Rozā vilciena labdarības fonds - Testimonials

Letter from our patient Natalja

Wed, 02 May 2018 09:28:00 +0000

Hello!

I want to say a huge thank you to you, the Pink Train Foundation, for the support you provide people who have encountered this terrible disease.

I wanted to write and thank you sooner, but during treatment it was difficult to do so, because during the process I was scared to breathe, live or tell my story, in case any sudden movement or word out of place meant something changing.. the disease returning .. and things getting worse.

But I managed to pull myself together thanks to the support you provided. It gave me the strength to recover, look at the world from a different angle and fully breathe in the Spring air.

My story isn’t just about one person’s life, it’s not just about me. I received my diagnosis while I was pregnant, actually in my last week of pregnancy. At the time I was expecting my first child, and I was 29 years old. In about the 7th month, I felt a lump in my breast, but at the time I thought nothing of it, I was pregnant and my breasts, and the lump, grew bigger, but somewhere deep inside I felt apprehensive, and felt this way in the month until my next doctor’s appointment.

When I told the doctor, in my 8th month, about my suspicions, I was referred for a chest x-ray and, by the time I had it, was in my 40th week of pregnancy.

Everything that followed was a blur. After the x-ray, I was admitted urgently to the oncologist’s clinic, without being told why, because no doubt it’s the oncologist’s job to tell patients their diagnosis. I remember sitting in the waiting room with my huge stomach, waiting for my diagnosis. The hope that the doctor had got it wrong didn’t leave me for a long time. Even until I met with the doctors’ council, I refused to believe that I was sick, very sick, and that I would have to endure all the treatment.

My husband and I decided that we wouldn’t think about the disease until after the meeting with the doctors’ council and everything had been confirmed. Now I realise this was the best decision. Yes, we denied the disease, it was already clear that I was sick, and that it was serious, but we wanted to experience the wonderful moments while our daughter was born, for her to come into the world care free, and with happy parents.

So that’s what happened, even though I was rushed into hospital for an emergency Caesarean and suffered enormous pain subsequently.

But we managed to pull ourselves together and nothing was more important at that moment than our child. Now, looking back, I realise that if I hadn’t had a child at that time, who gave me so much joy, I would have dealt with things differently, more painfully.

The following period was difficult, I started treatment, chemotherapy, had an operation, radiotherapy, I was unable to breastfeed, and ended up in hospital following complications from chemotherapy, unable to see my 2 month old baby, as I was in quarantine.

It was all a very traumatic experience, regardless of the huge support I had from my husband, and the joy I felt each day about my daughter. Only these things helped me move forward and keep fighting.

What I would like to wish for everyone, who experiences this terrible disease, is not to give up, keep fighting, and in order to do so, not only do you need support from loved ones, but also professional support. It helped me immensely to go for counselling, I went when treatment had nearly finished, I wanted to know if I would be okay, would I be able to live on, and how should I do so. Thanks to these sessions, I became reassured and finally came to terms with my disease and started planning for the future.

My physiotherapy sessions also helped a great deal, through them I regained confidence about my body, confidence that I would be able to live on, and move in the same way as before.

None of us know what awaits us tomorrow, whether we will be well or sick, happy or worried. This is why it is important to live, and, where necessary, fight, and appreciate what we have.

Thank you, once again, for giving me this opportunity, which helped me move, live and enjoy life to the full again!

Natalja

A letter from Solvita

Thu, 12 May 2016 06:32:00 +0000

We have received the moving letter below from a patient who has used the services paid for by the Pink Train Foundation. It is always satisfying to receive such letters, as it confirms even more that these services are needed by women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Thank you to Solvita, for sharing with her experience!

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When life seems beautiful, even after 40, when you are living a full, exhilarating life with many emotional and physical activities, with no health complaints, it might seem that nothing can threaten this wonderful existence. Although I had had no complaints, I dutifully went for my annual gynaecological tests, had samples taken to test for cervical cancer and, just as a matter of course, after a break of several years, I also decided to go for a mammogram. This is where my period of stress and fear began – I received the analysis “suspicion of oncology in the right breast…”. It is important at this point to stay calm, think the best and not start to panic without cause. I can say that now, now that I have survived depression… It is easy to think or say that everything will be alright, but the mind has bad thoughts of its own. Unfortunately, I have close experience with this disease as my mother died from breast cancer and of course, this prevented me from looking at the situation optimistically. The lengthy process of examinations, uncertainty and waiting took its toll on my strength and nerves, as it took six months from the first diagnosis of suspicion to an actual full diagnosis. And then I could hardly believe what the doctor was saying – there is no cancer! However, in parallel with this news, I was told that one breast would need removing, as it was full of precancerous microcalcification cells. I had just had one operation to receive this analysis, during which part of the breast was removed. And now this… It was difficult not to lose heart.

