On Tuesday, June 10, 2014, we were excited to spend a few minutes interviewing the American
Language Center Director, Ms. Kathy Lance about her experience and survival of having breast
cancer. After introducing ourselves, Ms. Lance invited us to have a seat.
Ghizlane: When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?
Kathy: It was about one year before I came to Morocco. I was offered a job in Yemen. But, as part of this job, I had to have some medical tests. So, I went to my doctor, gave him my form, and he said, “Ok, well, I don't know what these are, but I know this one, so we can do this one.” So, we did a mammogram. A mammogram is like an x-ray that is for your breasts. So, I had this done. And I was waiting, waiting, and waiting. And he said, “I see a problem. You must go to the hospital for a biopsy. ” A biopsy is when the doctor takes a small sample of tissues from your body to test it. So, it was about nine years ago.
Chaimae: How did you feel the moment you were told that you had a malignant tumor?
Kathy: Umm, I think I didn't believe it. I was shocked! But, I had a very good doctor. In fact, he was an excellent doctor. And he said, “Don’t worry it's at a very early stage.” I wasn't afraid, but I was very surprised.
Ghizlane: Did you receive your treatment in Yemen?
Kathy: No, I was living in Slovenia at that time. Slovenia is part of what it used to be Yugoslavia. It is the part that is right next to Italy. So, I was living and working there. Umm, my doctor was Slovenian, and I had all my treatment there.
Chaimae: Could you describe how you went through the treatment?
Kathy: Yes, sure. First, they sent me to the hospital for a surgery to remove the cancerous cell. I stayed in the hospital for 3 or 4 days. The hospital food was horrible. It was full of salt. They gave me a lot of salty soup. But they were very nice, very professional. And my husband would come and visit me. One day, all of my students came to visit me. So, I stayed for about one week in the hospital. This was in the very end of November and the beginning of December. Then, the doctor told me that after the surgery, I had to have a second treatment.
Depending on how serious your cancer is, there are two types of treatment. If the cancer is not very serious, like mine was, you have radiation treatment. I had it every day, except for the weekends. I had thirty treatments. If you have a more serious cancer, you have to have chemotherapy. This is when they inject chemicals, and you start to lose your hair.
Ghizlane: How has your life changed since you were diagnosed with breast cancer?
Kathy: It's very interesting when something happens to you that could cause your death; your life starts to change. For example, now, if someone wants me to do something that I don't want to do, I say 'no'. I only have a limited time to live. I'm not going to spend my time doing things I don't want to do. It also makes me think that if there is something that I really want to do, even if it's difficult or expensive, then I should really try to do it. You shouldn't pull back, and say later; I can do it some other time or when I am older. No, you want to do it, do it and go for it. You look at people in a different way. If I have somebody I like, then I really want to spend time with that person, get to know that person better. But if someone that is not so nice, I don't have to spend time with you.
Chaimae: As the director of the A.L.C., how has this disease affected your professional life?
Kathy: Not at all. I was very lucky because I finished all of my treatment before I came here. Now, I'm fine. Thank God.
Ghizlane: As a breast cancer survivor, what is the main lesson that you have learned from this experience?
Kathy: It's interesting that once I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I met a whole lot of people. People I had already known, but didn't know that they had had breast cancer. My sister-in-law, colleagues and friends. Why suddenly is this becoming widespread? Is it something in the air? Is it something in the water? Is it something in our food? What is causing this? It makes me wonder why it is happening now. Is it that women are more aware of it? There was no place in my town to have the radiation therapy, so I had to travel from my town to the capital of the country every day. I wasn't very far. It was about one and a half hours to go, and one and a half hours to come back. The treatment was 3 minutes. It was exhausting. I was very lucky because my husband would drive me every day. One day he couldn't drive me. So, a friend of mine drove me. That was scarier than having the doctor saying you have cancer. She didn't look at the road. I didn't work at that time. Radiation affects people in different ways. I had a friend, who had a radiation treatment, and she would drive to the hospital, and then go to work, and everything was fine. I had another friend who was like me. I would go for the radiation therapy and feel really tired. So, I didn't work for a month. Everybody said “Kathy, you're so brave” and I said “Well, they found it very early; the treatment was not terrible. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't awful. If this is what God had in store for me, this is what it was. I had to accept whatever happened to me.”
Chaimae: What would you say to hopeless women who are suffering from breast cancer?
Kathy: Well, number one: I think it's very important for all women to examine their own breasts and look for lumps every month. Number two : not to be afraid if you find something, but go immediately to a doctor. Things have changed. The treatment is much better now than how it used to be. Now, if you have breast cancer, it doesn't mean that you're going to die. I would hate to see other women saying “Oh, I'm going to have my breast removed because maybe I'll have cancer.” Now, it's possible that you might have it, but you can still live your life. I was very lucky. I had a very good support system. I had my husband with me; I had good friends, and a great doctor. I was very lucky because if I wasn't offered that job in Yemen, I might have been dead, now.
