Marie-Hélène, a resident of Sainte-Marie, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2023. Now on hormone therapy, she is gradually returning to normal life. She gives us her testimony in this month of pink October.
The pain arrived the day after a breakup. “The next day I found out I had cancer. It was July 2023. I had surgery on August 31, 2024 and the tumor was removed”explains Marie-Hélène, 41 years old. The Sainte-Marie resident then underwent chemotherapy. “It’s complicated, but we have good support here in Reunion. We must not lose courage.”
Especially since her loved ones live far from her home. “It was very complicated, because my whole family is in mainland France, my mother, my sisters”regrets Marie-Hélène. Loved ones who still found a way to cheer him up. “I thank all my family for the moral support. I talked to them a lot on the phone and my mother came from France for the hardest six months.”
During this period of illness, her daughters, aged 19 and 12, were her most valuable caregivers. “They supported me enormously. My 19-year-old daughter took over a lot for the shopping, the paperwork…” At that time, Marie-Hélène had to leave her job and change accommodation, as the rent had become too expensive.
Now, the 41-year-old woman is gradually returning to her previous life. She found work near her home. “I need to escape and get back to work”she explains.
