My name is Catalina, and I’m a housewife and mother of two from Colombia. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic.
The first time I felt something was wrong, it started with a little lump in my left breast. I also felt tiny prickling sensations that made me worry.
Beyond that, I also saw
- nipple discharge
- redness
- swelling of my breast
I was eventually diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer.
The news made me feel frightened, helpless, nervous, and powerless.
After being diagnosed, I made some personal changes. I started by altering my diet. I made sure to eat healthier every single day, and I exercised more often.
When I was first diagnosed, the doctor laid out a treatment plan for me. They recommended chemo pills. Trusting my doctor's expertise, I decided to follow their recommendations. Furthermore, I also relied on natural supplements to help with my recovery.
When I first decided on the treatment plan, I was surprisingly happy, relieved, motivated and hopeful.
Right now, I’m in remission, but I still take medication to help with pain.
Thankfully, I didn't experience major side effects from the treatment. However, the financial burden was there. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed in 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. There were shortages, and because of that, we didn't have enough money.
After treatment, I still make it a point to eat healthier every single day.
Since my diagnosis, my relationships with my family haven’t really changed. I still go on trips with my children at least a few times a year.
Looking ahead, with my family, I want to travel, share the word of God, and enjoy quality time together. For myself, I want to preach the word of God, travel, meet my granddaughter, seek more of God and fall more in love with Him.
God has been my biggest motivation and hope, as well as my family. With them, my biggest dream is to share joy with them.
My biggest fear is death. To overcome it, I look to God, that he may give me peace and strength.
Now that time has passed, I feel more confident, and thankful for making it here. I feel a lot more courageous for all that I’ve overcome so far. Rather than fearful and powerless, I feel more neutral towards the disease now.
To others facing cancer, I want to say “Let's seek God more, cling to Him because He is the only one who can give us faith and strength to move forward. Don't let what the doctors say scare you because God has the final word.”
This patient's story is published and shared with their full consent. Any personal data that can be used to identify the patient has been omitted.
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