Ghizlane and Chaimae
Writing Club
Language Center Director, Ms. Kathy Lance about her experience and survival of having breast
cancer. After introducing ourselves, Ms. Lance invited us to have a seat.
Ghizlane: When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?
Kathy: It was about one year before I came to Morocco. I was offered a job in Yemen. But, as part of this job, I had to have some medical tests. So, I went to my doctor, gave him my form, and he said, “Ok, well, I don't know what these are, but I know this one, so we can do this one.” So, we did a mammogram. A mammogram is like an x-ray that is for your breasts. So, I had this done. And I was waiting, waiting, and waiting. And he said, “I see a problem. You must go to the hospital for a biopsy. ” A biopsy is when the doctor takes a small sample of tissues from your body to test it. So, it was about nine years ago.
Chaimae: How did you feel the moment you were told that you had a malignant tumor?
Kathy: Umm, I think I didn't believe it. I was shocked! But, I had a very good doctor. In fact, he was an excellent doctor. And he said, “Don’t worry it's at a very early stage.” I wasn't afraid, but I was very surprised.
Ghizlane: Did you receive your treatment in Yemen?
Kathy: No, I was living in Slovenia at that time. Slovenia is part of what it used to be Yugoslavia. It is the part that is right next to Italy. So, I was living and working there. Umm, my doctor was Slovenian, and I had all my treatment there.
Chaimae: Could you describe how you went through the treatment?
Kathy: Yes, sure. First, they sent me to the hospital for a surgery to remove the cancerous cell. I stayed in the hospital for 3 or 4 days. The hospital food was horrible. It was full of salt. They gave me a lot of salty soup. But they were very nice, very professional. And my husband would come and visit me. One day, all of my students came to visit me. So, I stayed for about one week in the hospital. This was in the very end of November and the beginning of December. Then, the doctor told me that after the surgery, I had to have a second treatment.
Depending on how serious your cancer is, there are two types of treatment. If the cancer is not very serious, like mine was, you have radiation treatment. I had it every day, except for the weekends. I had thirty treatments. If you have a more serious cancer, you have to have chemotherapy. This is when they inject chemicals, and you start to lose your hair.
Ghizlane: How has your life changed since you were diagnosed with breast cancer?
Kathy: It's very interesting when something happens to you that could cause your death; your life starts to change. For example, now, if someone wants me to do something that I don't want to do, I say 'no'. I only have a limited time to live. I'm not going to spend my time doing things I don't want to do. It also makes me think that if there is something that I really want to do, even if it's difficult or expensive, then I should really try to do it. You shouldn't pull back, and say later; I can do it some other time or when I am older. No, you want to do it, do it and go for it. You look at people in a different way. If I have somebody I like, then I really want to spend time with that person, get to know that person better. But if someone that is not so nice, I don't have to spend time with you.
Chaimae: As the director of the A.L.C., how has this disease affected your professional life?
Kathy: Not at all. I was very lucky because I finished all of my treatment before I came here. Now, I'm fine. Thank God.
Ghizlane: As a breast cancer survivor, what is the main lesson that you have learned from this experience?
Kathy: It's interesting that once I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I met a whole lot of people. People I had already known, but didn't know that they had had breast cancer. My sister-in-law, colleagues and friends. Why suddenly is this becoming widespread? Is it something in the air? Is it something in the water? Is it something in our food? What is causing this? It makes me wonder why it is happening now. Is it that women are more aware of it? There was no place in my town to have the radiation therapy, so I had to travel from my town to the capital of the country every day. I wasn't very far. It was about one and a half hours to go, and one and a half hours to come back. The treatment was 3 minutes. It was exhausting. I was very lucky because my husband would drive me every day. One day he couldn't drive me. So, a friend of mine drove me. That was scarier than having the doctor saying you have cancer. She didn't look at the road. I didn't work at that time. Radiation affects people in different ways. I had a friend, who had a radiation treatment, and she would drive to the hospital, and then go to work, and everything was fine. I had another friend who was like me. I would go for the radiation therapy and feel really tired. So, I didn't work for a month. Everybody said “Kathy, you're so brave” and I said “Well, they found it very early; the treatment was not terrible. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't awful. If this is what God had in store for me, this is what it was. I had to accept whatever happened to me.”
Chaimae: What would you say to hopeless women who are suffering from breast cancer?
Kathy: Well, number one: I think it's very important for all women to examine their own breasts and look for lumps every month. Number two : not to be afraid if you find something, but go immediately to a doctor. Things have changed. The treatment is much better now than how it used to be. Now, if you have breast cancer, it doesn't mean that you're going to die. I would hate to see other women saying “Oh, I'm going to have my breast removed because maybe I'll have cancer.” Now, it's possible that you might have it, but you can still live your life. I was very lucky. I had a very good support system. I had my husband with me; I had good friends, and a great doctor. I was very lucky because if I wasn't offered that job in Yemen, I might have been dead, now.
Ghizlane and Chaimae
Writing Club