Being aware alone is not enough

This is the month of October, the breast cancer awareness month.

Most of us know of someone who is fighting cancer, has survived it or lost the fight.  I love this quote which I came across recently:

• Support the Fighters
• Admire the Survivors
• Honour the Taken

I feel that one should not only be aware of breast cancer, you should take action. Do your monthly self-test, and most of all go to the doctor to do an ultra-sound and mammogram (for those over 40 years old, I think). Early detection saves lives. 

Besides that research indicates that 30% of cancer is due to one's lifestyle. So eat a healthy diet -- cut down or cut out, dairy products, red meat, fatty food, processed food, sugar, alcohol and smoking, and be physically active and stress-free. 

Yes easier said than done. But try everything in small steps and eventually you will start feeling better and will incorporate more of the healthy practices into your lifestyle. Of course, you're allowed to have cheat days -- like that night out eating a succulent steak accompanied by a few glasses of red wine. Then get back on track the next day.

Yeah I know what you're thinking? You know of people that have led a healthy lifestyle and yet got breast cancer or some other form of cancer. That's true, no research is conclusive as to why our cancer cells become active. Ask any doctor, and she or he can't give you a firm answer simply because they don't know why. There are many factors involved.

There are many people who are smoking like a chimney, and boozing daily and eating meat frequently and they are still living right into their 80's. 

Well, I just reckon that you do your part in being healthy and stress-free and, the rest is out of our hands.

Back to the Pink October Month, as you all probably know that my mom passed away in June last year due to angio sarcoma of the breast. I, of all people should know better than to not get my breasts checked regularly. That's why I'm advising ladies to go get their breasts checked. 

My hubby pestered me to get an appoinment since February last year. But I still kept putting off visiting my doctor for my yearly check-up until one day I felt the pain in my ribs and numbness in my left arm, and finally found that painful lump just way at the bottom of my left breast.

So, take it from me, make the time and brave yourself to see the doctor now. It's so much better than having to go through chemo and fighting for your life.

* This video is great. Please watch it and share. It was done by a breast cancer support group here in Malaysia that consists of mainly breast cancer survivors and warriors; a truly helpful group of women whom I admire greatly for their strength, and for their generousity in sharing their knowledge to other breast cancer survivors, and everyone in general to raise the awareness of breast cancer.

I'm afraid it's bad news, you have cancer

After the routine mammogram, I did the ultra-sound, both pretty uncomfortable when you have fibrocystic boobs. I noticed that the doctor kept going over the spot that I had found the lump. I don't like it when a doctor tells you that she isn't too happy with what she sees, however, to be very sure she needs me to get a biopsy done as soon as possible.

After the ultra-sound I went to see my breast surgeon. She looked at me and said the same thing she told my mom when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer 8 years ago. "I don't like what I see, you need to do a biopsy." Before that she also asked me why I had not come in last year for my check-up.

How could I tell her when I didn't know why I had not done my yearly check-up. My hubby kept reminding me to do so and I kept putting it off. And I guess that's why I'm in this situation, but I'm still lucky to have caught it at this stage.

My biopsy was scheduled the next day. It was painful, even though the doctor had injected me with pain killers. I have a low pain-threshold. I used whatever technique I knew, breathing technique and centering myself but I could still feel the discomfort when my flesh was being extracted from my dear boob.

I was in day-care so I could rest for a few hours in the hospital before I was allowed to go home.

I saw my breast doctor a few days later.  I just knew it wasn't good news.

As I went into her room with my 11-year-old daughter, my doctor looked at me and asked me if I had brought an adult family member. She asked if my sister was with me as my sister was also her patient. I told her no, and to just tell me my diagnosis. I was prepared for the news. Of course, nobody is prepared to hear, "you have cancer."

Since I 'll be be refering to my doctor a lot, I 'll use her name. Doctor Pat told me that I had invasive ductal carcinoma Stage 2B. She said they needed to remove the cancerous lump and also a few lymph nodes to see if they were carcinoma, and to do further tests.

My lumpectomy was done four days later, and they had found that one of my lymph nodes had cancerous cells in it. They removed the 2.1 cm lump and 13 lymph nodes. I stayed in the hospital for four days. I wasn't in pain or anything, just weak so I kept sleeping quite a bit. My sweet daughter kept me company and was actually my private little nurse.

