A Fight Between a Believer and Breast Cancer | Who Wins the Battle?
“Cancer is a word, not a sentence.” – John Diamond (Journalist and broadcaster)
A disruption of structure or function in a person, an animal, or a plant is referred to as a disease, particularly when it has a known cause and a recognizable group of symptoms, signs, or structural changes. Let us, however, examine one of these that has an impact on people for the sake of this article. To grow unaffected by any disease is one of every woman’s silent prayers.
Breast cancer is one such illness that every woman dreads. Breast cancer is a condition in which the breast cells develop out of control. It comes in several forms and can start at several points across the breast; the type it develops depends on which breast cells do so. Either through lymph or blood vessels, the disease can spread outside of the breast. The disease is said to have metastasized when it spreads to other body regions.
Photo source: Darina Belonogova
How It Started
Maame Yaa, who was 48 years old at the time, described how the symptoms began as a boil on her left breast in 2009. She visited Ketu South Municipal Hospital in Aflao after a few days, where she was admitted and discharged after three weeks. Six months later, she discovered blood flowing from her nipple when she woke up one day and instantly felt a lump in her breast. She immediately returned to the hospital, where she got treatment through the remainder of that year and into the following year, 2010. It was there she was diagnosed with breast cancer by Dr. Asare. She received a call from her brother while she was in the hospital, informing her about a specialist at the 37 Military Hospital. Dr. Asare then referred her to Dr. Nabil Nuamah at 37.
“My family and friends who knew of my predicament did not leave my side. They supported me financially, emotionally, and spiritually.” – Maame Yaa
Photo source: Klaus Nielsen
Upon her arrival at the 37 Military Hospital, Dr. Nabil Nuamah took her to a private facility for a biopsy, where it was determined that her breast needed to be cut. Maame Yaa visited 37 once more 威而鋼
to schedule a surgical appointment. Although she was aware of the high number of breast cancer fatalities, she maintained hope throughout these trying times as, in her opinion, she heeded and strictly adhered to the doctor’s advice.
“My counsel to anyone going through a similar situation is to listen to their doctor’s advice, adhere to God, and hope for the best.” – Breast Cancer Survivor
Maame Yaa’s Chemotherapy Journey
She underwent surgery on September 30, 2010, her left breast was removed (mastectomy), and then she was admitted for two months. When she returned to the hospital for her first review, she was informed she had to go through chemotherapy which would cause her to lose her hair. Maame Yaa stated that she underwent chemotherapy for six months, and the process involved monthly injections. She continued by saying that there was a time in a month she attended the session and could not drink water after. She remarked that this was the only nightmare she had over the entire period since, in her opinion, if she had gone an extended period without drinking any water, something bad would have happened.
“I did not inform my only daughter and child of my situation then, because she was still a young girl in Senior High School. She loves me a great deal, so I did not want her to go through that pain. I knew I would get better eventually because my God was, is, and will forever remain a miracle-working God.” – Maame Yaa
She returned to 37 for an X-Ray in 2011 many weeks following the chemotherapy. She was discovered to be cancer-cell-free right there and then. Given that Maame Yaa had survived the horrible disease that had claimed many other women’s lives, it was a time of unending joy for her. She eventually won the battle against cancer. She was thankful to God for allowing her to successfully go through the process despite losing her left breast.
The advice from the beautiful vibrant woman, Maame Yaa, to all women going through similar situations is to follow their doctor’s instructions while clinging to God, because in her own words, “God can and will do all things to the glory of His Name”.
Photo source: Tara Winstead
