ITW n°52: Mumu - K fighter.
Hello,
today the bright and smiling Muriel (aka Mumu), 34 years old, tells us about her fight against a K in the Breast discovered last October. Full of life and infinitely generous Muriel is already thinking (while she is in the middle of the battle) of wanting to help other K fighters, with infinite kindness... to exchange she has already created her Facebook page “Mon Crabe Paulo” : to “be able to exchange with people in my situation, in my region or nearby.”
Great discovery!
Let's get started:
Who are you ?
First name: Muriel
Age: 34
Profession: agency correspondent (after-sales service in a REXEL logistics company)
Where do you live: Concriers 41370
Why do you agree to share your story today?
to testify and express my feelings about the illness, the heavy treatment and my feelings. And to be able to help others if they have difficulty speaking, to find ideas….Tell my story which is sometimes not easy….
What are your qualities (in a few words)?
positive, loving, supportive
What are your passions (in a few words)?
my friends, reading, my family
What K (what cancer - grade if you wish / stage ditto):
right breast cancer a K genetic BRCA1 abnormality
When was it discovered? How old were you ?
10/27/15 at 33 years old
Under what circumstances was it discovered?
on self-palpation I immediately felt that this lump was not normal and I acted urgently. Gynecological appointment, then mamo and biopsy and on 01/12/15 verdict a K of the breast size of 1.8 cm.
If you are currently undergoing treatment, or in remission (for how long?)
tumor removed on 11/12/15 and I started my first chemo on 12/02/16… because before collection of 3 oocytes on 08/02/16
Can you summarize your (K fighter) story for us ?
I have always had a sword of Damocles hanging over me, because my paternal grandmother (whom I did not know because she died around 1965) and my paternal aunt had breast cancer. Therefore self-palpation was obvious to me... I often insisted on having a mamo or eco but my gynecologist didn't see the point... we'll wait until you're 40 as he said!! Last year my mother had a ruptured aneurysm and that stressed me out a lot, life has not been kind to me and I think we all carry a certain K triggers it and others stay dormant... for my part it was triggered on 10/27 (the day before my father's birthday) and I think that everything is linked... I am superstitious by nature and this is not trivial because a breast tumor is linked to the mother, the breast... and the 27/10 eve of my father's birthday for the genetic side... I must now move forward and fight this K, from now on I will be monitored... Another test for my family and me. This year I wanted to have children and my partner and I spoke about it directly to the surgeon who was going to operate on me on 11/12/15, he immediately understood and did everything in conjunction with his teams for the future. I was therefore able to benefit from egg freezing in case I was sterile after chemo. So on 08/02 I have 3 eggs in the freezer. It is a hope for my partner and me to say that even if the illness is there we will be able to have the chance to fertilize and give life. Today that’s what motivates me!!!
What treatment did you have?
Chemotherapy: if you have had it:
I start on 02/12/16 so they call it EC x 3 then TAXOTERE x3 I have until the end of May 2016
Radiotherapy:
Certainly after because I still have a curettage to find MY SENTINEL GLANGION
Operation :
Tumorectomy on 11/12/15 my surgeon worked miracles because my breast is not deformed just a 10 cm scar but very well done + installation of the PACK catheter on 01/20 (hospitalization for 1 to 2 days)
Other: egg collection on 02/08/16
What tips directly related to K do you want to share?
(Your feeling with your doctor, your good treatment organization plans, anything that seems useful to you ;))?
1/ chemo: (ex: your tips, the helmet, your affinities with nurses):
do acupuncture sessions to reduce side effects, use an ice bracelet around the wrist to protect the hands
How did you live the day before, the day itself, the days after chemo?
And what were your tips?
stressed while waiting to see but I have an appointment with my acupuncturist to reduce all that and manage my anxiety and side effects.
2/ hospital: (e.g. contact with nurses / doc / caregivers):
Very good, they all pampered me… from start to finish, everything is planned, I just have to show up for the appointment. This is important to me as I am very organized by nature. I even had the right to a relaxing day on the day of my egg retrieval, let me explain: taking medication to numb the pain then arriving in a room with subdued lighting, soft music like in a spa and a nurse by my side to give me a hand... my surgeon for my tumor always had a kind word before my operations, he came to speak to me in the anesthesia room... I was really listened to for my pain and my stress by these teams.
