Fighting breast cancerOctober is breast cancer month. Christine Olivier spoke to her co-worker, Aletta Adams, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February this year. This is her story.

In January I felt a swelling in my breast, but I thought it was just my periods that were causing the swelling. My breast also started to become very painful. The one nipple sank and in the first week of February I decided to visit the sister at our workplace.

She immediately referred me to the doctor. In the same week I was referred to Groote Schuur Hospital for a mammogram. They found a lump of about 5 cm in my breast. The doctors decided that my breast must be removed, but I could only get an appointment in June for the operation.

I was so scared I asked them to check for other hospitals. They managed to get me an appointment at Somerset hospital for April 28. I spent four days in the hospital.When I was informed that I had breast cancer, I panicked and the only thing that I could think of was that ‘I’m going to die’.I had to tell my kids that I had cancer.

The worst part of it was to comfort them and tell them that ‘I’m not going to die’ when I believed that I was going to die.My oldest son took it very badly. They still find it very difficult to cope with my situation.I first got chemotherapy and now I must go for radiation because the doctors told me that the cancer is aggressive.

In 2005 my sister was also diagnosed with cancer and she is doing fine now.I got a lot of support from my co-workers, and whilst I was at home the workers at the factory supported me financially on a weekly basis.

The company also held a “pink day” for me in September.Don’t avoid us, because that is what I found some of my co-workers were doing when they found out about my cancer.

I think it was because they were scared themselves and didn’t know much about breast cancer.I also got a lot of advice of what to do and what herbs and stuff to drink, but rather listen to the advice of Professional Health Practitioners.I’m positive that I will live for a very long time, but sometimes I have my down moments.

My message to other women, please look after yourself, go for your pap smear on a regular basis and do self-testing of your breast. I took too long to respond to the pains in my breast.”

What her co-workers have to say about herSharon van der Merwe (co –worker)“I was scared when I found out that Aletta has breast cancer. I could not face Aletta because I didn’t know what to say to her, because cancer is always associated with death.Aletta had to come to me and I felt so sad, because she is a very nice person.

Aletta is also a very strong person, because she had to comfort us. She has got a very positive attitude; we admire her for her strength. I’m only going for a medical check up this week.

Dalivia – SupervisorI was very shocked when I found out that Aletta has cancer. With all her difficulties it has never affected her work the times when she came to work. Even now she is giving the output that is required of her.Aletta’s positive attitude made things easier for us, she even comforted us.

We always think we have big problems but when we see what Aletta’s going through we feel ashamed of ourselves.

Some of the warning signs of breast cancer * lump in the breast* discharge from the breast * swelling * skin irritation * abnormalities of the breast which include pain, redness, scaling and inversion.Women in a family that have a history of breast cancer should be extra careful.

How to check for yourself Stand in front of a mirror and raise your arms above your head. Check for:- changes in the size, shape and contour of your breast.- puckering, dimpling in the skin texture.

OR lie down with your one arm tucked behind your head. With the fingers of the other hand feel the opposite breast.

Begin in the underarm areas and, with the arms resting on a firm surface, move the fingers down until they are below your breast. Move the fingers towards the centre and slowly back up, until you've covered the whole area.

These are just some of the things you can do. Remember – doctors say that it is mostly women or their partners that find lumps in their breasts. So keep on examining yourself and go for regular medical check ups.

Source

Numsa News