GUEST POST : MUTUAL FRIENDS IN CANCER (MFC) || BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH!

Pinktober X Breast Cancer Month!

 

Lalalalalala, let’s all pretend I didn’t go MIA for about two weeks; because that’s what trybes do. Pretend! *giggles*

What if I told you I had this sitting in my drafts for three weeks and couldn’t hit publish because I have no original picture content, would you believe ? You better do because it’s haqq (true).  I love original contents so much I find it hard to use anything that’s not mine.

I know it’s easy to say when life throws you lemons, make lemonade out of it because I haven’t been able to make a lemonade for three freaking weeks now. My excuse? I’ve been crazy busy and I still am but we gotta do what we gotta do.

I’ve never lost a family or friend to any form of cancer but I’ve had my aunt fight and win over cancer and this I’m so grateful for. However, a whole lot of people have lost someone to cancer and others are battling with this evil sickness.

Because this is so important to us all; MutualFriends In Cancer was whipped up. Have a great read.

 

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in women, and also the second main cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer.

Incidence of breast cancer increases with age.

It all started with breast tenderness. I know it’s tender because I can only feel the pain when I touch my boobies, or was it the color I noticed first? I can’t really recall now.

I remember asking my mother about the reddish patch that wouldn’t leave my boobies no matter how hard I scrubbed. She seemed not to mind; my mom that is. I had a similar color when I was your age she told me.

I was just 13 and my feminine side was just rearing it’s head. Little did I know my body was giving me signs of something much bigger than me.

Breast cancer is the 2nd leading causes of death amongst women.

I’m growing now, I just clocked 18. My once upon a time tiny boobies are now plus sized; my red patch is also gone. I am a woman now; I can totally conquer the world.

My mother died few years back from an unknown illness and I’m still not over it.

 

Breast cancer incidence increases with age.

One of my boobies has always been bigger than the other; but this morning, I noticed it was unapologetically and embarrassingly massive.

What could be wrong? Having no one to ask, I decided to ask my friend; the internet! My dears, never check your symptoms on google; it’s a scam.

After hours of perusing the internet with several diseases as diagnoses, I decided to go out and continue hiding my massive booby under big kaftans. ( I mean, what else could I have done).

 

The year is 2014 and I’m in so much pain.

Red watery fluid won’t stop coming out of my breasts and I’m just 20 with no mother and no money for hospital bills. So I keep on dousing it with Vaseline and any balm or ointment I could lay my hands on.

If only I had known, maybe my cancer wouldn’t have gotten to stage iv, maybe I would still have my breasts now and still look like other girls my age and not some tomboy.

 

I remember the day the doctor told me I had breast cancer (I got a loan from a friend to see a doctor); it was more funny than shocking.

I mean, I’m barely even an adult. I don’t even have a boyfriend yet (not like breast cancer is for only people with boyfriends alone, but I mean my major concern then was if any boy would ever look at me again).

 

The first diagnostic test was a mammogram I took that confirmed I had a tumor. “A malignant tumor she called it”. It’s being growing for a long time now and has affected my other booby (okay, I think I’m grown and I should stop calling breasts boobies).

 

So my breasts have been invaded by this thing called a tumor and It’s gotten worse over time since I did not seek medical care. Anyways, do I have to mention how sad and angry I was at my mother (she had breast cancer and never told me; story for another day) for not taking my health and hers seriously? Not until the doctor told me my mother died of the same condition did I understand what I was into and how I got into it.

Breast cancer is not hereditary but could be genetically inherited.

So I was at risk of having it. Some other risk factors include; obesity, exposure to radiation, breast feeding, hormonal treatments like contraceptives and generally, being a female.

 

All women are at risk of having breast cancer.

My anger at the universe was very much understood (at least I told myself this) and  I did not know who to turn to. The doctor told me I had to go through chemotherapy; this was to shrink my already massive tumor before I go through the surgery that would change my life forever.

So I went for chemotherapy sessions, I made some friends, ‘mutual friends in cancer’ I called them ( The MFC Squad). Some had parental support and some didn’t. Most of us believed it was us against the world. After all, nobody could relate to our struggles.

 

Chemotherapy as I remember was a very big enemy. It took my hair as side effects, and  also made me really nauseous. I was always really sad about my bald head, so I used wigs and always wore a scarf.

Sometimes at the clinic, we get good news like one of my fellow ‘mfc’ got cancer free, or the chemo worked and he/she was free to go home. But this was very rare, like one in twenty people kind of rare.

At other times, I just wait for death so I can join other members that have died. Even though we had a support group where everyone pretended everything would be fine.

Breast cancer is rare in pregnancy but the risk increases with age.

Fast forward…….

 

Self-breast exams during pregnancy should be done at anytime.

‘Your tumor needs to be removed now. We are going to perform a “radical mastectomy” ( what on earth is a radical masectomy) I kept on staring at the doctor because I did not understand a word she was saying.

Well, since she was my doctor, my guess is that she had explanations cooking up in her head. But right now, I’m in that space where I think things and imagine everything unimaginable.

 

Tumors increase in size during adolescence, pregnancy, lactation and anytime estrogen levels rise.

Ara !!!, the doctor brings me back from my trance. “Are you going to sign the papers for the surgery?” At this point, I knew that I had to ask what a radical mastectomy was.

So I asked, and then I wished I didn’t.

I obviously wasn’t prepared for the answer I got.

 

“We are going to cut off your breasts’’.

My next reaction was laughter. I had been told I might have to do this but a part of me was hoping for a miracle. I guess the good Lord had better things he used his magical powers on.

 

Self-breast exams after every menstrual period is key factor in your fight against breast cancer.

As I signed those papers amidst hysterical laughter, my doctor told the nurse to book a psych appointment (she thought I was mad) who wouldn’t?

 

December 2016; after battling with cancer for more than 5 years, I had my surgery. The miracle I had expected never happened. I am now boobless or breastless or in simpler terms; boy-girl.

I carry my flat chest with pride because what can a girl do. No! my breasts can’t grow again, as many have asked this question.

One of the reasons I am boobless today is because I was careless. I did not pay attention to the signs my body was giving me.

 

Of the great ways to avoiding breast cancer is a regular checkup, self-breast exams and screening.

Another way is to talk!!!!!!!!

Do not hide your problems because prayers alone can’t cure a disease; as I learnt my mother gave her cancer to the lord to cure.

Breast cancer is not diabolical; it could be genetically acquired.

This is October, a month dedicated to the killer; breast cancer.

Come out in your troops and support this course, this could be your sister, cousin, mother or wife. It affects us all.

Breast cancer as it is doesn’t affect only women, men are also susceptible to the disease.

Let’s all be aware and share!

This is a fictional story, but I’m sure someone somewhere has gone through this.

Model: officialhaddie on Instagram

Writer: Aramide on Instagram

 

Thank you so much for reading, don’t forget to use the share button for others to read.  New to my space? Then here is something for you.

 

 

Soaked In Love

❤❤❤

Meedah!