The news of cancer usually knocks you off your feet. In order to overcome cancer, it is not only necessary to properly select therapies. The attitude of the patient himself is of great importance. Alicja Zborowska, a mathematics teacher from Włoszakowice is a perfect example that cancer can be overcome with a smile and a positive attitude.
How did you react to the disease?
Honestly, this news was not a big surprise to me. It is already a “tradition” in our family. My sister, Teresa, 16 years older, died after 5 years of cancer. The other sister, who is a nurse, Ulka, 14 years older than me, also fell ill. I often had checkups. One time, I felt a change in my breast myself, so I immediately signed up for a doctor. When I left the ultrasound room, I called Ulka immediately and read her description of the examination. Sister’s reaction was immediate – “You come to me and we are going to the doctor”. The next day we went to see the oncologist in Kościan together.
It happened very quickly
It was the second week of vacation. On February 20, I was examined, and on February 22 I was consulted by a doctor. It went in the blink of an eye. First, a sample was taken from the lump. After two weeks, I already had the results: malignant cancer, the breast must be amputated. “I landed” in the hospital in Poznań named after John Paul II. In addition to amputations, I had lymph nodes removed in my hand, exactly 12. There were already metastases on three of them.
Was there fear?
What struck me the most was when I got a call from the hospital saying they didn’t have good news, and I actually cried out. But that’s probably a normal reaction.
Did you know what will happen next?
Ulka highlighted it for me. What will the side effects of chemotherapy be, how will it go. She said she would rather have both breasts removed than take chemotherapy. I told myself, hard, if it is supposed to be like that, it will be like that. Everyone knows that hair falls out. Even without knowing that you will be talking to me, a week ago I wrote down the «side effects» and in parentheses «How you can do something to feel better» I will read to you:
1. What about hair loss? Wig, handkerchiefs.
2. Vomiting. – Suitable tablets
3. Fainting? Help for loved ones. If you do not want to pass out, go to bed immediately after returning from the hospital.
I remember the first time I passed out. The sister was terrified. I came to the kitchen. I grabbed her hand, saying, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me”, I collapsed to the floor. She and her husband moved me to bed, apparently I had convulsions. They got scared.
4. No taste, no appetite.
5. Detachable gums, dry tongue, mycosis, mouth ulcers, wounds in the mouth, sore ears.
6. Dry skin.
7. Toenails falling off …
All my fingernails have fallen off. Fortunately, they grew back.
8. Lack of feeling in fingers.
Finally, I wrote: “But it all passes.”
You owe her a lot.
Yes, especially after chemotherapy. You feel terrible then. Ula and her husband helped me a lot, they supported me. They went with me to the hospital, put meals in bed with me, brought books, and went for walks with me. Apart from them, I have four brothers. I owe them a lot too.
What happened next?
After the surgery, there was chemotherapy and further tests – mammography, ultrasound, x-rays of the lungs and bones. Fortunately, they did not notice anything disturbing. Now she’s taking hormones. For 5 years, I will be taking pills every day.
All women have chemotherapy after surgery to remove their cancer.
Differently. Some women have so-called Radiation therapy, i.e. irradiating sick places with lamps, but I had chemotherapy, i.e. injecting preparations through the veins. Mine are burned, a friend once told me “Ala you showed off”, but it was the result of chemotherapy, they are darker after that. My left hand, because on this side I had a tumor in my breast, is exempt from taking blood and measuring the pressure, because of the removal of the nodes.
How about the dexterity of this hand?
I have to do massages every day for it to function well. I am also subject to rehabilitation, I exercise every day. But everything is manageable.
I believe that not only siblings supported you.
Yes it’s true. I have many wonderful friends at school. The toughest moment for me was leaving school and saying goodbye to my final grade, 2012/2015. But I believed and I really wanted to come back. I knew it would happen.
In the hospital, you met many people in a similar situation.
O mother! How many people have cancer, how many women. It is out of my mind. There I met a lady who was in the hospital for the fourth time. She had one breast already removed. Metastases. She had already undergone radiation therapy, chemotherapy and still was full of positive thoughts. She had the same name as my mother. It connected me even more with her. I have contact with her, but I would hardly call it friendship.
What ward have you been in?
I was in the surgical ward and in the chemotherapy ward. It was terrible on chemotherapy. I used to visit my sister and cry. As I recall all those bald heads, tastelessness, nausea, the smell of drugs – it wasn’t nice. There were drip stands everywhere. There were people there who came for 48 hours only for the drip, and it went on and on. Day and night, I heard the sound of the sliding drip stands. I don’t like to talk about it. It was scary.
And in surgery?
It was different there. The women supported each other. They were mostly older people, but they had an amazing amount of energy. We did not allow ourselves to break down. The operation was supposed to be just an operation. We didn’t want to experience it.
