How I overcame my Battle with Cancer

Email To a Friend 17 June 2009 My name is Suzie and I discovered I had breast cancer when I discovered a lump while washing one day. This mass had practically appeared overnight being that I frequently check for these kinds of things due to all of the media coverage concerning breast cancer detection. Being paranoid by this discovery, I immediately booked an appointment with my physician to see if it was cancerous or not. After my x-ray, the doctor confirmed my worst fear. I was officially diagnosed with breast cancer! I began to get very depressed because I didn’t know how my life would change or how long I would live for.

My doctor commended me for being savvy enough to detect this lump early so that the cancer didn’t spread to any other parts of my body. The doctor told me that I would have to undergo surgery to remove tissue from my left breast. He added that pending the results of another x-ray, after the surgery, would determine whether I needed any additional treatment.

I was personally surprised by this turn of events because I had been an avid vegetarian for the past 20 years. I am 42 years old and never expected to have to battle cancer due to my personal choice to eat healthy. I went through with the surgery and I was overwhelmed by all the support I received from my friends, family and colleagues. The surgery was successful and I was able to resume my employment after a month. My follow-up x-ray was scheduled 2 months after that and it was at that time that my doctor recommended a drug called Taxol to stop cell growth in my body.

It has been really tough dealing with the fatigue, hair loss and diarrhoea, however I am grateful to have survived and I know one day things will get better. I have since joined a local organization that promotes breast cancer awareness and I recruit all of my friends and family to join me for the annual fundraisers and breast cancer walks. This ordeal has certainly brought me closer to my loved ones and keeps us all conscious of the things that really matter in life.

Suzie Lewis, Shrewsbury.

Bookmark this: