Z’s Cancer Story

The Lump 

I saw a lump under my breast.  I put olive oil on my breast and pray lord that it wasn’t serious. For three weeks it was under my breast. At college I saw my friend, she’s a nurse. I took her outside the room and said, “Spare me a minutes”. I explain to her, there is lump under my breast. She told me to go to the doctor. I see a female doctor and she send me to the hospital straight away. I went hospital (Thursday) and saw a doctor and nurse. He chatted to me. I watched him examine me. I felt the lump under my breast. They take all the details and I went home and they said I would wait two weeks to come back for my result. 

Learning about my Cancer  

I went to hospital and I see a doctor. He asked me to sit down. The nurses join me and so he said you have cancer. My world was upside down. I was emotional, it’s not fair, I have cancer and the nurse rested in the room. My son arrived to give me emotional support and he cried as well. We went in the car and he looked emotional and just went to pieces. We stopped for a moment and he looked at me. I said it will be alright. I laugh a little and then we went home. We went from car to my house. We had a moment to think about it. I was thinking.

Telling my Family and Friends 

I begin to tell my family and friends that I had developed cancer. They stopped for a moment and said what you gonna do. I said I go on holiday for two weeks and then I’ll decide about the treatment. 

I begin my holiday on the 12/06/16

I went to the airport early in the morning and I’ve booked in to begin my travel me and my family. I was travelling to a funeral. Back of my mind I have cancer. So I didn’t worry about the treatment I just look forward for my holiday. So when I went to the security and I sit down and I went to the shop and had breakfast.

The plane was full and off we go to Jamaica. We had some lunch and a drink and we settle down for a nine hours flight. We get up and walk around in the aircraft (plane). It was a wonderful flight we had and we clapped hands to say the crew was brilliant. When we reached Jamaica we went to security and get a passport stamp and they said welcome back. Went outside and we see a taxi and I went to my cousin and they didn’t know I was coming to Jamaica. They were surprise and I laugh. We went to the hotel. It was comfortable. We settle down and have something to eat and a few days’ time we was going to the funeral. There’s lots of them guys at the funeral it was really packed. When we come back waited four days we decided to leave Ocho Riso and we had a lovely time in Jamaica. We had a small hotel and it was beautiful. A young man take me down to the bottom of the sea and it was beautiful, calming and relaxing. We had a lovely time and our friend came and visit us.  The next morning we had cornflakes and we sit on the beach and it was picturesque.  There is a picture of me sitting out looking at the waves and seeing the beautiful beach. I didn’t think about my treatment. 

Return to hospital

When I went to the hospital two weeks, the consultant said how was your holiday. I told him it was wonderful. We went into the room and a doctor and a nurse called the specialist nurse. They are so kind and thoughtful and understood what I was going through. They give me a piece of paper to bring to the biopsy department. Biopsy is placing a needle through the skin into breast to remove the tissue from area.  It was an intensive procedure, I feel the pain, I feel anxious, alarm, and the pain goes right through me. They wanted to do six but I said no way. I waited one week and the size was four, which is very big. My daughter came with me and she was in the room. 

Treatments 

When I went to see the doctor he started me on chemo.  I had x-ray of my breast, CT scans. For the CT scan, the images department put dye in my veins to see the cancer. I was tearful, my sister with me. I also see the psychology at the hospital. 

I start the treatment September 2016. When I start the chemotherapy I was fine. At four weeks my hair was lost. I wear a wig. I am bored and my temperature is got to be 38C. Have to do blood test, it was tiring. I drink Lucozade, tonic water, cola and orange to be strong.  

I see the oncology and my finger and toes it was terrible (what I mean terrible my toe and finger nails fell off). The doctor she told me the medication was too strong so I had a different one medication that is a lower than I had before. When I went out to have dinner me and my friend, I just pick on the food. I was nauseas and this went on for six months. I see the oncology for the period of my breast cancer.  Oncology is the study of cancer. A medical oncologist treat cancer using chemotherapy or other medications, such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy (NHS website).

When I see the consultants they gave me a letter come through the post my treatment. I had an appointment January 2017 (The Whittington hospital) I get up early to be there on time and I sat in the room and I waited till the nurse call me. They call me and we are in the wards and do all the things that is necessary to give me my operation but I know I was feeling anxious I don’t want to do the operation so I called the consultants and he said you’re having operation. I feel an alarm so he said I can wait. The nurse give me a little tea and a biscuit. She made me an appointment to come back and see the Consultants. I see the Consultants every month also a nurse . The nurse said we have talked to the Consultants and you be getting a letter soon.  

April 2017 (The Royal free hospital ) I receive a letter to go to the hospital and I asked my daughter to come with me and my grandson. My daughter pray for me and give me guidance. I went upstairs and I’m looking at where I’m going. I saw the Consultants away and we was on the way to surgery.  Anaesthetic give me one injection and I was gone. After four hours I wake up. I took off my mask and she put it back. I was awake and I waited a while. When I saw the family I was frail. They support me and I saw the Consultants and nurses. How are you they asked me I said fine it’s just hurting a little. I was in hospital for seven days.  My son came for me and we went home. After I went home it look strange to be back home. I saw the consultant and the nurse every four weeks to do my drainage.

The Radiotherapy

I had four weeks of radiotherapy and that is extreme energy to destroy cancer cells.  It can reduce the chance of your cancer coming back after treatment. I had 15 minutes of radiotherapy. It was tiring and I had Sudocream to rub on the scare and hot water to bathing in. When my hand couldn’t go up they make me lie down. It was painful, usually after the surgery.

Mammogram

I have an Xray to see what’s going on every year.

I have the mammogram and it will be for five years. Tomosynthesis is the 3-D mammography that worked in a similar way to a conference in mammogram. The digital technology enabled to computer to provide a 3-D image.  The 3-D image provided the staff with more information and they will talk to you about it. (NHS website).

Remission

If you were in remission for five years or more some doctor may say that you are cured. Right now go every six months to the hospital and have my treatment.

Re-visiting my story

I visit the Oncologist for follow-up once every year.  

I used to see the consultant every month. Now I see him every year.

I visit the counsellor every month and we talk about the well-being.

I also visit the MacMillan department and they do a lot of course. We also went to singing at the Spurs ground and was tremendous. They give a grant and so forth. 

Writing my story here has helped me to feel free.

If you ever get a lump on your body, please get it checked.