The symptoms began months before. My period stopped at 45, and then there was the mass, it felt like a hard rock inside my breast. I went to a doctor and was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.

When I first heard the diagnosis, I felt fearful. It was like everything hit me all at once—I was frightened, nervous, and worried.

I started paying more attention to my health. I ate a healthier diet three to five days a week. I also noticed that my exercise frequency dropped significantly; I was exercising about half as much as I used to.

Once I was diagnosed, my doctors recommended a treatment plan. They suggested a combination of surgery (mastectomy), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. It was a tough decision, but I went ahead with their recommendation. I never sought a second opinion or considered alternative treatments; I just wanted to get started and fight this thing with everything I had.

Throughout my treatment journey, I felt a mix of emotions. I felt a little angry, but I was still motivated to go through with it. Thankfully, I was finally declared cancer-free in March 2022. For now, I remain in remission, and I’m on hormone therapy.

The side effects from my treatments were no joke. The major ones were hair loss, lymphedema, nausea and vomiting.

Managing these side effects required a lot of effort. I improved my nutrition, trying to eat better to help my body cope with the treatments. I also relied on prescribed medications to manage them.

To make things worse, I faced a lot of financial difficulties while undergoing treatment. I was paying off the debt for the house and paying for household expenses, but I lost my job. It was a huge burden.

After completing my cancer treatment, I continued the habits I adopted during treatment. Eating healthier 3 to 5 times a week became a permanent change in my life. My reduced exercise frequency was also maintained.

After being diagnosed with cancer, the frequency of sexual activity with my partner decreased significantly.

On the flip side, I’ve been contacting my parents more often and spending more time with my children. I’ve also gone for more family trips with my children.

One of my dreams is to travel to countryside places and visit many beautiful little towns in our country with my family. I want us to spend more time together, exploring and enjoying life.

For myself, I want to pay more attention to my personal and emotional well-being. It's about taking the time to care for myself, both inside and out. I shouldn’t leave for tomorrow what I can do today.

My biggest dream with my loved ones is just to enjoy life and spend more time with them.

One of the hardest parts of my cancer journey was dealing with my biggest fear: that the disease would return, in other words, having a relapse. Therapy was my solution. Talking to professionals such as psychologists and psychiatrists really helped.

Today, my emotions are a mixed bag. I still feel fearful at times. I get frightened, helpless, insecure, and nervous. There are days when I feel completely overwhelmed and worried about what the future holds. But at the same time, I also feel optimistic. There’s a part of me that feels courageous, hopeful, and incredibly thankful for the progress I’ve made. It’s a balance between those lingering fears and the hope that keeps me moving forward.

I would tell them to hold on to life and have faith in God, maintain a positive attitude, and believe that everything passes if one follows the treatment to the letter. Family support is very important.