Zagrljaj podrske - Breast Friends

“Nisam mogla da vjerujem da se to meni događa. U mojoj porodici niko nikada nije imao rak dojke, i zaista sam mislila da su doktori pogriješili. Kad sam se konačno pomirila sa tom činjenicom, počela sam djelovati – razgovarala sam sa brojnim doktorima uz pomoć svojih Breast Friends, koji su mi pomogli da razumijem sve što mi doktor govori i da se osjećam slobodno da pitam sva pitanja koja sam htjela da pitam.
Breast Friends vam pomognu da se osjećaš normalno; nisu se prema meni ponašali kao da sam bolesna ili bilo kako drugačija. Kada mi je opala kosa nakon hemoterapije, jedna od tih žena me je nazvala i rekla kako nije zadovoljna svojom novom frizurom. Počela sam da se smijem: Ne mogu ti pomoći oko frizure, jer se ne sjećam ni kako da se počešljam. Ali, shvatila sam da je ona jednostavno zaboravila da nisam kao druge žene i to je za mene bio najveći dar. Puno smo se smijale nakon toga.”
(Erika je društveno aktivna novinarka koja je preboljela rak dojke iz Litvanije)

“Pokušao sam da ostanem pozitivan kroz cijelo ovo iskustvo i da cijelo vrijeme govorim Eriki da je lijepa, jaka i pametna žena. Moja baka je imala rak dojke i sretno je poživjela 25 godina nakon svoje dijagnoze. Podijelio sam bakino iskustvo sa Erikom, da bi i ona mogla da pozitivno gleda na svoju budućnost. Mislim da je jako važno da joj njena porodica i prijatelji pruže svu moguću ljubav, brigu i podršku.”
(Aleksandras je medjunarodni modni stilista i javna ličnost u Litvaniji)

‘I couldn’t believe that it was happening to me. No one in my family had ever suffered from breast cancer, and I honestly thought that the doctors had made a mistake. Once I came to terms with it I started to act – I spoke to many doctors with my several Breast Friends, who helped me understand everything the doctor said, and feel comfortable to ask all the questions I wanted to ask. Breast Friends help you feel normal; they didn’t treat me as if I was sick or different. When I was bald after my chemo one called me and said: ‘‘I have such a terrible haircut.” I began to laugh: I can’t tell you anything about haircuts, because I don’t remember how to comb my hair. But, I understood that she just forgot that I am not like other women and that was the best gift for me. We laughed a lot after that event.’
Erika is a journalist, social activist and breast cancer survivor from Lithuania

“I’ve tried to keep positive throughout this experience and tell Erika all the time that she is a beautiful, strong and clever woman. My grandmother had breast cancer and lived happily for 25 years after her diagnosis. I was able to share her experience with Erika, and help her feel positive about her own future. I think it’s important that her family and friends provide her with all the love, care and support we can.’
Aleksandras is an international fashion designer and public figure in Lithuania

Erika’s and Aleksandras advice:
It’s very important not to feel lonely during this period, and to have a close friend to talk to, to laugh and maybe sometimes to cry with.