A normal day and a scheduled health check-up turned into a moment of sorrow when Ana-Bela Barbosa (52) was diagnosed with invasive intestinal adenocarcinoma cancer.
Barbosa survived this type of colorectal cancer. Doctors operated on her three times and she spent several days in the ICU.
Barbosa visited Netcare Hospital in Alberton to see Dr Wimpie Jansen van Vuuren for an endoscopy and colonoscopy check up on March 7.
She had to view her results on the following day. Upon arrival, she received the devastating news from her doctor that she had colorectal cancer.
According to Barbosa, Dr Van Vuuren and his staff were compassionate with her through this ordeal and because they dealt with the medical aid, things were much easier.
Barbosa was admitted to the hospital on March 11 for doctors to do all the scans and biopsy to see what type of cancer she had and was diagnosed with invasive intestinal adenocarcinoma cancer.
Her doctor confirmed she had to undergo a laparoscopic lower anterior resection operation.
“During the operation, Dr Van Vuuren realised it was impossible to continue with the operation because of abnormal anatomy, which would have meant a permanent colostomy.
He decided to do an MRI scan to re-evaluate the procedure and decided to do open surgery. This was to remove the invasive intestinal adenocarcinoma cancer that was found low in the rectum and a diverting colostomy was done to protect the anastomosis, the joining of the colon after the cancer was removed,” said Barbosa.
Barbosa was in the ICU for several days.
According to Barbosa, she had a lot of support from the ICU nurses and the section four ward nurses.
Barbosa was discharged on March 27 after her oncologist declared she was cancer-free but that didn’t stop her physical impairments.
She had to go home with a temporal colostomy bag. “We had to change twice or thrice a day,” said her husband, Rui Matos.
The couple had nurse Karin Welgemoed, who trained them.
Barbosa’s fight against cancer was long and difficult. She had to go back to the hospital for the final operation, the reversal of the colostomy on May 3.
She also experienced numerous infections that messed up her bowel routine, and she had severe diarrhoea.
Barbosa’s road to recovery was gruelling, but she regained her strength in June.
She thanks the following people who made the journey easier and bearable: Dr Van Vuuren, nurse Esna Richards, registered stoma nurse Karin Welgemoed and Dr Sylvia Rodrigues.
She told Alberton Record that she realised it was time for her to share her story and let everyone know it is possible to beat cancer.
Her advice to people who are fighting through the cancer battle is they must not give up and have hope.
“People must do regular health check-ups and you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.
“Healing takes courage and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it. Most importantly, never forget that God will never leave nor forsake you.”
