[WID0088] Guest Post by Jentje: My Diagnosis of Breast Cancer (Part 1)

Heads up! This post has two versions: English & Papiamentu. Just keep scrolling to find the second version.

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But before you continue to the reading, let’s first Welcome my lovely cousin Jentje as the new Guest Blogger on Tashmness. The month of October is the month of breast cancer awareness and who better to kickstart the month with than a beautiful woman of faith and a humble survivor of breast cancer. To me personally, Jentje is an amazing example, a great role model and my favourite motivator. I look up to her, I celebrate her, I love her and this month I dedicate all my posts to her. To her and her cause, her purpose and her testimony. Every Monday you will be reading a post written by Jentje herself. Every Wednesday I will either write a reflection on or for other powerwomen, or I will write a recipe with ingredients that promote women’s health. And on Friday we’ll finish the week with Sara’s Women Study of Proverbs. As we sing on Curaçao, “Luna di Òktober, Luna di Flor“ — Month of October, Month of Flowers, may we bring you just that… a month of October full of flowers, grace and splendour.

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I used to check my breasts regularly, but after I had my two children I almost didn’t check anymore. Moreover, I was breastfeeding, which is said to reduce the chances of getting breast cancer.

In January of the year 2023, I felt a lump in my breast, but as I was still breastfeeding I thought it was a mammary gland. In the month of April, I again became conscious of the lump, because it started hurting in that area. I went to my family doctor who immediately sent me in for a mammography, sonogram and a biopsy.

On the 15th of May of the same year, I was diagnosed with phase 3 hormone-sensitive breast cancer. I right away started with chemotherapy, where they informed me that all my hair would fall off from the first treatment on. I decided to shave before I began to.

First of all I needed to get used to my head being shaven and I used to wrap my head wherever I went. Later on little by little I started walking around with my hairless head.

Furthermore, I had the necessity to have a wig for certain occasions, so I decided to contact NINA…

Part 2 will be continued next week, so come back for more!

With Love and Care,
Marilean “Jentje” Rosario

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Mi Diagnósis di Kanser na Pechu (Parti 1)

Antes mi tabata kontrolá mi pechunan regularmente. Pero despues ku mi a haña mi 2 yunan mi no tabata kontrolá kasi mes mas. Mas ahinda debí ku mi tabata duna lechi di pechu, kual ta ser bisá ku ta hasi e chèns pa desaroyá kanser na pechu chikí.

Na yanüari di e aña 2023 mi a sinti un bultu na mi pechu pero komo ku mi tabata duna lechi di pechu ahinda, mi a pensa ku ta trata di un ‘melkklier’. Na luna di Aprel mi a bolbe bira konsiente dje bultu dor ku mi a kuminsa haña doló na e parti aki. Mi a bai mi dòkter di kas kende mesora a mandami hasi mammografie, echo i biopsie.

15 di mei di e aña ey mi a wòrdu diagnostiká ku kanser di pechu ‘hormoongevoelig’ fase 3. Mesora mi a kuminsá ku tratamentu di Chemo kaminda mi a wòrdu informá ku tur mi kabeinan lo kai for di e promé tratamentu. Mi a opta pa pela promé ku mi kuminsá ku esaki.

Primeramente mi mester a kustumá ku mi kabes ta bashí i mi tabata mara mi kabes pa bai tur kaminda. Despues tiki tiki mi a kuminsá kana kumi kabes limpi.

Debí kumi tabata tin e nesesidat di tin un peluka pa sierto okashonnan, mi a disidí aserká NINA…

Parti dos lo kontinuá otro siman, pues bin bek pa mas!

Ku Amor i Kariño,