ITW n°88: Emilie - K fighter (colonist).
Hello,
today the bubbly Emilie, 31 years old, who has been fighting against a K of the colon since last February, gives us her story, far from being banal, with a lively and moving sincerity, this young woman, in a light tone, tells the intrusion of that damn K during her pregnancy... A force of nature, who doesn't mince her words, but speaks about it with dazzling philosophy...
I won't tell you any more, I'll let you discover this amazing young woman, we send you a lot of strength, bright Emilie! Thank you for this life lesson.
Let's get started:
Who are you ?
First name: Emilie
Age: 31
Profession: home help
Where do you live: near Reims
Why do you agree to share your story today?
Because my story is not banal, I don't wish it on anyone but I would have liked to meet or read people at the time when Mister K entered a stage in my life where everything should have been rosy...
Because I also want to share how those close to me manage to support me to help those who don't know how.
Because I would like to show that we can "laugh" at this illness to perhaps swallow the pill better...
What are your qualities (in a few words)?
Positive, smiling and sparkling
What are your passions ?
My 3 year old daughter, helping others and everything that makes life more beautiful!!
What K?
Colon cancer with liver metastases
When was it discovered? How old were you ?
I was about to turn 31 on February 25, 2016, the K word fell on the 29th. I immediately thought of the possibility of this illness because one of my cousins had already been fighting Mister K since June 2015.
In which circumstances ?
I was 4 months pregnant with a little girl, I already have a daughter so being out of breath at that stage just getting dressed: it still seemed strange to me! I went to see my GP who ordered a blood test: what she was looking for was a possible pulmonary embolism. The result is: we suspect this or phlebitis and so begins my journey to the emergency room. First a Doppler ultrasound to check whether there is phlebitis or not then, after almost leaving, a lung scan: there, the emergency doctor discovers “lesions” in the liver. Then followed a liver biopsy, blood test and on February 29, the verdict came: Mister K invited himself to my house...
If you are currently undergoing treatment, or in remission for how long?
On chemo since March 25, every 15 days with relief in June then stopping for 5 weeks due to an operation on September 27, to remove the tumor in my colon!
Can you summarize your story for us?
I am always positive, of course I cry sometimes but mainly because of the loss of my little girl. But I remain positive because if I hadn't had him, I would never have been able to imagine what he was growing inside me. I don't feel any anger towards Mister K. Of course I didn't welcome him with fireworks, but he came so from the start I told myself that it's not him who will have the upper hand, oh no!! With my (excellent) husband, we manage to joke about it today: he teases me about the fact that he looks younger than me (he is 6 years older) so I tell him that with my old K, I am unbeatable! Or, I tell my loved ones that I chose to do this K now because I am young and resistant so I will win and that, for my older years, I will be in great shape and I will make them sweat until the end!
What treatments did you have?
chemo: if you have had it: (name of cocktails / number of sessions)
folfirinox protocol and I leave with a home diffuser for 48 hours, 14 sessions done and 5 more scheduled
radiotherapy: if you have had it: (number of sessions)
operation if you have had one (how long were you hospitalized):
I had colon surgery on September 27, I returned on Monday evening, operated on the next day and was released on Sunday. That's 6 short days.
What tips directly related to K do you want to share?
1/ chemo: (ex: your tips, the helmet, your affinities with nurses):
I've been wearing the helmet since the beginning, I lost my hair especially on the sides but I always kept some. The tip I would like to share is to cut your hair as short as possible to increase the effectiveness of the helmet. I didn't do it right away and I lost some hair and since I shortened it, it hasn't fallen out anymore.
With my oncologist, it’s the perfect match! I did not choose, it was my treating doctor with my gastroenterologist who chose for me with the following criteria: someone human, who listens to their patient. Contract fulfilled because she not only asks me if my treatment is going well but she also cares about my morale!
How did you live the day before, the day itself, the days after chemo? and what were your tips?
So the day before, I was still anxious, but I went to see a hypnotist and it went away in 2 sessions! The same day, I experience the session hour by hour, depending on how I react because in 14 chemos, no two are alike! The next few days, I'm tired. My master word is to listen to myself!
- hospital: (e.g. contact with nurses/doctors/caregivers):
Already, the gynecological service: great, lovely people, a midwife made an impression on me: she was present in gynecology at the end of February and she was also there during my termination of pregnancy, she came to see me during chemo and takes regularly news from my oncologist.
Then my gastroenterologist, really great. He explained the purpose of my gastro-colonoscopy to me well, and he also regularly checks in on me.
My surgeon, same as the gastroenterologist.
