cancer, I have made cards for cancer patients as a way
to cheer them up. A few months ago I found out that I have the BRCA2 gene,
which means that I am genetically prone to getting the same breast cancer that my
mom had. I will undergo surgery to remove the breast tissue in advance of
getting the disease. I still do everything that I can for various cancer
foundations. Anything that I can do to help others is worth my time.
Karin
The Netherlands
