“I had a disease that spread from my breast to my ribs and spine; but I overcame it all.”

56-year-old A.K., who noticed a lump in her breast while changing clothes ten years ago, was diagnosed with breast cancer the next day. In 2013, after feeling discomfort in her left rib, A.K. returned to the hospital and learned that the cancer had spread between three of her ribs. Having undergone a total of 52 sessions of radiotherapy and 6 months of chemotherapy, we conducted an interview with A.K. about her experiences during the treatment period.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am 56 years old, I have an engineer son and an architect daughter. I am a housewife. Ten years ago, while changing my clothes, I felt a lump in my hand. The next day, I went to the doctor. Without any MRIs, ultrasounds, or mammograms, my doctor diagnosed me with breast cancer. After that, I had all my tests done and learned that there was a 2 cm malignant lump.

What did you feel at that moment?

I didn’t let the diagnosis bring me down. I had prepared myself, but I was still shocked when the doctor told me directly. My doctor understood that I was worried and encouraged me, saying that I would get through this. He was very helpful to me.

When did you have surgery?

I had surgery 15 days later, and the part where the lump was located was cleaned out during the operation. I had 1-2 lymph nodes that had spread to my armpit, and they were removed as well. After a month, I contacted Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal, a Medical Oncology Specialist, and started chemotherapy and radiotherapy. My chemotherapy lasted for 6 months.

How did your chemotherapy sessions go?

I didn’t feel anything during my first chemotherapy session, but my second chemotherapy was very difficult. I had a lot of nausea. I couldn’t eat much and was consuming liquids. Knowing that my hair would fall out, I cut my hair after the second session. Since my treatment occurred during winter, I always went outside wearing a hat. After the chemotherapy, there was a month-long break before I started radiotherapy.

How did your radiotherapy sessions go?

I had no issues during radiotherapy, but three months after it ended, I experienced indigestion, lack of appetite, and thinning of the blood vessels in my eyes. Until 2013, everything was very good. I was going for my routine check-ups. In 2013, I felt discomfort in my left rib and went to the hospital. I visited orthopedics, and nothing was found. Then I went to oncology and learned that there were metastases between three of my ribs. Radiotherapy was started immediately. I received 10 sessions of radiotherapy. Then for another 2 years, everything was fine. In 2015, I had a metastasis in my spine. I also received 10 sessions of radiotherapy to my spinal cord. In total, I underwent 52 sessions of radiotherapy and 6 cycles of chemotherapy. Right now, everything is good and under control.

Have you ever felt disappointed or thought about giving up?

I generally didn’t let my morale drop, but I can say that after ten years of struggle, I feel a bit tired. I don’t neglect my check-ups. The doctors say I’m doing very well. I’ve been in hospitals for 10 years; of course, there were times when I felt hopeless and anxious too. I have thought, “Will I not recover?” But thankfully, I have seen these days.

Who was your biggest supporter?

My family was my biggest supporter. Besides that, my friends were by my side. I also received psychological support, which helped me a lot. You can't talk to everyone about everything, but being able to discuss everything with my doctor made me feel much better. Thankfully, I got through it.

Do you have any recommendations for patients?

I try to support patients physically and emotionally as much as I can in the hospital. I put myself aside and help other patients. When I hear patients say that cancer is a terrible disease, I tell them that I have been a patient for ten years and have overcome many illnesses, which boosts their morale. Some patients completely isolate themselves from life. It's very important not to disconnect from life. No one should wait for life to fight; they should fight for themselves. I never had whims like, "I had chemotherapy today, I can't go outside." I have always been a part of life.

Have you ever been bothered by unnecessary comments?

Of course, there have been many people around me who said things like, "It's a bad disease, just like its name, God forbid," or "No matter how much treatment you get, this disease ends in death." The hardest part is when people look at you with pity. I really dislike that look. I would tell those who spoke negatively to me, "I am the one experiencing this; what does speaking like this give you? Instead of uplifting me, you are bringing me down." Cancer does not mean that everything is over. Technology has advanced a lot. Even my closest friends made such comments. There were many who would ask, "Going to the hospital again?" and then say, "It's a life that's hard to bear; if it were me, I couldn't handle it. God give you patience, you're very strong." Even though it was annoying, I always brushed it off.

What has the illness taught you?

I used to try hard not to hurt people's feelings. Once I got this illness, I started to observe everything better. The people you used to run with are always expecting something from you, but they give nothing in return. When you need them, they disappear. But they show up when they want something. This illness taught me that. I am content to struggle with my family, but apart from a few close friends, I realized that everyone else is only there for the good times. I am not as soft-hearted as I used to be; I have started to love and take care of myself more. I am not as giving as before. Even relatives can become fair-weather friends. Patients should never let their morale drop; morale is very important. I have a garden. I keep myself busy with organic vegetables and fruits there. I don't like to stay idle. Everyone should do the same. I love listening to music, watching TV, reading books, and having tea or coffee and chatting with my friends. I make preserves and jams with the vegetables and fruits I collect from my garden. These also keep me occupied, making me forget about the illness.

I understand you have a dog...

Yes, I have a dog. He is my companion and a source of morale. He came to me when he was 15 days old and grew up in my hands. My biggest friend is my dog, "Duman." He is now 8 years old. When I was sick, Duman would come to me and look at my face. He never left my side. During my difficult times, he always lay next to me and never left until I got up. He is even closer to me than a person. He just can't talk, but he expresses everything with his eyes. Love for animals is a beautiful thing.

“Her positive attitude toward life contributed significantly.”

What does Prof. Dr. Serdar Turhal, a Medical Oncology Specialist at Anadolu Medical Center, say?

Despite our patient experiencing concerning recurrences during her illness, she successfully overcame them all. I believe her positive attitude toward life has contributed positively to the course of her illness. Her search for other activities, instead of limiting herself to the events of the disease, has always been a behavior I use as an example.