When the results were out from the laboratory, about a week later,  my doctor informed me that I had Stage 2B estrogen progesterone postive and HERS 2 positive Grade 3 breast cancer.  Which meant that after chemotherapy and radiotherapy, I would be on hormone therapy for the next 5-10 years. Forced into an early menopause was not how I had planned my years ahead to be like. But I had to follow the medication if I was to be completely healed.

I'm really comfortable with my breast surgeon. She allowed me time to get over my shock of the news -- cry buckets, and was very caring. She felt that I needed to think it over with my husband and family, and to perhaps meet up with the oncologist that she had recommended just to see if I was comfortable with him.

My husband, daughter and I met up with the oncologist. He explained to us thoroughly the type of cancer I had and how the cells were dysfunctional, and also the kind of chemotherapy I would need.
I was to start with 4 rounds of 3-weekly AC drugs and 12 rounds of weekly Taxol drug. Then monthly, Herceptin drug, and Tamoxifen for 5 to 10 years.

I felt pretty comfortable with the doctor and he could answer most of my questions.  I was concerned about the side effects of the drugs and if I could cope well with it. Also, I needed to know the success rate for patients with my diagnosis. He seemed very positive. He said I was basically healthy and still young, and should do pretty well with the chemo course laid out for me.

We left the hospital feeling that at least I was going to get the best medical care to treat breast cancer. It's really important when you feel comfortable with your medical team and trust that you are in the best hands.

When you are facing cancer, good support from your family and friends matter. I'm lucky to have it all. Now everything lay in my hands; informed knowledge of my diagnosis, I can play an active role in my healing, and a correct mindset and attitude to battle cancer.

Ok who am I kidding? I was scared as hell, I kept thinking, WTF,  I had plans. I could now travel cheaply around the world, ( perks of being married to a pilot) , and here I was home-bound, gonna go bald and looking like I had escaped from prison, and God knows what kinda party the cancer cells are having in my body!

It's boob day focus

We never quite take them seriously, which we should, medically I mean. After all, we love how women envy another 'nice' pair of boobs and men simply love boobs. Well, most men that I know anyway.

It's a must to go for  an annual mammogram (after 40 especially) and ultrasound scan. I must admit that I do not make it my priority, and do it as the last thing on my list. (Bad bad girl).Which for me is like playing with the devil as my mom was dignosed with breast cancer just three years ago. She's completely cured, thank God for that, however, she  has to visit the hospital for her regular check-ups.

So I shouldn't be playing with the devil.  Some things I really don't have an answer for. Maybe I'm just a coward and don't want to know. Just ignore the problem, Which translates to stupidity. Because the whole boob day process just takes about 2-3 hours.

The process of the mammogram is quick though a tad uncomfortable. The nurse helps you to place each boob at a time on a plate (while you're standing) and it's squashed for like a few seconds, from the top and another from the side. So two angles on each breast, and you are done.

Then off to do the ultrasound scan, which is more painful for me, as I have an army of lumps and cysts, common in the type of  fibrocystic breast tissue kind of breasts that I happen to have. They come and they go, some stay and hurt a bit more prior to my menses. And God forbid if, like me, you love your daily coffee because it doesn't help with the discomfort.

Sorry for the digressing bit, yes, the ultrasound process is longer -- some gel is applied on each breast, and  then the breast is scanned --  every cm of it. Any bumps, lumps or cysts are detected by the machine and shown on the computer screen in front of the doctor. Just by looking at the type of shape and density of the lump, the doctor can more or less, tell you if it's a cyst or something suspicious.

The results of both tests come in films and are sent to my breast surgeon. Then it's consultation time.It's great if like me, you have a friendly and patient doctor. Because I really can get annoying with the questions that I ask. But I rather not be shy so when I leave the doctor's office I can feel a burden off my shoulders, and happy... all  ready to go out and celebrate with a mojito.  I really don't think much about it till a year later. Or, when my boyfriend discovers a lump and asks me about it. Then it's back to black, worrying days until I visit my doctor again!