After the diagnosis, it took almost a month to start the treatments. The first one was on my birthday, and I felt that the universe was giving me a unique opportunity. I did six cycles on the cyclophosphamide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (CyborD) protocol and one year later I had a tandem (double) transplant.

When I was diagnosed, I had gone to university to study nursing. I only completed one semester and couldn´t go on with the pain I was experiencing.  After being admitted to the hospital, I had to drop out. My dream was taken away from me. However, I didn’t let the diagnosis change me and I thought I should build something to help other newly diagnosed patients. Like they say, if life gives you lemons, don´t stress, make lemonade! I already have a WhatsApp group with a few other peers, and we support each other. We also meet online once a month to share our experiences on this journey.

Family has been my main support. My brother lives in Brussels, Belgium, and it may seem like I’m on my own, but I´m not. Brussels is very close, and he has followed the situation very closely.  After I had been in the hospital for eight months, he arranged for my home to be taken care of.

As for my job, I am a healthcare assistant and I’ve been on incapacity leave since 2021. My illness is not compatible with the services I was in or the hospital environment. So, I’m waiting to apply for retirement. But I still have contact with my colleagues and my boss. This has obviously had an impact on my finances. However, the state has provided some help, although it’s not much, but I’ve had help, otherwise, it wouldn’t have been possible. I don’t need a lot of wealth, just enough to pay for what I have and be able to continue living with gratitude.

My social life continues. I’ve met new people and I hope to meet even more. I don’t go indoors unless I must, because otherwise I prefer nature, which gives me freedom and more security. That’s where I go hiking since I can’t do many sports because of the lytic lesions the disease has caused. But I try to live as healthy a life as possible in terms of nutrition. Portugal still doesn’t have enough nutritional services for all cancer patients.

Finally, I’d like to say to those newly diagnosed: don’t feel alone; seek help from family, friends and patient organisations. I’m sure you’ll find someone.

I’d like to leave you with my favourite phrase: “We are not our disease… we are what we do with it!”