Breast Cancer:Mastectomy, Chemotherapy and Nuclear Radiation Saved Me

How I battled breast cancer and became victorious is my personal experience in life.

I want to share my traumatic experience with cancer to bring hope, support and guidance to those in pursuit of knowledge on cancer, childbirth and stress. I am prompted to write this as the doctor friend who insisted I go to Singapore in 1982 and follow up for my cancer treatment with a famous oncologist in Singapore General Hospital has just recently passed away. He wrote a letter of introduction for me to see this specialist and had he not written the letter for me to be admitted immediately to Singapore General Hospital I would not be able to tell this story today.

It was the timeliness of the discovery of my cancer, immediate diagnosis of the biopsy and the wise decision of the doctors who performed the radical mastectomy on me that saved me. It is the Glory of God, His mercy and Grace that pulled me through and saved me.

It was December 28th , 1982. I had gone into Pantai hospital in Kuala Lumpur for the birth of my third child , a beautiful, normal baby girl. I had detected a lump on my right breast just two weeks before my due date and the gynaecologist to allay my fears dismissed it as “something” that can be “investigated” after I give birth. He told me they will do a biopsy of the lump for analysis and evaluation immediately the next day after I give birth. Not to worry, “it is a lump only”. But he continued “10% of lumps may turn out to be cancerous“. I said to myself “surely my luck is not that bad as to fall into that category!". The drama developed after they confirmed an hour later ( they had to send the frozen section to another hospital, Universiti Hospital for testing). The results were positive and indeed the lump taken was cancerous! They wanted to operate and do a mastectomy on me immediately. I saw the gynaecologist, the surgeon and oncologist discussing my case outside my room. By the look on their faces I knew I had to brace myself for the worst scenario. I was told to sign the consent papers for the operation. I was then wheeled back into the operating theatre. In my state of desperation, disbelief , weakness, stupor and shock after just giving birth I told my husband, "The doctor said Cancer kills and I will be dead in 6 months. The chances of survival is 50-50 after the 6 months also". It was like a death sentence smack right into my face. "I am 35 years old, I have a good and caring husband, I have three beautiful young daughters, I have a good well paid job ( I was the country head of a multi national financial institution, a Senior Vice President at that time ) and I have to give all these up!" In despair I cried out loud to God ; “ Why me? Why God do you let this happen to me?” That night I cried and cried , my husband was shaking and for the first time in our marriage I saw him sobbing aloud uncontrollably.

I was delirious that night after the operation and realized that I was “maimed” for life. They did a radical mastectomy of my right breast. Everything happened so fast, I went in to give birth, now they say I have cancer and cut me up! In fact I was so delirious that I began to see ghostly apparitions of two white mummified figures in the hospital room. All the 13 gifts bouquets of flowers ( it was really thirteen as I counted and stared at them tearfully!) began to emit the smell of frangipani flowers and the wet , murky soil of a graveyard. (I had them removed immediately!) The two white mummied figures at my hospital door often appeared to me as if they were looking and waiting to take me away. (The image lasted the whole three days whenever I was awake and opened my eyes ) My husband could not smell or see what I saw. I was terrified and just closed my eyes so tightly, clutched the Bible to my chest . That night my husband had to sit with me throughout the whole night as I was so scared and fearful. I told my husband I also had a strange experience of my spirit leaving my body in the operation room during the operation and I was looking down suspended from the ceiling at my own body on the operating table surrounded by the surgeon, doctors and nurses. I had a feeling that Death was near and the two mummies and smell all added up together to predict my imminent death. Oh! What a long night it was and the next day I had the church pastor to come and pray for me and he anointed me with some holy oil. Everyone, family and friends were afraid that I will go into depression after the traumatic experience. Never before have I prayed and prayed like then, speaking in tongues, telling the devil to leave me alone, asking, pleading with God to please keep me sane and heal me and get me through the whole ordeal.

On the advice of my friends, I went to Singapore for my cancer follow up on the third day after the childbirth. Feeling weak and frail, I was immediately put on radiation and chemotherapy. The chemotherapy jabs were the most difficult and most disgusting time of the cancer treatment for me. Vomiting , dizzy spells and fever usually accompanied each jab. I stayed in Singapore for a month, not being able to nurse or see my newborn who remained in Kuala Lumpur with the nanny all the time. Further chemo jabs every three weeks were followed up in Singapore where I would fly in for a day get my jab, rest and then fly back to Kuala Lumpur the same day. Radiation was bearable and painless . They put me on the very cold table all alone in such a cold big room and "barbecued" me in the front chest and back for 20 sessions. Each time they put the huge, heavy machine so close that you cannot even breathe and time was like eternity to me waiting to finish. The nurses had to push me up every time when they had finished because I was too weak to get up myself. That month in Singapore was the worst, dreaded period in my entire life . Time passed so slowly for me. Eventually I survived and managed to complete the whole nasty treatment of radiation and chemotherapy within 6 months. Every year and milestone we celebrate me still being alive and I ask God “Is it time now, have you given me up?” We rejoiced after a clean bill of health after check ups ; one year passed , three years, five years…. now my youngest daughter is going to be 28 years old and she has a baby boy. Thank God I am alive today and see my little baby grow up to have her own baby. I sometimes wonder what the doctor said that my breast cancer was due to stress and hormone induced due to late pregnancy. For a long time I grudged my youngest daughter for having caused me so much pain and change in my life. I was wrong . In fact she saved me! The cancer that erupted at age 35 years saved me in the sense that I was younger, stronger and able to battle cancer than say if I had it later in life when I will be weaker in health and unable to fight the disease. My positive outlook and God's grace pulled me through.

