Simply Beauty: Breast Cancer Special: A Breast Cancer Survivor Guest Blogs, Breast Cancer Foundation and Shop to support Breast Cancer Campaigns

Christina Tan, 61, a cancer survivor guest blogs at Simply Beauty about her brush with breast cancer and how she overcame the battle with the right decisions and lifestyle changes.

In Dec 2005, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer and Type 2 diabetes two days later. I was 53 back then and I tried to come to terms with the devastating news and understand the treatment plans that the doctors laid out before me.

Breast Cancer Treatments

My only option was to remove the whole left breast as the cancer cells were found very close to the nipple. And this was done along with 14 lymph nodes. With the removal of lymph nodes, I need to be extra careful with my left arm to keep it from developing lymphodermia. (Lymphodermia, the result of impaired flow of the lymphatic system where lymph fluids is not drained or carried away from the tissues and may thus cause localised swelling). And the best way is to consciously avoid carrying heavy objects.

After the mastectomy, I underwent four cycles of chemotherapy over three months (every three week). The chemotherapy treatment left me, weak in the first week, that’s when the immunity drops and I was advised to avoid crowds to minimise viral infection. How weak was I? Fortunately for me, I was strong enough to go for walks and my only side effect was constipation.

I also made changes to my meals to include only egg white, omega-3 rich cod fish, brown rice and lots of greens. I also choose to abstain from sugar and dairy products, which led to a 7kg weight loss over 4 months.

All these changes and five years of hormone therapy later, I am in remission and now I am off medication.

Overcoming Effects Of Chemotherapy

Thankfully, as my condition was discovered early, hence I only had to go through four cycles of chemotherapy after a mastectomy to remove the affected breast. Each session is half a day, so I would usually have lunch before the session, ensure the right drugs are used and end each session with a mug of water before leaving the National Cancer Centre. During the 45-minute intravenous drainage, my favourite Christian songs were my constant companion.

Every chemotherapy drained away my physical strength, but I would still be well enough to eat and walk. However the last session totally drained me out.

After the fourth month, the doctors did a final check to confirm that my condition was suitable enough for me to start on a hormone therapy for the next five years. I took one month of unpaid leave to rest after the four cycles of chemotherapy and before resuming full time work. The hormone therapy has side effects, hence patients have to be aware of the various side effects for the respective drugs, and learn to overcome them.

Keeping Up Appearances

I knew that chemotherapy would leave me with falling hair issues, so I decided to have my head shaved. But before I could do that, I found my hair dropping off in clumps after my first treatment. To keep up appearances, I had three quality wigs that allow the scalp to ‘breathe’, and a number of stylised scarves, which only required me to fix it with a simple knot.

Eating Well

My diet was rather healthy even before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I also used to live a healthy lifestyle and do not smoke, but I was a passive smoker as I worked for a chain smoker who smoked in the office.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, I switched to healthier choices from organic sources, such as organic bread, vegetables and eggs during the four months of chemotherapy, and drank only alkaline water.

At the breast cancer support group, we are encouraged to vary the food we eat so that we can be assured of being well nourished by different nutrients found in the various food sources. Thus, we do not deprive ourselves by dropping any favourite food items from our diet.

Diet during Remission

Right after chemotherapy, I gradually introduced dairy back into my diet, but continue to stay sugar up to this very day. Generally, I cook my own meals whenever possible and have five small meals a day, instead of three square meals.

As the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. So I would consume at least one apple a day and vary between Vitamin C-rich fruits like papaya, strawberries and blueberries, and other fruits that are said to be beneficial for me.

A typical day’s meal

Breakfast

Alternate between oats, low GI bread and yoghurt with three types of seeds like sunflower seeds, chai, pumpkin and flaxseeds

Mid Morning Snack

A small piece of fruit

Lunch

A small portion of carbohydrate, protein (mainly fish, chicken and egg) and a big serving of vegetables (both cooked and raw). I usually make my own salads with homemade dressings

Tea Break

Biscuit or nuts

Pre-Dinner

Another serving of fruit and dinner is usually quite similar to lunch

Fluids

1 to 2 litres of alkaline water daily

Lifestyle Changes

Discipline helped me through the years post-diagnosis even after the breast cancer has gone into remission. I made adjustments to my lifestyle, quit my job to reduce stress, joined support groups to stay connected with those in similar conditions, read regularly and attend seminars for both breast cancer and diabetes to stay informed, exercise daily and keep to a healthy diet. From all the information sieved, I would thus devise a plan to take better care of myself. Today, I remain in the breast cancer support group so that I can offer the same help I had received.

Today my weight is at 48.5 kg with a healthy BMI around 20. This is an immeasurable reward for being focused and disciplined in looking after myself.

Support Groups (family and Breast Cancer Support Groups)

Cancer patients need as much moral and emotional support as they can. Although I am an independent person, I appreciate the ample care and moral support my family and friends gave me, which includes ferrying me to my medical appointments.

After the series of chemotherapy sessions, I joined the Breast Cancer Support Group as soon as I regain physical strength. Eight years after joining Breast Cancer Support Group to offer moral support as a cancer survivor to pay it forward. With the other 60 breast cancer survivors, we meet breast cancer patients at the Breast Cancer Support Group every second Saturday of the month to field their questions on breast cancer and to assure them that they are not facing the ordeal alone. Even with improvements in technology and science, the questions by the patients are similar to those the cancer survivor volunteers once had when they were first diagnosed with the dreaded cancer. By volunteering, I also find that I can keep myself abreast of the latest breakthroughs breast cancer.

Are Diets And Lifestyle Changes Enough?

Life has taught me a valuable lesson through my ordeal in these seven years. Stay positive and look ahead. Of course, my faith has helped me tremendously in the recovery process too. And as a cancer survivor, I have been given a second chance in life, so all the more should I look forward to fulfill my aspirations.

I would like to encourage all survivors/ warriors with chronic conditions to have an inquiring mind on how to take care of your health and take responsibility for yourselves. Stay disciplined and do not dwell in self-pity.

HELP FOR BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

As Breast Cancer Foundation indicates at their website, “breast cancer is curable if detected early”. Subsidised mammography screening is available to Singaporean women or Permanent Residents aged 40 and above at $50 (please check the HPB website for terms and conditions) through BreastScreen Singapore run by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) in conjunction with several polyclinics. Make your appointment through hotline 1800 333 3030. For more information, visit the HPB website at hpb.gov.sg.

If you know of anyone with breast cancer, you can also surf to Breast Cancer Foundation’s website at www.bcf.org.sg/home/index.php for more information or links to the various other related institutions. The non-profit charity organization organises programmes to educate and raise awareness about breast cancer, run support programmes to offer emotional support and information on dealing with the cancer as well as raise funds for the cause.

SHOP AND HELP

If love the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum we featured previously, get the limited edition at a special price and help the cause (details in the image below).

To help the cause indirectly, proceeds from purchases made at any beauty brand under the Estee Lauder Group this month will benefit to Breast Cancer Foundation.

Details of the proceeds that will bless Breast Cancer Foundation: