About Liz and her breast....
I wrote about my sister in law, Liz and her fight for cancer last year in August. Since then Liz has gone through chemo, mastectomy and a lot of other stuff that we didn't know about. But what's amazing about her is that she has never shown, at least to us that she's unwell or whether she was feeling uncomfortable. To our eyes, she's fine and really full of life. After one year, a few day's back she sent us an email of her story which I'm sharing here so that we can learn from it. My mantra has always been " Life is good" and I'm glad that she shares the same outlook on life as well.
Avon Cosmetics (M) Sdn Bhd is a company that always organizes breast checks at the office for their associates. I am lucky to be part of this organization that really cares and is passionate against eradicating breast cancer. I’ve never missed any check-up sessions that they’ve held, and no abnormality was ever found.
Over the years, I have had difficulty in breastfeeding my 2 children. At that time it seems great that I could go back to work after confinement without worrying about pumping milk in the office etc. I never suspected that could be a sign of Breast Cancer.
In June 2008, I accidentally bumped my right breast onto my kitchen bar counter and suddenly I felt a big lump on my right breast. My breast and the back of my right shoulder were in deep pain. I waited for 2 weeks as I thought it was my PMS. Being busy with my daily work and event didn’t help. Once my menstrual was over, the lump was still there and the pain kept reoccurring. Avon’s PR Manager made a special appointment for me to go for an immediate check-up. If it was up to me, I would have waited another 2 weeks until my conference in Manila is over. Going early turned out to be my saving grace.
My supportive hubby went with me to my first appointment. I was advised by Dato’ Dr Noor Ashikin to proceed with a mammogram. Was it painful? With the lump, it was really painful! I later went to collect the mammogram result with my very close girlfriend, Zarina. My Breast Surgeon, Dr Azlina Firzah advised me to do a Biopsy as a double confirmation whether it’s cancerous or not. She also cautioned me on the bad signs, should they be there. As a mother, wife and a woman, I cried in front of the doctor and asked her, if there any hope for me to live longer? Her answer was simple. “Early detection may save your life’. If it’s cancer, I am lucky as it’s still in an early stage.
Even though I have an aunt who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer 4 years ago, I still asked God, in my prayers: “Why me? Why me? How much time do I have? My girl is only 4 years and my boy is going to be 1 year old! I even worry, if I go back to God, can my hubby help my daughter if she have her 1st menstrual? Will I see and what should I do to see my 2 lovely children grow up? I prayed to God to give me the strength to face His test.
A week after biopsy, I went to collect the Biopsy result with my lovely hubby, daughter and my mom. The Result: Positive Breast Cancer. Yeah, I saw my mom crying but I remained calm. I couldn’t cry anymore, I’ve done all the crying and fearing the whole week before. My parents wanted me to try alternative treatments, and as a daughter, I obeyed. I also went to seek out 2nd & 3rd opinions in Singapore. Same advice: Mastectomy. A month passed by, no sign of lump shrink. My hubby finally made a firm decision for me to have my Mastectomy in Pantai Medical Centre, Bangsar with Dr Azlina Firzah.
On 4th August 08, the successful operation took 2 hours. I stayed in the hospital for 10 days and celebrated my 36th Birthday there with friends and family. The lump taken out turned to be: DCIS Grade 3, Stage IIA, ER+, PR–, and HER2+.
On 15th September 08, I started my Chemotherapy at PMC. Thank God I do not need to undergo Radiotherapy. 6 cycles Chemo was quite fine to me, but I had all the normal side effects such as hair loss, minimal nausea and black nails. I still went out for Hari Raya shopping. Not much ‘pantang’ as advised by my Oncologist Dr John Low. I decided to always be positive in my fight against the side effects: Hair Loss? I save on shampoo and don’t need to shave my underarms anymore!
Since my cancer cell is HER2+ which is known as the most scary breast cancer cell due to its aggressiveness and known as very tough to kill with normal chemo. Thus, I am still undergoing targeted Herceptin treatment which cost me RM7K per treatment for 16 treatments.
“Money does not matter if I don’t have you anymore.” a simple words from my hubby which made us decided to utilise our EPF savings for this treatment. Just undergone 8 treatments, the EPF account is now exhausted already. I may not complete my treatment and just concentrate with the alternative supplements and most importantly my prayers to God.
I still keep SMS from President of Avon which I received just before I went into OT Room last year: “I want back the Saliza that I know, strong, and excellent asset to us...” Thus, in January 2009, after my 6 months of pro-longed medical leave with full salary paid, I came back to work with a new me. Thank you to Avon Cosmetics (M) Sdn Bhd and my lovely hubby, family members and friends for their continuous support and care. People keep saying that I don’t look like a breast cancer patient. Yes, I am a survivor now. It’s all because of my early detection and action. Now, I only need to watch my diet. I eat healthy food and take all in moderation and do light exercises. I changed my lifestyle and keep reminding myself: “Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick, your family, relative & friends will stay in touch!” I also spend time with Breast Cancer Organization such as BCWA to gain extra support.
This test from God was a reminder to me to have BALANCE in everything. My prayers and my goals now are: I must divide my responsibilities equally as a: Mother, Wife, Daughter, Associate and a Devotee to God. On 4th August 2009, I am celebrating my 1st Year Anniversary of Surviving Breast Cancer. Every morning when I open my eyes, I cry and thank God for giving me 1 more day to appreciate my new life and live it to the fullest. And believe it or not, I am still struggling to balance my prosthesis breast with my left breast. Ha ha ha…
To all women out there, do your Breast Self Examination (BSE) or have regular check-ups with your doctor. Facts are, for every 3 minutes, somewhere around the world, a woman is diagnosed with Breast Cancer. 96% of women who get detected and treated early will survive. Early detection may save live: it saved mine.
Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift! Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good!
Saliza Bt Khalid
37 years old.
Over the years, I have had difficulty in breastfeeding my 2 children. At that time it seems great that I could go back to work after confinement without worrying about pumping milk in the office etc. I never suspected that could be a sign of Breast Cancer.
In June 2008, I accidentally bumped my right breast onto my kitchen bar counter and suddenly I felt a big lump on my right breast. My breast and the back of my right shoulder were in deep pain. I waited for 2 weeks as I thought it was my PMS. Being busy with my daily work and event didn’t help. Once my menstrual was over, the lump was still there and the pain kept reoccurring. Avon’s PR Manager made a special appointment for me to go for an immediate check-up. If it was up to me, I would have waited another 2 weeks until my conference in Manila is over. Going early turned out to be my saving grace.
My supportive hubby went with me to my first appointment. I was advised by Dato’ Dr Noor Ashikin to proceed with a mammogram. Was it painful? With the lump, it was really painful! I later went to collect the mammogram result with my very close girlfriend, Zarina. My Breast Surgeon, Dr Azlina Firzah advised me to do a Biopsy as a double confirmation whether it’s cancerous or not. She also cautioned me on the bad signs, should they be there. As a mother, wife and a woman, I cried in front of the doctor and asked her, if there any hope for me to live longer? Her answer was simple. “Early detection may save your life’. If it’s cancer, I am lucky as it’s still in an early stage.
Even though I have an aunt who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer 4 years ago, I still asked God, in my prayers: “Why me? Why me? How much time do I have? My girl is only 4 years and my boy is going to be 1 year old! I even worry, if I go back to God, can my hubby help my daughter if she have her 1st menstrual? Will I see and what should I do to see my 2 lovely children grow up? I prayed to God to give me the strength to face His test.
A week after biopsy, I went to collect the Biopsy result with my lovely hubby, daughter and my mom. The Result: Positive Breast Cancer. Yeah, I saw my mom crying but I remained calm. I couldn’t cry anymore, I’ve done all the crying and fearing the whole week before. My parents wanted me to try alternative treatments, and as a daughter, I obeyed. I also went to seek out 2nd & 3rd opinions in Singapore. Same advice: Mastectomy. A month passed by, no sign of lump shrink. My hubby finally made a firm decision for me to have my Mastectomy in Pantai Medical Centre, Bangsar with Dr Azlina Firzah.
On 4th August 08, the successful operation took 2 hours. I stayed in the hospital for 10 days and celebrated my 36th Birthday there with friends and family. The lump taken out turned to be: DCIS Grade 3, Stage IIA, ER+, PR–, and HER2+.
On 15th September 08, I started my Chemotherapy at PMC. Thank God I do not need to undergo Radiotherapy. 6 cycles Chemo was quite fine to me, but I had all the normal side effects such as hair loss, minimal nausea and black nails. I still went out for Hari Raya shopping. Not much ‘pantang’ as advised by my Oncologist Dr John Low. I decided to always be positive in my fight against the side effects: Hair Loss? I save on shampoo and don’t need to shave my underarms anymore!
Since my cancer cell is HER2+ which is known as the most scary breast cancer cell due to its aggressiveness and known as very tough to kill with normal chemo. Thus, I am still undergoing targeted Herceptin treatment which cost me RM7K per treatment for 16 treatments.
“Money does not matter if I don’t have you anymore.” a simple words from my hubby which made us decided to utilise our EPF savings for this treatment. Just undergone 8 treatments, the EPF account is now exhausted already. I may not complete my treatment and just concentrate with the alternative supplements and most importantly my prayers to God.
I still keep SMS from President of Avon which I received just before I went into OT Room last year: “I want back the Saliza that I know, strong, and excellent asset to us...” Thus, in January 2009, after my 6 months of pro-longed medical leave with full salary paid, I came back to work with a new me. Thank you to Avon Cosmetics (M) Sdn Bhd and my lovely hubby, family members and friends for their continuous support and care. People keep saying that I don’t look like a breast cancer patient. Yes, I am a survivor now. It’s all because of my early detection and action. Now, I only need to watch my diet. I eat healthy food and take all in moderation and do light exercises. I changed my lifestyle and keep reminding myself: “Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick, your family, relative & friends will stay in touch!” I also spend time with Breast Cancer Organization such as BCWA to gain extra support.
This test from God was a reminder to me to have BALANCE in everything. My prayers and my goals now are: I must divide my responsibilities equally as a: Mother, Wife, Daughter, Associate and a Devotee to God. On 4th August 2009, I am celebrating my 1st Year Anniversary of Surviving Breast Cancer. Every morning when I open my eyes, I cry and thank God for giving me 1 more day to appreciate my new life and live it to the fullest. And believe it or not, I am still struggling to balance my prosthesis breast with my left breast. Ha ha ha…
To all women out there, do your Breast Self Examination (BSE) or have regular check-ups with your doctor. Facts are, for every 3 minutes, somewhere around the world, a woman is diagnosed with Breast Cancer. 96% of women who get detected and treated early will survive. Early detection may save live: it saved mine.
Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift! Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good!
Saliza Bt Khalid
37 years old.
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