In May 2014, I noticed a lump in my left breast. Initially, I thought nothing of it because when I was much younger, I had removed benign lumps from my breast on two different occasions.
Nonetheless, I quickly sent the sample of the lumpectomy procedure that was conducted in the laboratory for urgent analysis. When I got the results, I hurried to the hospital to see my uncle who is a renowned surgeon. He went through the report and asked that I report to LUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital) or LASUTH (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital) immediately. This was how my breast cancer journey started.
A diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer was handed over to me. I was devastated and in total shock. Being a strong woman by nature, I made up my mind not to dwell on feeling sorry for myself but rather to commence treatment promptly. The different treatments recommended were Mastectomy, after which chemotherapy and radiotherapy would be administered.
I braced up for mastectomy but was doubtful about going for chemotherapy. This was primarily because I had heard about and seen the brutal effects of chemotherapy. It wrecked my elder sister’s body and I did not want to go through the agonizing experience as well. I really did not have issues with radiotherapy.
The decision to go for chemotherapy took a lot of deliberation between myself, my children, extended family members, and friends. Some felt that herbal medication was the way to go. To be honest, I felt so vulnerable at this point in time and prayed to God to direct me as I was determined to hope for the best.
I eventually opted for chemotherapy which was not easy on my body, mind, and soul. The aftereffects of every chemotherapy cycle took a great toll on my body. It seemed like my body was broken into pieces and on fire from within. The nauseating feeling, extreme weakness, loss of appetite, and exhaustion were unbearable. It was more devastating when I started to lose my hair (alopecia) which I eventually had to shave and started using scarves. My tongue, palms, and the soles of my feet turned black.
I made up my mind to win this war and started being positive by praying. Not only did I remain steadfast in prayers, but I also did a turn around with my diet. I started fortifying my body with vegetables and fruits. Unfortunately, my mind became a battlefield. I thought about so many things at the same time. I thought about my children, family, friends, church, and work.
Much as I tried hard to stay alive, I felt so feeble. Fear gripped me, I felt so weak and thought I wasn’t going to make it. I prayed to God to spare my life as I still wanted to be around all my loved ones. Unfortunately, I was degenerating physically but I did not give up.
Eventually, I was able to heave a sigh of relief when I completed my chemotherapy treatment and embarked on my recovery journey.
After I recuperated, I started my radiotherapy treatment, which is the use of ionizing radiation to kill malignant cancer cells around my breast area. Thankfully, it wasn’t a painful experience but uncomfortable. I heaved a similar sigh of relief when I completed my sessions.
In order to fully recover, I was placed on a strict fruit and vegetable diet to repair my body cells. Slowly but surely, I started to regain my strength. I have now learned to love fruits and vegetables as my medicine. My lifestyle has since changed for the better as I no longer take inorganic foods and stay away from sugar.
My breast cancer experience has taught me to take each day at a time without having to stress myself. To be honest, my body feels a lot better.
I felt uncomfortable losing my breast but I thank God that I am alive. I must confess that my sadness diminished significantly when I joined C.O.P.E. support group. At first, I couldn’t believe that all the women I met had gone through the same ordeal. I felt reassured and happy listening to the stories of other survivors as we exchanged our different experiences. Now, I have regained my self-esteem and feel more confident with my breast prosthesis and I always look forward to our monthly sessions on how to cope effectively, survive, and thrive.
Here I am standing strong to the glory of God after 6 years. Forever to go!
