Mohammad - Interview 28

Age at interview: 45

Age at diagnosis: 40

Brief Outline:

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, after he noticed some itchiness in his nipple which later started to bleed. Had a mastectomy and was relieved that he did not need chemotherapy or radiotherapy. He took tamoxifen for five years. He had some problems with lymphoedema after his surgery.

Background:

Mohammad was a machine operator in the plastics industry. He is currently unable to work due to illness. He is married and has 4 children. Ethnic background' Pakistani.

More about me...

 In 2006 Mohammad noticed some itchiness and them some bleeding from his nipple which he at first ignored. After finding quite a big blood stain on his vest one day, he went to see his GP who prescribed an antibiotic for him. After a week the bleeding continued and the doctor then suggested that he went for a biopsy which showed that he had breast cancer. He had a mastectomy within 3 weeks.

He felt that the doctors and nurses had been very kind towards him and he was happy with the treatment he had received. He had told his close family and some friends about his illness but he preferred not to tell other people because he thought that would make him feel more stressed. He did not tell his teenage daughters about his illness at first because he didn’t want to worry them. He does not feel that he needs any more support beyond the support that he has got from close family.

Mohammad had had a difficult time in the past dealing with a back problem and he compared his experiences of having cancer with the restrictions that his back trouble had placed on his life. He had had some counselling when his back pain was very painful and stressful and he had found this helpful. When he had his back problem he did go on the internet to look for information, but he found that the information made him more stressed.

He was on his own when he received the news of his diagnosis and initially he was very shocked. The hospital gave him a lot of information and after a few minutes he felt much calmer. When he was taking his tamoxifen he didn’t want to know too much about possible side effects because too much information can make you more worried. He was the first person in his family to be diagnosed with breast cancer. A nurse came to visit him and told him not to worry, that his cancer was treatable and curable. He has a strong belief, reinforced by his strong religious beliefs, that he should take his illness ‘lightly’. He had felt comforted by the words of Allah in the Qu’ran which reinforced his view that no-one would die before ‘their time’.

 

Mohammad ignored a lump at first, although it sometimes bled. One day he found a large blood...

I feel lump first, then it start bleeding. In 2006, start bleeding. Minor bleedings, and I just ignore that. So I just normally- something you know. And, one night I was asleep and next day when I wake up…

 

And next day when I wake up I’ve seen it quite big, mark of blood on my vest. Then I, same day I go to see my doctor. I ask him, this is the blood come from here my vest, right breast. He just gave me an antibiotic. And I had it for one week, doesn’t make a change, just keep bleeding. Next week when I went to the doctor, he just says, he offered for me the biopsy. In one week, go to see that… for the biopsy. Yeah, in one week they done the biopsy and they done it after I think it’s three or four days, they ring me. We want to see you tomorrow, or day after tomorrow. I can’t remember what date, time, so.

 

You noticed a lump first-

 

Yes I noticed the lump first.

 

How did it-

 

I just- you know the- I feel itchy, I just start itching. And next day I see the mark on my breast. I never noticed it before, I don’t know how long is this on there.

 

So you don’t know how long it had been there?

 

No, no.

 

Did you show anybody else?

 

No, no.

 

How long did you wait before you went to the GP?

 

Maybe about two weeks. I think two weeks, three weeks I had operation.

 

So you had-

 

First week I show the GP, he gave me some antibiotics, for in-growing hair, a boil. The bleeding continued. Then the doctor sent me for a biopsy.

Mohammad was shocked at first but within five minutes was calm and able to smile. The nurse came...

And he told me you got this breast cancer. We remove your right breast and all tissues, which ones might be affected in future and I said okay. That’s when I heard it. And I- this is very hard to… when you heard like this, very shocked. And I keep calm at that times. Try to, calm- when he call their colleagues, then they make arrangement for the operation. And in two three weeks I had operation. And… yeah, next day when I come back home and nurse she came home. And she tell me about the cancer, don’t believe anything and you know the- when, I have no idea what to do, what happen next. And she told me everything that "don’t worry, this is curable and treatable and you know, don’t worry".

 

Did you go by yourself to these appointments, or take somebody with you?

 

I went with my wife to the appointments. But that day when they called me, I didn’t take anybody, I went alone. Then after I take my wife with me.

 

Was your wife with you when they told you it was breast cancer?

 

No, nobody was. Just by myself.

 

So was that quite difficult being by yourself or did you prefer to hear it-?

 

First when I heard it, it feel very hard. After five minutes I’m very calm and it’s okay. I started smiling.

 

Did you get a lot of information given to you at-?

 

Yes, they give me a lot of information, yeah.

 

Written-

 

Yeah written and verbally.

Mohammad only felt happy about telling his family and a few close friends. He felt it would cause...

And did you tell anybody outside the family?

 

No, no. When I had the operation, my friends and relatives, they visit me in hospital. When they come up and see me they know all about this problem. Otherwise nobody knows. Nobody, no.

 

You prefer to just keep it in the family?

 

Yes. Some of my friends, they know. They know. But nobody, anyone else.

 

Nobody knows.

 

And do you think that’s easier?

 

That’s easiest way. Try to… keep with your family and your close friends. Share with them. Otherwise when you go like publicly, then you feel very frightened, and more stressful. Your family is all the times encouraging you, not worried. If it happen with you, you feeling very well. Next step is this and- might be you’re feeling very comfortable. If you’re telling like all the publics, I’ve got this problem, and then you feel very stressed.

 

So the more people you tell the more stressful-

 

Yeah, more stressful. If somebody know they ask you straight away. But problem I’m not taking very seriously, I’m taking very lightly, I’m feeling very well and this and this.

 

So that’s been very helpful for you to not tell too many people. Just your family and you’ve had a lot of support from them and from your religion?

 

Yeah close friends. They know what’s the problem with you and tell them. And if you share it with someone like I’m sharing it with my brothers, and we’re joking with that. 

Mohammad said his faith was reassuring as it taught him that he would not die before his time.

What would you say to somebody who has just been diagnosed and they’re worrying now?

 

If somebody have, need help, then I go tell them, ‘Don’t worry. This is curable’, whatever you are. And, I know it’s very stressful but, if you take it lightly then you feel comfortable. If you take it serious, you’re feeling very serious illness. If you take it lightly, you know the problem, problem is there but if you think lightly, okay, five year, ten years at times why are you taking it serious? For example, my end is tomorrow, if I’m thinking I’m dying today. I’ll never die today because my end is tomorrow. Because this is my belief. That’s why I’m very strong for that belief.

 

And was that your whole attitude towards the cancer?

 

Yes

 

And has that attitude come from just the way you think about things or your religion or-?

 

My religion and my thinking as well. Because you know when I search in Qu’ran and… I’m feeling very comfortable. And my belief when I- okay Allah said this once, “When you die you die- no you never die before the time”. So make me more happy.

 

It’s reassuring.

 

Yes.