3/ “parallel” medicine, if you have done it (what disciplines, what were their benefits):
Acupuncture helps me manage my stress and she prescribes homeopathic treatments (e.g. for stress: Ignatia Amara in 9 CH)
What do you do to clear your mind/clear your head (before chemo, surgery & co)?
seeing my friends, walking outdoors, reading, writing, a cinema... simple moments with my darling.
What practical “well-being/beauty” tips can you advise us?
1/ beauty: your essential products (e.g.: creams, varnishes, scars, oils, etc.)
the Bioderma or Avène, Evonail ranges…. The standards and I draw a lot of inspiration from the tips of: My Cancer My Femininity My Advice by La Ptits Julie
2/ look, (e.g. your favorite chemo, hospital, every day look to feel good):
Cotton t-shirt and jogging pants, on the other hand, always made up for the feminine side.
3/ daily (e.g. sport, food & co, meditation, reading, etc.)
Eat a balanced diet as much as possible and drink lemon juice every morning. I'm working on breathing exercises and reading a lot, which I didn't have time to do before...
4/ hair problem (eg: did you wear a wig, scarves, hats)
I cut my hair short to prevent hair loss, I invested in a wig, hat, scarf!!! I'll be there if they leave!!!
Are you concerned about the views of others, were you afraid that their views would change? What did you do to counter it?
always keep smiling and put on makeup to look less sick
What are the “nugget”/footed phrases (that you remember) that someone said to you during K and that you could have avoided?
The same for everyone: like:
"It's nothing for your hair, it grows back, you're still beautiful... (that doesn't mean great for me and then cutting my hair is done out of obligation and not by choice!!)"
and then for the children don't worry you will be able to have them you're young... (but damn I'm 34 the clock is ticking and this K prevents me from doing it and what if I'm sterile???) or even we're not going to hide it, it's not a harmless cyst, we're going to remove it and 95% of breast cancers are treatable very well, we're no longer in the 80s... (Except that even if I expected that the announcement was hard!!)
How did your loved ones support you?
Always by my side especially my man my guardian angel who sees me suffer and who told me one day when I had doubts about my appearance: you know after 12 years that I love you from now on I no longer love you for your physique but for your inner beauty which is magnificent ♥♥♥
And what advice could you give to loved ones who accompany a K fighter?
To remain the same as before the illness because we don't need to see pity or stress in their eyes. We just want to be normal because our appointments and lives are turned upside down during this time. Of course sometimes we can be weak but we are the same. Be present but not more than before because too many calls or SMS when things are not going well we sometimes want to be alone. And they don't hesitate to ask questions to the medical teams because we don't think of everything, or to get help from psychologists because it's hard for them too!!
Do you find out about K on the internet?
At first a little but I quickly stopped because we see the worst... I decided to trust my medical team.
If so, does it make you feel good?
Yes
If so, what would be the useful (internet) links that helped you during K?
Social networks and including you MISTER K FIGHTING ♥♥♥
What has the K changed in your life…?
(for example: your vision of the world, your priorities, your essentials, refocusing those around you, in your work, your philosophy..?)
Stop putting things off until tomorrow, live each moment to the fullest with those you love. The work is secondary to no longer taking things so seriously. And above all, think about me and take care of me!!
Free field ;)
tell us what you want (which might not be in my questions):
I would like to be able to interact with people in my situation, in my region or nearby. I created my Facebook page: “Mon Crabe Paulo” for these exchanges. And when I have finished with this K I would like to be able to help those like us who have a K and who have little or no finance to buy products or accessories because they are expensive, whether in France or abroad. For the moment I am devoting myself to myself and then as soon as I get over it or make progress with this illness, I will find out if such associations exist and why not create a chain of donations….
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Thank you Luminous Mumu for your generosity, your kindness, we are sending you lots of ultra-boosting strength!
If like Muriel you want to tell your story and share your tips, go here , send me your questionnaire and 1 photo of yourself so that I can draw you ;) to: interview@mister-k-fighting-kit.com
Please note that I do not retouch any Interview, they are completely free, it is your freedom, your story, I just add my personal touch with the illustration, they are delivered as they were sent to me ;)
Lots of beautiful positive thoughts to everyone!!
@ very quickly
Charlotte