First thought after waking up?
Why are there so many people here. Why don’t they leave us alone. This was the moment when the other patients were visited by their family.
You weren’t on oiom?
Well just no. I went back to my room. I felt uncomfortable. After anesthesia, I wanted to vomit and the room was full of people. Fortunately, I had a bed by the window. I turned my head and closed my eyes, wanting to wait out the worst moment of nausea. Suddenly I heard “she is sleeping”. I immediately turned my head, it was my sister-in-law with my daughter. She immediately noticed that I needed her help and gave me a kidney.
It is strange that the Lady went straight to the room.
My sister-in-law and I were also surprised. But things are different in hospitals. However, the atmosphere in the ward: fantastic. Doctors and nurses are real angels. When I had a lump sample taken before the amputation surgery, the doctor did it for me under local anesthesia. When he asked if I could feel anything, I said no and he laughed, “I have already cut the skin! And I don’t know what these guys are fascinated with, these tits are so ugly on the inside! ». I must also admit that I cannot complain about the lack of sense of humor and cheerful atmosphere, they were fantastic.
What has changed in you after your illness?
I’ve reevaluated my life. I wonder why people argue about nonsense. I appreciate everything that maybe I have not seen before, and certainly did not pay attention to it. The lack of one breast does not bother me. However, there was a moment in my life when I broke down. After the surgery, the doctor said that there was something on the other breast as well, and he would have cut it out best. But one, two, and three studies found nothing. I was happy.
We often hear that some women no longer feel like “real” women after having their breasts amputated.
As if I were to remove the second breast, who knows. But not now. This prosthesis I have is really cool.
And the reconstruction?
The doctor asked me this question. He said that the patients who agreed were satisfied. They live life to the fullest. I will tell you honestly, I have a referral to the hospital, but I am not fully convinced of it yet.
So, for now, a prosthesis?
Yes, it’s soft, normal. I received it from the NFZ reimbursement. Although the patients gave me good advice: “You put on a mustard sock, it will be better for you” and it is true! I did that at first. Mustard extracts defects from wounds. It has a health effect and it helped. But I already got used to the prosthesis.
You are a role model for others, Mrs. Alicja.
I went through the whole illness with a smile on my face. However, when I find out about a sick person, I cry. I ask myself why someone younger than me has to go through what I have been through. After 9 months, I was able to return to work. Initially, I only had individual mathematics classes and a common room.
How were you greeted?
It was amazing. We had a teaching council at the time. I would like to add that all the teachers did a great job. They called, wrote text messages, just to talk to me. I remember how Mrs. Kasia, a music teacher, wrote to me: “Today I received Holy Communion for you” it was edifying. Instead of starting with the things I was supposed to convey to the council, I thanked everyone.
I remember the end of 2014/2015 – your ending. I came to see them after the surgery. So many warm words and thanks addressed to, inter alia, to me. Even though I didn’t have the class with you until the end. After that, my former teacher gave me a book with a note: «I understand like no one else. You were, you are and you will be like a daughter to me ”and a telephone number. I did not expect this. I’ve never called her, but I feel like I have to do it.
The students asked questions? Did you talk to them?
Only once, at the onset of the disease. I said to the girls in the XNUMXrd high school – from this special year of mine – “Girls, check yourselves”. They picked it up correctly, they already knew what was going on.
There is a thought at the back of your head that you need to be more careful.
Exactly. After some time, I returned to class, currently XNUMXrd junior high school. I cannot get to know this youth. Constantly unprepared, no homework. But I know I can’t be nervous. I have to pause. I believe that students will soon take this matter seriously, because they are waiting for secondary school exams.
Before your illness, you were very active. How is it now?
Heavy exercise is eliminated. I swim, walk a lot, and do exercises for my spine. I am working in this direction a bit, but I take care of myself.
What about the psyche?
I live my life to the fullest. We did not talk to a psychologist, although I had the opportunity. I’ve never felt such a need. Ulka is my psychologist, although she also urged me to meet.
You approach the disease very positively. How do people react to you?
I spent most of my illness in Krzywe. I wore a headscarf there. But I came back to Włoszakowice. Here are students, work and I chose a wig. But no one ever looked at me askance.
You have ever thought – “why me”?
I’ve never asked myself that question. I also did not see a trial or a divine punishment in my illness. Rather, I was wondering what made me sick. Where was the cause.
You have experienced a lot.
Yes, but I take my life by handfuls. Perhaps if I felt bad, I would have approached it differently. I am not afraid of what will happen. I appreciate things that I may not have thought about before. The disease opens the eyes. It also opened me up to some extent.
Alicja Zborowska with the author, Małgorzata Adamczewska