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Knowing you all is my blessing

04.07.2017

One October morning I woke up feeling an extra weight on myself. As I opened my eyes I saw Lea, my pet, lying on my chest. Looking at me straight in the eyes, I noticed she wanted to tell me something, which she did it by hitting me on the left side of the chest. The pain I felt at that moment was like a knife stuck in my chest. I put Lea beside the bed, I got up and holding the left side of the chest, I felt something hard under my fingers, like a long plate. For the first time in my life I was overwhelmed, I was feeling uncomfortable and strange, I was drenched in sweat. At the same moment I felt a slight fever and loudly uttered that today was the perfect day to talk to the doctor.

Time passed slowly, for the first time the day seemed like a year. That afternoon, I went to see Dr. Maja Chapova, MD. She immediately examined me performing scans and mammography. It all took 30 minutes, until the time of the  announcement of my initial diagnosis. “Majche, unfortunately, I have to tell you, you have to be prepared for a serious surgery, I do not like the finding. If you agree, I’ll do puncture for biopsy “were the words uttered with a kind and warm voice by Dr. Maja Chapova, MD. After 48 hours, the finding of the biopsy confirmed the diagnosis – breast cancer, stage A3.

 Dr. Mitko Karagjozov, MD was the chosen surgeon to perform the surgery

After all investigations, a decision for surgery followed, to be performed by Dr. Mitko Karagjozov, MD. The postoperative treatment continued at the Department od Dr. Mite – as he is referred to by everyone. It is a Department where hardworking, professional and kind team of nurses and technicians work. The paramedics are dedicated to patients and to their duties under the direction of nurse Sashka Lenc. Staff responsible for hygiene maintenance unselfishly perform to the highest professional level. Thank you all at the Department so much, for making my stay pleasant by telling jokes and making me smile, not allowing the feeling of any physical or mental pain throughout the stay. The surgery and the histopathology findings reiterated the need for continuing the treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Unfortunately, the treatment had to be performed at the  department where during a professional visit, I once said I wished no one to be a patient here. The decision of my loved ones, my brother and my nephews was to continue the treatment at the Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy in “Acibadem Sistina”.

The Department of eye-contact communication

My Oncology treatment, which consisted of 8 chemotherapies and 25 radiotherapies, continued at the Department of Medical Oncology, under the expert supervision of Dr. Deva Petrova, MD,  and Dr. Slavica Kraleva, MD. Every Wednesday, on the 21st  day of the month chemotherapy was applied.  My first chemotherapy was the most well remembered experience in my life. Mixed feelings, especially considering the side effects of the chemotherapy – bordering between fear and unexpected surprises that could follow. But when a courteous team is taking care of you, showing kindness, love and commitment to each patient, every toil is easier to fix, every pain will disappear. In addition to the doctors, nurses Irena and Elena and nurse Mare are also creditable for the professional treatment. 

After the completion of the chemotherapy and an additional three-weeks break, I continued the treatment with the team of the Department of Radiotherapy, where for 25 days, every working day I hang out with the quietest guys at the hospital, who conquer with their kindness, courtesy and professionalism – Nicholas, Dare, Jasin and Sonja, the physicist.

I named this section the Department of eye-contact communication because the exhausted faces and sadness in the eyes of patients and their loved ones do not allow spending too many words, an eye-contact is enough.

The period I spent on chemotherapy and radiotherapy is undoubtedly a very difficult period, which can only be understood by those who have experience it due to heavy intoxication citostacite and the following sequence of changes in the body. Trouble and pain would not have gone away easily unless I had the generous help and support of Dr. Deva Petrova, MD, who was available at any time, and of Dr. Slavica Kraleva, MD, too.