HELLO
Frankly speaking, the later one was the main reason I decided to open this blog.
I have had a “routine” of visiting the hospital due to health issues since 2023. I was diagnosed with Tuberculous Pleurisy and underwent treatment for 9 months. During those 9 months, as well as the few months prior, there were some important notes I kept that I will share here from time to time.
Currently, I have just begun the treatment for Stage 2A Breast Cancer. I have undergone a LUMPECTOMY to remove the breast tissue needed to get the tumor on my right breast out, and later a MASTECTOMY (Total Simple Mastectomy) when it was confirmed through Anatomical Pathology that it was a malignant tumor — which required the removal of the entire right breast, nipple, areola, and sentinel lymph node, as well as removal of the breast skin.
The systematic therapy plan to treat my breast cancer is a 2 years of Hormonal Therapy and taking a daily pill for 5 years. Since the treatment should continue until completion of these 2 and 5 years of therapy, I feel the need to write and record some important data — and I think, writing in a blog is the answer. After all, I love writing and story-telling!
Actually, my family suggested I do blogging or even vlogging last year. They always knew I love writing and story-telling, they also knew I have blogs and social media accounts. But, I couldn't do that. The first few months of the treatment for Tuberculous Pleurisy were not easy. It was incredibly challenging, I was suffering mentally and physically. I had been taken to the ER multiple times due to the physical pains I had to endure every single day during those 2 months of having a tube inserted into my chest cavity through Water-sealed Drainage (WSD). I was always crying from muscle spasms as the major side effect and couldn't sleep properly for months. Sitting was painful, let alone walking or sleeping in bed. It was really painful that I also needed wheelchair. The kind of pain that traumatizes me to this day.
Not to mention everything that happened to me before I was diagnosed with Tuberculous Pleurisy was also full of pains; with me struggled to function properly, and there was also concern about the sudden loss of appetite, and I always felt nauseous and vomited — which resulted in 20 kgs of unintentional weight loss in just few weeks, and I also experienced Secondary Amenorrhea for 3 months.
Yes, it was too hard to survive. There were months when I had neither the energy nor the thought to do anything but weekly regular check-up appointments and daily schedule with the home care nurse. Until my aunt knocked some senses into me and my closest friends forced themselves into my life, kind of, so that I couldn't run away from them anymore — I have this habit to alienate myself from everyone in my life when I'm mentally unstable. The saying that illness, while challenging, can be profound source of wisdom was true. I should be grateful I was given the chance to re-evaluate priorities, to renew my appreciation for life and health, to rebuild relationship with parents, and to rekindle my relationship with friends, while I was recovering from Tuberculous Pleurisy. A blessing in disguise, indeed.
Life is still hard. But, at least, I feel physically stronger than the past two years. My appetite has returned to normal. The Hormonal Therapy has no significant side effects, and the medical pill I take is easy to digest too. I only have a monthly regular check-up to take the Hormonal Therapy and get the daily pill, and have doctor's appoinment in between. Even though the time I spend to complete the therapy for Breast Cancer will be a lot longer, still, this is less tiresome now.
In conclusion, I have gained my energy back and I have the will to share my stories.
I learned from what I have been through in 2023-2024 that understanding I am not alone during recovery played a significant role. Those experiences opened new perspective. No matter how knowledgeable I am in this field, there is always more to learn, and the valuable lessons came in the form of shared experience with others.
Telling our stories to others and to fellow patients help us to better understand the diagnoses. There were moments of narratives from fellow patients, especially from those who have been undergoing treatment for a year or more, that brought insights into this journey and helped me to be more prepared; their perseverance, persistence, and patience allowed me to truly realize that I still lacked the willpower — when this determination to push through, to stay strong, to keep my healthy mindset is very much needed for a long-term therapy plan.
I hope that sharing my stories will help my own journey and offer encouragement and support to others who share similar experiences; as I too am receiving plenty of support not only from family and friends, but also from fellow patients.
This post marks the beginning of my stories, my personal journal.
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