ITW n°81: Laure Anne - K colon fighter.
Hello,
today, the bubbly Laure-Anne, 30 years old, inveterately positive, even a little hyperactive on the edges hihi, whose secret weapon is unfailing humor, tells us about her fight against a K of the colon discovered in September 2014.
With lightness, but also great sincerity, we discover the fight of a young woman who enjoys life, full of love to give and receive. Since all this, Laure-Anne has even created her “jokes” blog, on which she also talks about her fight, which can be discovered here! , she makes it clear that “it’s my humor, I assume!”
Great discovery.
Let's get started:
Who are you ?
First name: Laure-Anne
Age: 30 years old
Profession: what comes to hand
Where do you live: for a month, with my lover :D (in Rennes)
Why do you agree to share your story today?
my “2nd announcement” of remission has just come, and I feel the need to share what I have just experienced. And then I just discovered this blog, the testimonials are super enriching! It feels good to feel less alone in this situation. If it helps, that's coooooooool.
What are your qualities (in a few words)?
tenacious, strong, cheerful (from what others say). And when faced with cancer, I believe that one of my qualities was to succeed in speaking about it frankly and in complete freedom.
What are your passions (in a few words)?
Dancing, tinkering, laughing (a lot) and then discovering others.
What K (what cancer - grade if you wish / stage ditto):
September 2014: stage 3 sigmoid colon cancer, only one lymph node affected, then August 2015: metastases to the peritoneum
When was it discovered? How old were you ?
September 4, 2014, I was 28 years old
Under what circumstances was it discovered?
Pain in the ovaries in December 2013. On ultrasound, I was diagnosed with sigmoiditis. “Nothing to do with cancer” the emergency doctor assured me. I was treated for that, except that relapse after a month = colonoscopy, but only in September, because doctors are also entitled to vacation... Announcement in the recovery room... yay.... For metastases, it's a message on my answering machine asking me to go for an emergency MRI 10 days after the first control scan.
If you are currently undergoing treatment, or in remission (for how long?)
being processed
Can you summarize your (K fighter) story for us ?
It's the story of a fight, and ultimately, it's above all a beautiful story with lots of love in it. We can only hope it ends well... The rest, I already tell it before and after, all you have to do is read ;)
What treatment did you have?
chemo: if you have had it: (name of cocktails / number of sessions)
12 sessions of Folfox (5FU + oxaliplatin) every 2 weeks October 2014-April 2015. These are chemos with a diffuser that you keep at home for 48 hours.
12 from Folfiri (5FU + irinotecan) 6 every 2 weeks between August and November 2015, and then 6 others between January and March 2015, broadcaster too. A few cures, I was treated to Avastin too.
No rays
operations:
A first surgery to remove the sigmoid, and an ovary + tube and piece of uterus. 10 days in hospital.
A 2nd surgery to remove pieces of peritoneum and the other ovary and the other fallopian tube. Oh then, by the way, they made a basin with my stomach, and they filled it with 5FU + Oxali + Irini heated for a good half hour. 10 days in hospital.
other:
I had time to do fertility preservation before the first chemo treatments, and the PAC installation. 3 eggs in the freezer isn't great, but it's better than nothing???
What tips directly related to K do you want to share?
(your feeling with the doctor, your good treatment organization plans, anything that seems useful to you ;))?
Giving doctors nicknames is fun!
1/ chemo: (ex: your tips, the helmet, your affinities with nurses):
Exchanging jokes with as many people as possible (on my phone when I'm alone for my chemo treatments => I had a friend who prepared jokes in advance) Go with someone. In my case, my parents or my boyfriend most often. We went there with games and picnics, because the meals were always the same in the service and it wasn't very good.
How did you live the day before, the day itself, the days after chemo?
and what were your tips?
generally the day before, I was fine, the day of the hospital, I was completely knocked out, and then during the 48 hours that my chemos lasted. No way to swallow a sip of water, and with every movement, vomit. (the first vomit, the only thing I found to say was “chui super happy”). As soon as they were taken off, I got back into shape quite quickly. I tried to make mini projects for the following days, to give me energy. I arranged with my oncologist so that chemo would be a day that would allow me to continue my “extra-cancerous” activities. The days before chemo, I had percussion or African dance classes, it's a blast. And then when possible, always have someone at home. My parents and my boyfriend made arrangements and it was very reassuring and calming for me to know they were there.
2/ hospital: (e.g. contact with nurses / doc / caregivers):
For chemo: It was boring, honestly, but some nurses were really attentive and for my last chemo, I ended up having a lot of tips to make it go better.
For the first surgery, I met a great sophrologist who helped me a lot, the staff felt sorry for me, it was a bit annoying. For the 2nd surgery, it was for cancer, and it was great. The entire healthcare team was really helpful, present, perfect!
3/ “parallel” medicine, if you have done it (what disciplines, what were their benefits):
The first time a little naturopathy, and then for the recurrence I went all out, ketogenic diet (basically only fat, to be done with medical advice/monitoring!!!) + great cure of food supplements of all kinds to be in shape and fight against illness + sophrology + visualization of my body eradicating illness + yoga and relaxation at La Ligue + magnetizer. I've only been on the magnetizer for the last few treatments, and the effect has been spectacular: no more hair loss, much less nausea and much more energy.
For the rest: my form + my blood test results amazed some doctors…
What did you do to clear your mind/clear your head (before chemo, surgery & co)?
I am very involved in associations that have nothing to do with cancer, I have taken up sewing, origami, cardboard furniture, etc. In short, keep my head and hands busy at the same time. And then recharge my batteries in nature.