To illustrate God's hand on my healing I want to mention two incidents that has baffled me even till today. One afternoon another pastor came to pray for me during my chemotherapy days. During the session I immediately felt a beam of bright light coming across the room going straight through me and I felt a warm sensation all over. I immediately felt that God will heal me and I always proclaim victory over my cancer over the years. Another incident of God's touch was during my chemotherapy days, my hair miraculously did not fall at all . I had prepared myself that my hair would fall as other patients undergoing chemotherapy had experienced. I bought a wig to prepare myself for the agony. What happened was that one day in church I cried to God to please don't let my hair fall as I have to go and work and I need my shiny glory! Suddenly in church at that moment I felt the sensation of needles tick! tick! tick! pricking my hairline across my forehead as if some strange force was reinforcing the roots of my hair. I was so shocked and did not know what to say. A dear sister of mine said God is taking care of you. Ask for His healing continuously, praise him and continue to thank Him as if He has healed you completely. Our Heavenly Father cannot cease to ignore your pleas and prayers, and your wishes will be granted. Continue to praise Him and keep on thanking Him for His mercy and grace. Amen.

Praise God He has preserved me. My cancer was detected early, I had immediate surgery, radiation as well as chemotherapy which completely knocked me out . Remember I was in confinement after childbirth and missed my delicious Chinese confinement herbal soups and special meals. Instead I had to pop in 12 pills 4 hours a day!. My life changed after cancer, I put on weight, I gave up my stressful corporate life and I learnt to accept my situation and wait for God to heal me and reveal what He wants me to be. Now I have just discovered Hubpages! I like to write and with a community of fellow writers from all sorts of nationalities and from different countries, I really want to share my story as I have read some hubs of others which are so well written and heartwarming. It really makes me feel so comfortable and happy and I feel that I want to share my story also.

In conclusion my advice to the women of today, always be proactive, learn from others and do watch what you eat. The following tips should be useful in your quest to avoid or deal with cancer :

• Regular Checkups and Early Detection

Acquire Knowledge Learn about the illness. Learn how to feel and how to see and feel changes in your breast. You can watch the U tube video to see the seriousness of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Be diligent and do not miss your yearly mammogram after age 35 years. Remember early detection is vital.

• Have a Second Opinion

If necessary, always get a second opinion if there is a lump detected. Another specialist’s diagnosis is worth considering to ensure that you have studied the problem, considered all options before you choose the path you are going to take.

• Relaxation

Learn to destress. Remove your tension with, yoga, breathing exercises and do light physical exercises swimming and jogging . Listening to soothing music also helps. Some people enjoy reading the bible or other books. In India there is a wide following of the Laughing technique together with exercises and many testimonies of its effectiveness to improve peoples' health and some patients even claiming that their conditions have improved significantly with this technique. Even going to the movies is relaxing for me. For me the doctor said stress and hormone changes in my body due to late pregnancy triggered the cancer to develop. So women with stressful working lives, learn to destress, delegate your work and manage your tasks and time properly. Pamper yourself with facials and massages to calm your nerves, soothe your body and skin!. Enjoy your weekends with retreats with your family and spend quality time with them.

• Personal Management and Proper Nutrition

Of course you are the manager of your own health and body. So be aware of proper nutrition, eat more grains and greens, avoid drugs , alcohol and smoking. Exercise; have workouts, walks and enjoy more fresh air in the open fields. Avoid oily fried food. I like to take more salads, white meat like steamed fish and organic chicken. Organic vegetables taste sweeter and is better if you can get it. Avoid grilled and barbecued food because of the carbon in burning. Go for fresh not tinned or processed food. Studies have shown that women in rural areas ln Japan and China have lower breast cancer mortality rates because of their diet, vegetarian, non dairy and country living lifestyle. Take more fruits. Oranges, pineapples papayas and cucumbers are my favorites. Take Vitamin C tablets like Redozon which I take daily.

• Family and Friends

Have fellowship with others regularly. Laugh more and enjoy life. Forgive those who hurt you.

Have a Blessed Life.

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