The chemotherapy department where I am treated is great: a good atmosphere reigns, the nurses are friendly and manage to adapt to us. The volunteers take care of us.
- alternative medicine if you have done:
I did 2 hypnosis sessions for my anxiety before chemo. And it worked
What do you do to take your mind off things, clear your head?
Before my chemo, I like to be with my family, during it I like to watch films, go around the boxes and talk to people who want to, check on them.
Before my operation, I was stressed to death: well yes, I always say that fighting my illness is like going to Koh Lanta, so my operation was like going orienteering!! So, the Saturday before, I went shopping for an afternoon with my lover!
What are your practical tips (beauty/well-being)?
1/ beauty: your essential products (e.g.: creams, varnishes, scars, oils, etc.)
I don't yet have all the tips regarding products, perhaps apart from shampoo, I use the Bioderma brand, which makes my hair very soft. I also use Elseve hair oil, which doesn't grease the hair but makes it shiny and soft between shampoos.
Concerning beauty: I often wear nail polish and I have never worn as much makeup as since I was sick! And it feels really good
2/ look
Regarding my look, the important thing for me is to feel beautiful. That doesn't change from before because I love clothes! The only thing that may have changed is that I have trouble wearing black!! Lol
3/ daily
I do yoga (I did before my illness) and I do Qi Kong (pronounced chi kong): it's a practice that allows you to fill yourself with good energies and evacuate bad ones.
I also read, I watch series that I don't have time to see. Regarding my diet, I haven't changed. The only thing is that at the beginning, I lost a lot of weight, so I treated myself to little treats!
4/ hair problem
Ah the hair... I had a mid-length bob with a parting on the right side. I switched to the short bob. Then on the right side, I started to lose it so I switched to parting on the left side until it thinned out. Then part in the middle and then I cut it short!
Are you concerned about how others see you? What are you doing to counter it?
Concerned, yes and no. No, because when you go into a pharmacy and you sit down waiting for your turn and an elderly lady looks at you like "another lazy young girl", I don't care because she doesn't know what I can have. I would have answered in case of high reflection! Yes because I definitely don't want people to look at me and say "she must be sick".
So I always go out with makeup, well dressed and I cut my hair short to have a cut worthy of the name!
How do your loved ones support you?
So, my loved ones don't want me to go to chemo alone so they are fighting to accompany me! Lol
Then, one of my sisters-in-law established a little ritual: for every good exam result, I am entitled to a gift. 2 exams, 2 gifts: the first time a pair of shoes and jewelry, the second: a facial, body treatment, beauty of the hands and feet. My in-laws help my husband and me with the housework and my mother does the ironing. My husband does not want help at home and he wanted to manage everything at the start of my illness but this quickly created tensions between us: he has his job, our daughter to manage when I am too tired, even if my fight is also his, I believe he has the right to rest too.
And what advice could you give to your loved ones?
To spouses, I would advise them not to try to manage everything. I can understand you: my husband felt guilty that I was sick, but it quickly created tension between us. He could no longer stand my faults, thought I took him for a lackey. I realize that not everyone has help like me, but you have to try to keep your life "normal" as much as possible even if Mister K turns it upside down.
Concerning the entourage, I will tell you an anecdote. I learn that one of my husband's Parisian cousins is coming to our region, I invite her to eat but she is already taken by another cousin that we have in common. We used to get together from time to time with my sister-in-law as well. And there, everyone was invited except us because they were afraid that I would be tired. We were finally invited but I explained that we shouldn't feel uncomfortable with Mister K, that on the contrary, it makes me feel good to go out and see people between my chemo treatments. One piece of advice is to suggest things to the K fighters and then have the freedom to choose whether to respond favorably or not.
Do you get information on the internet?
I snooped online at the start of the illness but quickly stopped. And then I think I have few questions because the doctors are always attentive and answer my questions well.
If so, what would be the useful links that helped you during K?
So, maybe I haven't been able to find it, but I would have liked a site where tips and products that are good for us are listed.
What has the K changed in your life?
That changes a lot of things. I learned to live day by day, let go, enjoy the simple pleasures of life. I find it hard to listen to people who complain, I can no longer tolerate unhappy people in stores or other public places. There is so much more serious in life! Even me, with Mister K and the way we discovered him, I can tell myself that there is someone more serious than me. Sometimes my husband complains about trifles, I remember saying to him "don't you think there are worse things than that".
Even if it's far from being news, I'm thinking about my recovery and I'm taking this illness as a springboard, I'm thinking of retraining. In what, I don't know, I'll see when the time comes.
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Thank you Emilie, for this superb testimony, this ode to life.
You can leave comments for Emilie below.
If like her, you want to tell your story, your projects 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
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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