I was also lucky enough to be able to work part-time, so there was no time to think about tomorrow.
And then to calm myself down, EFT (release of emotions) and relaxation.
What practical “well-being/beauty” tips can you advise us?
1/ beauty:
a little cicalfate for scars
2/ look, (e.g. your favorite chemo, hospital, every day look to feel good):
old jeans and sweatshirt on chemo days, more feminine right after.
3/ daily (e.g. sport, food & co, meditation, reading, etc.)
Relaxation, meditation, ketogenic diet, and as much physical activity as possible, depending on physical state and state of mind, that goes without saying. And always have a beautiful bouquet of flowers at home during chemo. Go to appointments with the oncologist accompanied.
4/ hair problem (eg: did you wear a wig, scarves, hats)
Nothing. I went to see my amazing hairdresser, who cut me in such a way as to hide the holes when they appeared. When there wasn't much left, it was post-op, so I didn't care. And then I always wore hats and beanies so that was enough, and it was winter, so perfect. (A special thank you to the volunteer knitters who donate hats, I have received nothing but compliments and very warm hearts!) And now, short haircut (thank you great hairdresser) which finally gets me a whole bunch of compliments.
Are you concerned about the views of others, were you afraid that their views would change? What did you do to counter it?
I continued to live as before. Some people are still uncomfortable, but ultimately, that's their problem, not mine. I constantly make jokes about cancer, to cheer some people up a little about it. Sometimes it makes you laugh, sometimes it scares you away.
What are the “nugget”/footed phrases (that you remember) that someone said to you during K and that you could have avoided?
a very nice one was from the nurse after the first operation. Since I had a piece of my colon removed, the issue of gas and stools is recurrent, but professional. There, holding my hand “how glad I am that you pooped” (she was coming for painkillers, and she managed to squeeze that out of me, and forget to turn the pump on)
And then, right in the “steps” to do fertility preservation. I have blood work for every possible STD being analyzed, and I have to do it every day to track ovulation. Remark from the laboratory technician which pokes me “but have you already had syphilis? It is in relation to the samples that we are analyzing.” It's Saturday morning, I think the weekend is going to be nice... (he didn't have the results yet, and no, I've never had syphilis, but I won't tell you the freak until Monday!! !)
How did your loved ones support you?
by being there. Quite simply. Considerate and loving.
By sending little text messages from time to time, very simple things like “soft kisses” or “morning sun, hug” etc… Simple things, but it’s so good to feel that people think of us when we struggle.
And then some friends had a hard drive where they each put music and films, so that the post-op would go by faster.
And then, at Christmas, 2 and a half weeks after my operation. Usually part of my mother's family spends Christmas in Auvergne. They canceled and rented a huge gîte here (in Brittany) and they ALL came. At 26. Well, there are no words to describe it. And then not long later, my boyfriend prepared a very nice box for me. Inside there were lots of little envelopes with little notes from all my loved ones to encourage me. Just looking at this box full of love gives you strength.
And what advice could you give to loved ones who accompany a K fighter?
Try to “guess” the K fighter’s needs so he doesn’t feel like he’s being assisted all the time asking for help.
And then be normal and continue to talk about your worries. Even if ours are different, it connected me to listen to others (not too much, eh, but sharing your concerns is part of friendship, and it goes both ways)
Did you find out about K on the internet?
I only consulted sites recommended by my doctors/professional advisors, rather things related to cancer than about cancer itself.
If so, what would be the useful (internet) links that helped you during K?
links on EFT to calm anxiety.
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..?)
I judge others a lot less. Everyone has their own scale of values based on their experiences. The importance of an event is the place we give it.
I do more and more of the things that I really enjoy, and I more easily abandon those that fulfill me less. And then, I understood what it was to enjoy every moment.
If I like an activity at a time, I invest myself fully in it. The day things change, well, I'm leaving, you're not essential anywhere, except for yourself.
I eat organic and I'm experimenting with an apartment vegetable garden, (plus it keeps my head and hands busy, and seeing life flourish in your living room, I find it absolutely wonderful)
And then I tell the people I love that I love them. It brings strong emotions, the hairs on my arms stand up just writing it, but it's such a good feeling!
Free field ;)
tell us what you want (which might not be in my questions):
I'm going to end with some anecdotal jokes from my K (it's my humor, I assume :p)
- At the hospital, as a deep and intelligent read, Mom brought me back Glamor. Cool, a little superficiality in this world of brutes will do me good. But uuuuuh. On the horoscope page, should I read Taurus or Cancer?
- “Ultimately, chemo is a bit of a puncture bomb. It explodes in your head, but it keeps you from dying."
- The day the stupid lab technician made me believe I had syphilis, I decided to try my luck at scratch games. I took tic-tac-toe and astro-cancer…
- The day the surgeon told me she wanted to remove my second ovary, it was hard, so to take my mind off things, I went to try on wedding dresses. My parents and my boyfriend were there, we had a really good laugh, and so we have to organize a non-wedding party. :D
And then THANK YOU and love to everyone and especially to some! <3
If Laure Anne's jokes inspire you, visit her blog here!
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Many thanks Laure Anne, for your testimony full of beautiful vibes that feel good.
You can leave comments to Laure Anne, below.
If like her, 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
*Many of you send me your testimonies, thank you for your precious trust, for this same reason, the broadcasts of your interviews will sometimes be broadcast in several months, but know that I keep and transmit absolutely ALL the testimonies that are sent to me , Thank you for understanding.
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 ;)
NEVER GIVE UP!!
Charlotte