Feride Ayan, 70, who lives in Istanbul, noticed a mass in her breast while doing palpation. Although she suspected that she had breast cancer, she could not go to the hospital for about a month due to her panic attack. Thanks to the support of her doctors and family, the surgery was able to be performed. Saying, "I have learned to think optimistically," Ayan won the battle with cancer.

Feride Ayan, 70, who served as a primary school teacher for 28 years, went to courses after her retirement and had a good time with her friends, children, and grandchildren. When she realized that she had a mass in her breast during palpation while on vacation, her whole world came crashing down around her. She couldn't tell anyone that she had cancer for about 1 month and tried to accept the situation within herself. The family of Ms. Feride, who could not go to the hospital due to her panic attack and fainted even during the blood draw, was the biggest supporter for her. The old woman, who set out to the hospital with her children, shared her fears with the doctors. She said that she did not want to undergo a long treatment process with chemotherapy or radiotherapy and requested that her entire breast with tumor be removed. After the surgical operation by Yeditepe University Hospitals General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kinyas Kartal regained her health with the psychological support of her doctors and family.

They Did the Biopsy Holding My Hands

Stating that her pain threshold is very low, she is very afraid of going to the hospital and she faints even during the smallest procedure, 70-year-old Ayan said, “When I went to the examination, I told my doctor about my fears. They said to let us do an ultrasound right away. After the ultrasound, I was also very nervous during the biopsy. So much so that they did the biopsy holding my hands. In all other processes, everyone around me gave great support to me. It helped me easily get through the hard times.”

I Called Out to My Husband and I Said 'I'm Scared'

The old woman, who lost her husband 11 years ago, expressed that she had emotional times when she first learned that she had cancer and told her family. Ayan said, “One evening while lying in bed, I called out to my husband, I said 'Would you hold my hand if you were alive? I am afraid.' I was very afraid, I was really afraid, but I hope I won't be afraid of now on.

 “I've Learned to Think Optimistically, I'm Not Afraid of the Hospital Anymore”

Stating that the doctors were very supportive of her throughout her treatment, Ayan said, “My doctors also taught me not to be afraid and to think optimistically. Every visit to the hospital was a horror for me. I was more afraid of going to the hospital than the disease. Now I am happy when I come here. I am doing fine here.”

It Was So Difficult to Look in The Mirror

Stating that it is very difficult to look in the mirror after deciding to have her breast removed, the old woman gave the following advice to those who are sick and have a fear of hospital:

“They should perform their own hand examinations and have routine check-ups. My fainting at the hospital prevented me from going again. No one should be afraid; my fear is very different. My fear is the white coat. Femininity is a separate art; they should fulfill it.”

She Believed Her Disease Could Be Defeated

Yeditepe University Hospital General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kinyas Kartal, who performed Feride Ayan's surgery, drew attention to the fact that the cancer was caught at an early stage.

Stating that they adapted the treatment to the patient's plans because the patient had fears, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kartal said, “In very early-stage patients, we choose to personalize the treatment according to the patient himself/herself. Ms. Feride was experiencing panic attacks even during the dressing. We told her that it would be too much to remove the breast, but we chose this surgery because she said, "sir, you can treat my cancer, but my psychology is also very important. This is how I will be comfortable; I don't want to get into trouble while coming for the controls." We got used to each other during this process. She believed her disease could be overcome.”

Relapse of the Disease Worsens Under Stress

Expressing that morale is of great importance to the immune system, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kinyas Kartal said, “When the people who do not experience emotional stress or daily stress were examined in comparison, there were even differences in blood values. Therefore, relapse of the disease is worse in individuals under stress. Therefore, individuals whose psychology is more relaxed and who balance their own stress are one step ahead in the next treatment stages.”

“Disease Should Not Precede the Patient”

Saying that the treatment and follow-up of breast cancer, which is seen in one of every 8 women, should be personalized, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kinyas Kartal concluded his words as follows: “Age is an important factor in treatment, but it is also important whether there are other concomitant diseases or not. We successfully completed the surgical part for Ms. Feride. There is no visible tumor left, but since it is a systematic disease, there is of course the possibility of recurrence or spread of the disease at the cellular level. We will try to minimize these risks with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy. Every patient's disease is different. The disease should not precede the patient.”

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