www.womanthismonth.com October 2019 23 FEATURE | breast cancer awareness therapists supporting the group. Tracey Burrows (a yoga and Ayurveda coach and wellness expert) dedicates her time every Monday morning to offer a wonderful ‘Relaxation and Healing Circle’ class in Saar. It’s a gentle movement class where she teaches us breathing techniques to ease anxiety plus meditations to calm the mind. This wonderful class is open to all ladies who need it and is free. In 2017, Tracey and I set up the Bahrain Breast Cancer Support and Wellness Group Facebook page with inspirational quotes and information about breast cancer, wellness and events. What would be your message to women in general and those facing a recent breast cancer diagnosis in particular? My message to women is to remember that ‘early detection and treatment increases the chances of success and ultimately survival’. I want to shout this from the highest roof top! Therefore, it’s vital that you get your regular mammogram done as recommended by your doctor. Remember, I could not feel or see my lump. The mammogram saved my life! Also, self-check your breasts and armpits monthly, I can’t stress this enough. If you feel any lump, have any discharge from the nipple, dimpling of the skin, a rash or change in appearance of the nipple, contact your doctor straight away. Most lumps are benign. Think Pink has an excellent App for your phone called iCheck and it takes you through all the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and even a tutorial of how to check your breast correctly. Check it out! If you do receive a breast cancer diagnosis, your aim should be to get a treatment plan in place as soon as possible. Take a family member or friend with you to your appointment for support. Often the information given is too much to take in when you are worried. Write a list of questions to ask your doctor, such as: ‘What side effects will I get from the treatment?’ and ’Is there anything I can do to help the treatment work better?’ Another thing to point out is the importance, certainly for expats, of health insurance. A friend was recently forced to return to her home country for treatment having discovered the cost of chemotherapy here would be tens of thousands of dinars. How do you feel moving forward? My life – and my family’s – was turned upside down when I first received my diagnosis and my life isn’t the same as it was before. My priorities changed and I remember writing a bucket list – afraid that I might not be able to accomplish it. Time seemed so much more precious and I felt gratitude like I have never done before. I have found a greater appreciation for the little things in life, like the smell of the flowers in my garden, the sounds of the birds and, especially, dancing to music at my NIA class – this is my ‘therapy’. I don’t take things for granted. I try to live life to the full and love to plan holidays. I have learnt to say no and put myself first more than I ever used to. And I surround myself with positive people. I try to make healthy choices, exercise five times a week, meditate and practise breathing techniques which helps me in times of stress. I have learnt that life is precious and I have found an inner strength that I never knew existed before cancer. I am happy with the ‘new’ me and try to live each day with intention and a smile on my face! The radiotherapy left my skin red and quite raw; it felt sunburnt. I was advised to use a gentle unperfumed cleanser (organic if possible and paraben free) to avoid irritating the skin further. I bought a pure (98 per cent) aloe vera gel too, which I applied to the sore areas to soothe my skin. I avoided swimming pools and any extremes of temperature and always wore cotton next to my skin. Luckily the side effects lasted just a couple of weeks. I do have some thickening of the skin on the side which received radiotherapy. My body tolerated Tamoxifen well, although I did have some mild aches and pains and hot flushes. I kept a cold flannel in a small cool box beside my bed to apply to my forehead when I felt a hot flush occurring. I also bought a small hand fan which I took everywhere and was even seen with my hands in an ice bucket to try and cool myself down! Treatment Tips Please reach out to Joanne if you need any further information about the Bahrain Breast Cancer Support Group: 39 567-322.
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