The Swallows Australian Edition Magazine

Things happen for a
reason
- Yasmine Poole
I have had cancer twice, and at the end of 2014
received the news that I had it again, first
thyroid, now tongue. It was beyond shocking
to get the phone call and hear the words “we
are sorry, it is cancer”. Then the calls really
started as I was told I had to be in hospital in 10
days for a very big operation.
One of the many calls came from Paula
Macleod, who is the Head and Neck Cancer
Nurse Co-coordinator at RNS. She told me that
over the coming months she would be my best
friend … and she was. It was also very
reassuring to have a consistent team – a
surgeon, oncologist, speech therapist and the
plastic surgery team.
As I underwent the tests getting ready for my
operation, Paula was always at hand,
explaining the process and what would
happen next. It is a process and your mind is a
blur so you need an advocate. You need
someone with you, guiding you and making
sure that you keep going. It is a tremendous
fight, not just with your body, but with your
mind as well, facing not only the prospect of
your mortality but trying to keep it together for
your family, particularly your children.
My operation was more than 10 hours; I had a
partial glossectomy, radical neck dissection
and forearm flap to rebuild my tongue. I woke
in ICU with a tracheostomy, which is beyond
confronting as you cannot speak. I felt
defenseless. I knew it would take all my
strength to get up and get on, and I broke
down the process by working each day
towards a small goal – standing up, walking
and the countdown of tube by tube going,
each was a milestone and a step closer to
getting home to my family. I wondered if I
would ever be able to speak again and be
understood or even if I would eat again. I now
do both a lot! Recently, I spoke to a young
woman who was still in hospital and had gone
through what I had. I walked out hoping I had
given her hope that things get better, and for
myself I thought how lucky am I to be on the
other side of this, strong and well.
They say things happen for a reason, and you
should try and take some learning from
hardships. I learnt that you know who the good
people are in your life, the friends that step up,
the acquaintance that drop food to your
children, the family that has your back.
Treasure those people.
You also learn that cancer is very frightening for
some people who run in the other direction
almost as if you are contagious. They don’t
know what to say, so say nothing. I have learnt
to accept that when people ask me how I am,
there is a tone implying are you going to make
it? Yes I am!
One of the outcomes of me having had this
journey was that it spurred many people I know
into action of having their tests done. Hopefully
this will ensure they too, if unfortunate enough
to get cancer, will be a survivor. My outcome
would have been very different if I had not had
such a vigilant dentist who insisted I
investigate the white spot under my tongue,
something I never would have spotted. I felt
something was not right so I was persistent,
returning again and again to the surgeon
telling him something was wrong. Listen to
your body and never underestimate its
messages.
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