IF positivity was a person, it would be breast cancer survivor, Carol Dijkstra.

It’s been a little over a year since she discovered that she had breast cancer, and thanks to her tough and humorous spirit, her family support system and modern medicine, Dijkstra is in remission and enjoying every moment with her loving family.

She was happy to share her story on World Cancer Day (February 4), keeping with the theme ‘United By Unique’, which highlights that everyone has unique needs, perspectives, and a story to tell; yet, people touched by cancer are united.

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“It’s been exactly a year since I went for my first chemotherapy session,” she told Northglen News on February 1 in an interview at her Parkhill home.

“It’s almost unreal to think that so much has happened in just one year. I felt a lump just above my nipple in January some time … which looked like a bruise to me but I knew better to have it checked out as two of my sisters had cancer,” she said.

Then came a visit to the doctor which confirmed she had stage one breast cancer, followed by a mammogram and then the dreaded words that she had to have a double mastectomy.

“That was what the first surgeon I was referred to told me, but my sister Janice, who is a cancer survivor and marketing and events co-ordinator for PinkDrive, would not hear of it. So off we went to get a second opinion,” she said.

“When the surgeon told me I had to have my breast removed, the first thing I thought of was, how was I going to wear a bathing suit as I was going on a cruise,” laughed Dijkstra.

“I also thought rather it be me than my children or grandchildren,” she added.

Second opinion

The second recommendation was less extreme – remove the lump, then chemotherapy and finally radiation.

“Then I thought, now I’m going to look uneven after removing the lump,” laughed Dijkstra.

After having the lump removed, she went for chemotherapy which used to leave her feeling weak.

Dijkstra didn’t experience nausea with the chemo. After chemo she had to have radiation done and was the first patient to receive treatment from a new radiation machine at Busamed Gateway Hospital.

“I was amazed at how quick it was, five minutes in total. I remember when my sister had to go for radiation, it was a lot longer. All I had to do was lay down in a chamber with my arms up. It was challenging because I am claustrophobic but I closed my eyes the whole time and thought happy thoughts,” she said.

The side-effects from the radiation was that her fingernails and toenails fell off.

“Now I go for herceptin injections which are rather uncomfortable as I have to have a needle in my thigh for five minutes. I’m also on a chemo tablet for the next five years,” she said.

Laughter all the way

Dijkstra says seeing the lighter side to this life-changing event and laughing is what kept her motivated to wake up every day and fight cancer.

“Everyone is going through something in life and it’s never going to be smooth-sailing. It’s been tough for me and my family but we got through it. I lost my hair which has now grown back thicker than before, and curly. I still don’t have much of an appetite and I am so forgetful after the chemo, but I’m alive and grateful to be,” she added.

“For me, having my family around me and sharing a good laugh is what kept me going. We all have a coping mechanism and for me, this is it,” she said.

Dijkstra said her advice to every woman is, do a self examination every day and prioritise getting screened, whether it be a pap smear, mammogram or both.

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