Ingrid, Brazil

Quando recebi o diagnóstico de câncer, senti um misto de vergonha e fraqueza, decidi contar apenas para minha família, até entender melhor o que estava acontecendo e qual tratamento precisaria.  Foi uma jornada difícil, mas felizmente tive muita esperança que a cura era possível, e comecei a planejar as semanas e meses, mirando o dia em que teria terminado o tratamento e estaria CURADA.  O que foi fundamental para me sentir empoderada foi 1) confiar nos  médicos e profissionais que estavam cuidando de mim, sem ficar buscando muitas informacoes na internet e 2) mais importante, me sentir amada, a rede de apoio na familia, todo o carinho e presença deles na minha vida. Uma outra coisa que me ajudou a manter a positividade e sentimento de que a vida continuava, apesar do cancer, foi continuar trabalhando. Nessa época eu trabalhava como Gerente de Produto de Imunologia na Roche Diagnóstica Brasil, já tinha 2 filhos lindos que tinham amamentado.  

English translation: When I was diagnosed with cancer, I felt a mixture of shame and weakness and decided to tell only my family, until I understood better what was happening and what treatment I would need.  It was a difficult journey, but fortunately I had a lot of hope that a cure was possible, and I began to plan the weeks and months, looking forward to the day when I would have finished treatment and would be HEALED.  What was fundamental for me to feel empowered was 1) trusting the doctors and professionals who were looking after me, without searching for too much information on the internet and 2) most importantly, feeling loved, the support network in my family, all their affection and presence in my life. Another thing that helped me stay positive and feel that life went on, despite the cancer, was to keep working. At the time, I was working as an Immunology Product Manager at Roche Diagnóstica Brasil, and I already had two beautiful children who had been breastfed.