The recovery period after both operations within two months was already physically difficult, and now there were new feelings – post-operational emotional distress. I suffered from health problems I had never had before – high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, strong headaches, pain in the back of my neck and hand, the feeling that I would lose consciousness, I had to call for ambulances… Under the care of a neurologist I had several tests and these showed that my nervous system was to blame. I had already spent a lot of money and now I had to find funds for rehabilitation. At my post-operative visit to the surgeon, the nurse Dace suggested that I visit a physiotherapist. I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to afford it, but I was advised to get in touch with the Pink Train Foundation and they helped me by covering these costs!!! Now I regularly visit the physiotherapist and have started to regain more mobility in my arms and shoulders, various pains are gradually subsiding, and my emotional stress is helped by visits to the psychologist, which are also paid for by the Foundation, and now I am on my way to recovering from depression!! I am very grateful to the Pink Train!

And now all I have left to say and to recommend to any other woman who is starting this long struggle after being diagnosed - don't panic too soon as this can cause worse damage to your health than the diagnosis itself in its worst stage, as it renders you weak in your battle with the disease and prolongs and complicates the recovery process. Never lose hope, and have faith that there are no untreatable diseases – only untreatable patients. Allow others to look after you in your hardest times, whether these are your loved ones, the doctors or the Foundation. Everyone in life might encounter a difficult period when the support of those around them proves invaluable.

My story isn’t over yet either – I am awaiting a breast implant operation, but now at least I can look at life more optimistically – through rose-tinted glasses, or rather through the “Pink Train” window, through which the view of life and opportunities is becoming rosier every day!

Yours faithfully,

Solvita

Letter from the patient Inta

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 07:05:00 +0000

The Pink Train Foundation wishes to share the letter below from a patient who has used the services we provide the funds for - to encourage other women with a breast cancer diagnosis to seek help and let them know they are not alone - and also to prove that we are making a difference. Thank you Inta, for sharing your story!

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I was always careful to have regular health checks at the doctor’s - at my visit on 23rd April 2014 everything was fine... but in July I felt a chestnut-sized lump in my armpit. It couldn't be! The following morning my GP sent me to the Oncology Hospital. And in one moment my world was turned upside down. I couldn’t believe just how quickly things would progress but the tests showed that I would need a full treatment programme – chemotherapy, an operation, a mastectomy, followed by further chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Indescribably difficult – the procedures were very severe. I started to feel very tired, and wondered if it was worth the struggle?!

The turning point in my life came when my friend gave me a copy of the magazine Tautas veselība [People’s health] in April 2015, where Zinta Uskale, founder of the Pink Train Foundation told of her persistent struggle with breast cancer and how she, together with her sister and brother’s girlfriend, organises help for women like me, other women in the same situation.

I phoned her for a chat, but it turned out to be a very inspirational and long-term acquaintance with help towards my rehabilitation. With the help of this charity I've had sessions with specialists at the Raivis Arsauskis Physiotherapy Centre with exercises tailored for my specific needs, to help avoid swelling and increase movement in my arms. I am very grateful to physiotherapist Gita Gintere Kikuste.

Time went on, but even though I was exercising and walking a lot, in an attempt to get back to a normal rhythm of life as much as possible, occasionally I was overwhelmed by apathy and I struggled - once again the Pink Train arrived, in the shape of Zinta Uskale who offered to send me to see a psychologist. I had never visited specialists such as this and was sceptical. However, I started having sessions at the Crisis and Consultation Centre Skalbes, with psychologist Zane Avotina, and had 8 sessions in total. They really helped me! I started sleeping better, was less anxious and began looking at the future more optimistically!

I want to experience many more Spring seasons with cherry-blossom, summers with our wonderful celebrations such as Ligo [Midsummer], autumn with its harvests and forest bounties – mushrooms, berries and, of course, winter with the smell of Christmas…

Let us fight for our health and not despair!

Yours faithfully,

Inta