Tina Pisco: What I learned from my cancer journey

I’ve spent all morning waiting for a friend to call me. Last November, she had a mammogram and was given the all clear. Then last week she was called back. This time she had a mammogram followed by a biopsy. Today she is getting her results.

This mirrored my own journey.

I had always feared getting a mammogram. This was largely due to my mother who had always described her experience of mammograms as horrific. I had managed to avoid them by getting an ultrasound instead.

However, back in 2022 my GP pushed aside my reservations and said that it was about time I had one. So off to the Orchid Centre at CUH I went, expecting to be subjected to a form of medieval torture.

Not only was the Orchid Centre far from a medieval torture chamber, but the actual “torture” could only be described as “mild discomfort”.

I was given the all clear.

Then, a few months later I was called back. They wanted to follow up on a shadow that was probably due to an error. This time I went in with no trepidation. It was easy- peasy. I was again told that everything was fine and that they would see me again in one year.

I was therefore surprised to be called in for a third mammogram in February, 2023. In fact, I even called CUH and told them that it was probably a mistake. No mistake. They wanted to check up on that pesky little shadow again.

This time they not only did a mammogram, but they also took a biopsy. That was the first time it occurred to me that I might have breast cancer.

I was lucky. The tumour was very small. The signal lymph nodes were clear. The prognosis was excellent. I was lucky not to have to have chemotherapy. I was lucky that I only needed a lumpectomy to remove the tumour (I ended up having two.) I was in and out on the same day. I took well to both surgeries and the seven weeks of radiation. Not so well to the hormone therapy. Overall, it wasn’t too bad. I am grateful for that.

As I waited for my friend to call, I tried to what I had done to make my experience what I like to call ‘Cancer Light’.

What had I learned?

If I had to choose the number one thing that helped, it was that I made my body the main priority.

I listened to it. I did not push myself. If I was tired, I had a rest. If I did not feel up to going out, I cancelled. I took lots of naps.

I usually eat a healthy Mediterranean diet, so not much change there. I did, however, indulge in regular treats. I felt that my body needed not only to be cared for, but cosseted.

The second most important thing I did was watch out for my mental health. That meant not isolating myself but rather meeting up with people and having things to look forward to.

I put my foot down over starting radiation soon after surgery. I knew my body and mind needed a break. I had events, as well as visits from family and old friends to look forward to in the summer and so I took the month of July off and didn’t start radiotherapy until August when I felt stronger.

After four months, I consulted with my GP and stopped the hormones. They only added 2-3% additional protection, and I didn’t think it was worth it at 66 years old.

I also talked to people and discovered that there are a lot of women who have had breast cancer and are doing well now.

According to the Marie Keating foundation, one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. I’m happy that I decided to be very open about my diagnosis, because I met so many women who had been through it. Their stories and stamina really helped to keep me positive.

Most of all. I learnt that convalescence is not a sprint. It’s more of a very slow marathon, with a lot of breaks to rest. My diagnosis was in February. Radiotherapy ended in September, but it was a further six months until I no longer felt tired.

Thankfully, I have two skills which really helped: I love sleeping and I love reading books. Sleeping and reading are great ways to make the time while your body heals. Should that get tedious, there’s always the many delights of digital entertainment.

Visiting with friends is also a great way to the time. One of my best friends lived halfway between CUH and my home. Stopping in for coffee, chats, and treats, made going up and down to Cork every day for radiation therapy actually pleasant.

I took my time, grateful that I could. My to-do lists were small and easily achieved between naps. Plans were kept loose and could be chucked at the last minute.

I believe that it really helped my recovery to have very little pressure to do anything at all.

I know that it could have been very different if I had had a full-time job outside the home or still had small children - or both.

It would not have been as easy to put myself first.

At lunchtime, my friend called me: “It’s not good news,” she said. “I need an operation.” I told her not to worry. She was going to be fine.