MariangEla Francine

Survivor

Noma the Carcinoma

I discovered I had a tumor by chance: I was simply scratching my right breast while drinking a coffee. A gesture I’d done countless times, but on March 7th, it became my lifesaver. On March 8th, I went to see my GP (a former breast specialist, destiny at play!) who urgently started the diagnostic process. After 4 biopsies, it turned out that the hard lump was a ductal carcinoma in situ, B5, G2. Yes, very much like a game of battleship.

I did the oncogenetic test and guess what? I won a VUS: a mutation in a gene that hasn’t been studied yet. So, I went for a bilateral mastectomy because prevention is better than cure! All of this happened on July 30th.

And here I am now, writing from a hotel room while waiting to work on a set, with my “work in progress” super breasts, one nipple less, but with the awareness that I’m lucky: no metastases and my only treatment is the Tamoxifen pill.

I thank science and research because I can continue to live and enjoy my children.