Durban - On World Cancer Day IOL spoke to cancer survivor Karen Claesson, a Durban mom who has won the fight against breast cancer. Claesson was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago when she found a lump on her right breast.
“I found a lump on my right breast and I went to the doctor and had to start radiotherapy, I underwent that for 6 weeks I was fortunate that it was over Christmas time because it was exhausting and it always left me tired.”
After the radiotherapy Claesson had to do undergo chemotherapy and she says it was very difficult as it lead her to being exhausted and couldn't stomach food. “My son was 10 years old at the time and I felt guilty that I was being a burden to my family. The hard thing about chemo is that the first hour of it you feel fine and then you feel exhausted.” Claesson was meant to have 6 sessions of chemotherapy but her body was so weak that she only had 5.
She also worried about the fact that the cancer would return and had check ups daily. “Its important to have daily checkups to see if the cancer is really gone also for me you’re not really ever cured of cancer, you’re in remission. During the time I was worried that the chemotherapy wouldn't kill the cancer.”
Claesson added that she wouldn't have made it if her family was not so supportive. “Family is very important if it wasn't for mother and sister I wouldn't have coped. My dad also died of cancer. I was scared that I would also suffer the same fate and leave my 10 year old son alone.”
Despite the bad that came with cancer and the uphill battle that she fought. Claesson says that cancer taught her a very valuable lesson about life and that it empowered her after her battle.
She says before she was sick she was an introvert.
“After the chemo I learnt not to keep things to myself like I used to I promised myself I would make the most of my life because tomorrow is never guaranteed, I am a different person now. I fought hard and I felt guilty that I was being a burden on other people”
Her advice to other cancer patients is “ Never give up, whatever you do never give up. Fight.”
IOL MOJO
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