Marila Cuhna, Brazil

My experience with breast cancer

My name is Marília Cunha Gomes. I'm 42 years old. I'm married and have two children. When I discovered the disease, I was 35 and the children were small. This happened in 2017. Receiving such a diagnosis is very difficult. I noticed something wrong with my breasts through self-examination. 

I sought medical help and soon tests were carried out along with a biopsy, which confirmed my medical suspicions. I was referred to the AC Camargo Hospital, a Cancer Center in São Paulo, a reference in the treatment of breast cancer. I had to undergo two surgeries in the space of 40 days. In the second surgery, the doctors opted for an Aden mastectomy to remove the breast. I had 2 types of chemotherapy, following a protocol of 4 red chemotherapies and 12 white chemotherapies. 

Those were difficult days. Some days I didn't feel up to it, I felt sick, very tired, and I was visibly down because of the hair loss and the changes caused by the side effects. But thank God everything passes! The treatment was a success and I'm here free and cured. 

The support of family, friends, the medical team and, above all, faith in God were essential in overcoming this disease. The important thing is to have faith and believe in the healing process! A diagnosis is not a death sentence. 

Good luck to everyone who is facing this fight!