Interview

Interview Questions
I chose to interview my grandmother Jane Albert because she is a breast cancer survivor and I really look up to her.

1) What was your initial reaction/feeling when you were first diagnosed?

"You don't want to believe it at first. I think there was terror, panic, fear, and I sort of knew in my gut that I had cancer. I was at stage two lobular cancer."

2) what was you husband's initial reaction/feeling when you were diagnosed?

"Papa was very concerned about my well-being and I think he feared being left alone if my cancer took a turn for the worst. But he was very supportive and the cancer didn't change his feelings towards me at all"

3) How did you deal with the stress of chemotherapy?

"I felt I had a plus dealing with the chemo because I went through it with Papa before hand. I felt like I was on the outside looking in, waiting for an answer. I also felt nauseated and tired a lot."

4) What was the toughest part of dealing with cancer?

"I think the toughest part is never really knowing if it's all gone. cancer is a very sneaky disease and i had to come to terms with whatever happens, happens."

5) How has being a cancer survivor changed your life?

"You learn to take one day at a time and it puts your life into perspective. It helps you realize what's really important to you and what or who you care about."

6) Is there any family history of cancer?

"Yes but not breast cancer, I was a first."

7) Did or has anyone change(d) the way they treat(ed) you since your diagnoses?

"Not that I'm aware of...we were definitely a lot freer with hugs and if my friends knew they would hover trying to help."

8) How did you feel after your first round of chemo treatment?

"Uh wow...there weren't a lot of side-effects, I was very fortunate. I found though, that people who have had chemo, tend to keep talking about it, that's called 'chemo-brain'"

9) Did you have a hard time deciding to get the double mastectomy?

"Absolutely not. Once the nurse told me what type of cancer I had, I knew I had to have both breasts removed. I basically said 'here! Take 'em!'"

10) Do you feel like less of a woman or fell less feminine since your double mastectomy?

"you know, if I wanted to sit back and feel sorry for myself, then yes but those days are few and far between. The way I pictured it, I had two options: loose the breasts or die."

11) Did you ever just want to give up the fight? If yes, what kept you going?

"Yeah, I did but the things that kept me going were You and Shayna. I wanted to see you guys grow-up, graduate and become mature young women. I decided that cancer wasn't going to beat me, I was going to beat it!"

12) How long, If it is, has it been in recession?

"I am happy to say it's been five years."

13) Were there any kind of support groups?

"Yes. There was one support group I went to before my surgery and there were quite a few afterwards. Some stories were just so sad, I had a hard time going back."

14) Who helped you get through the tough parts the most?

"I would have to say my mentor Pam. She helped me understand what was going to happen during my war with cancer."

15) Were there any activities you did to get your mind off the chemo and cancer?

"You know what we actually sold our house, started packing to move, my mother got sick and passed away. About a year later, I almost hit a sort of depression because all those emotions hit me all at once."

16) How did you deal with loosing your hair?

"At first, I don't know why, I really hated everyone seeing it. then towards the end showers were great! No hair to wash! Ha ha ha. i really worried though that I had scared you and your sister the first time you came over and I didn't have anything on my head! But then you guys called my and told me that it didn't bother you at all and that...boy...that was just...awesome."

17) How long were you in the hospital?

"I was actually in one morning, out the next! However, that was my first experience with a surgery that was that intense. I'd had my feet operated on but nothing like this...whoa...that was a trip to remember."

18) What was the procedure for your double mastectomy?

"The doctor was very good. she just said that the breasts would be removed and I would have stitches, not staples an no serious discomfort. Though when the nerves started coming back, anything that touched my chest felt like little bugs crawling under my skin."

19) Were there any significant side-effects after your final chemo treatment besides hair loss and your double mastectomy?

"Not really, I did get some nasty sores inside my mouth and i also had no taste at all! but that was at the end and temporary. I did have a reaction to the medication during chemo though. I thought i was having a heart-attack!"

20) Do you view yourself as a stronger, more empowered person now, after surviving breast cancer?

"Yes. There is always this feeling of 'I can do it! I beat cancer!' I did think about reconstructive surgery but I decided I didn't need it. It was a painful process and you can't just get it and 'BOOM' it's done. They insert a plastic pouch and saline to stretch the skin and they do that until your skin is stretchy enough to get an implant.