Konstantin and Lena have been living together for many years. Recently, they began to seriously think about the child, they already imagined how they would nurse him. However, everything turned out differently: during the examination, Lena was diagnosed with breast cancer. Konstantin says.
“We were completely unprepared for this. But Lena wanted to live. All this time she did not stop working, although the treatment was difficult for her. She was very worried about the change in appearance. She has always been beautiful, slim, fit and attractive. And then — chemotherapy, radiation, hair loss, eyelashes, eyebrows. She was upset. There were moments when she was seized with despair.
The most difficult thing for me was to support Lena around the clock, to calm, persuade, cheer. All this time I did not think about anything, everything faded into the background. It was very scary. It is scary that the treatment, so difficult and exhausting, may not work. It’s scary that we won’t walk down the street together anymore.
- Breast Cancer: «Photo Diary of My Trial»
Now most of the fears are over. Lena still has a few IVs left and a second breast reconstruction operation. It turns out that earlier women refused treatment because they were afraid and were sure that their husbands would stop loving them after the removal of the mammary glands. What have I not read on this topic! But I did not think to choose between beauty and life. The most important thing is that Lena recovers, bounces back and starts making plans again.
All this was very difficult. We had to change our lifestyle and habits. But the disease brought us very close. Once again I realized that Lena is my man. It helped me to be tolerant and caring. It seems to me that this is the whole secret: when you fight together, you get a chance to win. I hope we made it.»
Yulia Podberezina, surgeon, oncologist
“During a routine examination, 38-year-old Elena was diagnosed with breast cancer. We carried out the necessary tests and examinations, which made it possible to outline the best treatment regimen. As a rule, women of reproductive age with complex tumor morphology are prescribed chemotherapy before surgery. This approach is more effective, and also allows you to prepare the mammary gland for an aesthetic and economical operation. In the case of Elena, after preoperative treatment, we managed to perform exactly the operation we had hoped for. In the future, after radiation therapy, there will be a need for a permanent implant. Elena’s situation is actually quite positive. All stages of treatment were successful, after the operation she was discharged on the fifth day. Of course, she will still have hormonal therapy, regular monitoring by specialists, but in general the prognosis is favorable. With a successful combination of circumstances, the spouses will be able to plan a pregnancy in 2-3 years after the end of treatment.”
- My wife, her cancer and me
Life after illness
Life after cancer is always a new adventure. The strength, confidence and determination gained during treatment can sometimes literally move mountains. “Maybe it will hurt some of the women fighting cancer,” says Vinciana1. “But still, now, after the lapse of time, I consider that this disease was a great success in my life!” Statements of this kind are often heard in consultations. But you have to have the courage to admit it. Because when a woman is at the bottom, bogged down in chemotherapy, when she is overwhelmed by fear of the future, it is very important to find some meaning in what is happening. This meaning is perhaps the most fundamental element of any human experience. He remains faithful even when the disease comes out victorious.
The thousand-year philosophical tradition of China has given rise to an image that demonstrates a deep understanding of the intricacies of life. So, in Chinese, the word «crisis» is written with a hieroglyph consisting of two elements. One denotes a danger, and the other a chance, an opportunity. Faced with this major crisis, many tend to look only at its negative aspects. It means they are afraid of danger. However, some people are able to think about the good that this terrible disease can bring to them. These people know how to hope and are ready to use the test that has befallen them as a source of personal growth, as a chance to realize the best in themselves. And then they will know the feeling that their life is successful.
1 The heroine of the book by Thierry Jansen “Trial by illness. Surviving Breast Cancer (Corpus, 2009).