To start with, I am from Ghana, West Africa; Adwoa is my name. and age 22. I have decided to share my fight with cancer to encourage and strengthen cancer patients out there. I won’t lie to say it was an easy fight; however, you have no choice but to live. I have two male siblings; I will work and clean the house regularly as a female. A few times, my brothers will assist me.
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It initially started as an occasional cough, then graduated to chronic. I did not pay much attention because I concluded that it was a cold that would fade over time. A few times, I will feel uncomfortable, especially in a public place.
I finally decided to visit the clinic for some checks. The clinic was only a stone’s throw from my school, where I studied BA fashion design. The doctor had few patients to attend to, so I waited for about an hour, and finally I was called to come see her. She smiled at me and asked, “How are you?” I responded, “I am fine; however, I have been coughing lately.”. scans, she ran a lot of tests and two scans, and she said I should come back the next day.
I was early this time at her office when she sat me down and said, “You have malignant growth.”. “Doctor, what does that mean?” I asked. She said it is a kind of growth that has a direct influence on the lymphatic framework. She continued to explain that I will have to be on a treatment plan because the tests and scans show that my life is heading towards a risky and deadly journey. The doctor began first with radiotherapy, followed by chemotherapy. I got worried and sad knowing how many cancer patients had to shave their hair. I told the doctor I would love to think about it. She agreed, I told my parents, and they called my uncle about it. He was somehow financially stable. He told me not to fear and that he would do all he could financially to assist me.
The next day, treatment needs to begin right away. There is no time to waste; the thoughts are ringing in my head. With my Christian background, I said a prayer and believed all would be well. The most difficult and hectic part was dealing with chemotherapy. My whole body would shake, and for the first time in my life, I felt my body was betraying me. Nausea, tiredness, and the most humiliating was hair loss. My friends could no longer recognise me anymore. Each day, I became weaker and weaker after each session. Truth be told, there were times I felt I should give up; the pain and fatigue were unbearable. God being so good, my friends and family were there as my foundation or source of hope.
Nature was where I took most of my consolation. During the day, on my sick bed, I will look out the window and admire the sound of the birds and love for plants. I fell in love with the sun flower; its yellow glow was my constant gaze. smiled night, the moon stared at me while I sighed, knowing someday my hair and skin would glow. My pastor, each morning, will come to my bed at the clinic, share encouraging words with me, and conclude with a prayer of faith. It assured me of life and kept my hope alive.
After the chemotherapy, the next stage, or step, was radiotherapy. Although it was less physically demanding, the set of rules was one thing I struggled to cope with. Due to its daily trips to the clinic, I know more people have to sleep there anymore. The mental exhaustion and isolation during treatment were not fun. Let me paint a picture for you. On many occasions, I will lie still on the bed, a special device or machine humming all around me. Keep being with all this. I keep being loyal to my treatment and concentrating until the end.
One thing that keeps sounding and impressing on my heart is the word “value.” It should be so special to me. way, I began to value life in a very different way, and I felt bad for some words I used years ago when things did not go my way. Learning to take each step one day at a time and being in the present became my mantra. Would I begin to value everything around me, including a smile from a dog that will sit a few metres from the main entrance of the clinic? kept Also, I became conscious of the fact that anything I focused on was possible because my inner strength was what kept me doing it. I began feeling better.
After a few readings, I felt the need to also try, consider, or look into alternative therapies to help me deal with my mental state. Yoga came to mind. find It really helped me find confidence in myself again and look at the brighter side of life. I felt the need to change my diet; it was also a major decision, especially eating more greens (vegetables). Most of our food in Ghana is solely meat-oriented. I would ask myself: How will I be able to accommodate friends when they invite me to programs and decline their food? However, what about the wine? Honestly, these holistic approaches pushed me to the top of my health, in recovery. I changed my eating routine, focusing more on vegetables and fruits. improve, soon my health began to improve and it strengthened even more for taking the right decisions.
I do take tests and scans to enable me to see my improvement. I appreciate the love of my parents, uncle, and loved ones who have been by my side in all my issues. Without them, I can conclude the healing process might prolong. Sharing this story with Healthslope.com is to create awareness about cancer, its symptoms, and possible dangers if urgent care or action is not taken to either begin treatment or find help. Thank you for the opportunity.
