Cancer, chemotherapy, side effects. Words that shock, scare, hurt, bend. Sometimes those who are confronted with this "monster" are stubborn to look him in the eyes and say "either you or me".
This battle, although we characterize it as unequal, there are people who manage to win it. Some still do not and others continue to fight.
The following people are especially popular with the general public. They gave their own battle with the disease, they succeeded and they send their own message to those who may face a similar problem.
They describe that at first they felt fear and weakness. Why hide it? But they stood on their own two feet, convinced themselves that they would succeed, and they did.
Spyros Papadopoulos
"I was told I had cancer and we would do an examination to see if it had progressed, if it had metastasized. I have learned to be ready for anything. I caught my son, I told him what I have and we talked ". With these words o Spyros Papadopoulos had described the serious health problem he faced when he had his kidney removed and from which he emerged victorious.
"Fear and gloom are very bad for health. Courage and composure help you a lot. I did what the doctors told me. I had two motorcycle accidents and I was sure I would die. "I was thinking about what would happen to the child," Spyros Papadopoulos said in a television interview in a shocking testimony about his own battle with cancer.
"I am terribly prepared for both the best and the worst. And my son is like me. He was always with me. We made puns and plates ", added the actor and presenter.
"I was not afraid. The doctors did not believe it, they thought I was pretending. One reason I did very well was psychological.
As for his decision to speak publicly about the disease, he said that he did it because Greek society does not like the fear of people not learning that they are suffering from cancer, explaining that it is a mishandling.
Gogo Mastrokosta
In the summer of 2010 the Gogo Mastrokosta talked about her adventure with breast cancer. It was just 24 hours after the birth of her daughter when the famous gymnast-presenter found out that there was a problem with breastfeeding her baby and she had chest pains. The diagnosis showed breast cancer. This was followed by radiation, chemotherapy and special medication, as well as two trips abroad. But he did it.
"One part that hurts me is that I did not enjoy the first moments with my child. It's a piece I missed. Birth and cancer occurred at the same time. And you can not, because you must have all your strength to cope with Golgotha that begins. "Maybe that was the price for my daughter to come to life," she said in an interview.
And then he added: "I could not see anything good through this story, nor to say that he changed me as a person and now I believe that happiness lies in simple things. I always believed this for happiness, sorry. The only good thing is that I can help other women, even just with my image ".
Gogo Mastrokosta in all this struggle had next to her Trajan Della, whom she calls her own angel.
"Even if I did not have hair, even if I was not well, for Trajan I was a goddess. "I wish all women had a partner like mine."
George Autias
He spoke about his feelings when he was informed that he had thyroid cancer and how he dealt with it. George Autias.
Speaking to a weekly magazine, the journalist revealed that "he was neither afraid of nor underestimated by cancer".
"Yes, I had a small cancer. I found out, did a biopsy and we caught it. It was difficult. It was in the thyroid "he said and continued:
"You must know how to experience joy and sorrow without extremes. I experienced a part of this story completely alone. I told my family the truth calmly. I did not make announcements like "I'm dying tomorrow". I am fine now. It was painful. Something simple is happening here and you say "aman"! I have experienced many similar situations with my loved ones. In life you have to expect everything ".
"I was scared of cancer. I did not underestimate him, but I treated him with strong psychology. I do not know how I would work if I did not have a job. "These situations need courage."
Katia Nikolaidou
The actress spoke about her own battle with cancer Katia Nikolaidou.
"I appreciate every day I wake up. I give substance to things I have not seen before. I am very happy with simple things. I do not like to hold grudges. I feel that it hurts my karma ".
The actress faced her health problem with courage and dignity and sent her own message to those who face a similar problem.
"I said I do not die from it. When I was told that your hair would fall out for six months, I cried. I say I have to work. They call me "wigs" he said and continued:
"I used to go to the shooting normally, nail and put on my wig. We were shooting in Santorini and I was circulating painted with a wig and I remember a gentleman coming out of a goldsmith and saying: “My girl, take off the wig! You are a more beautiful carafe "" the actress confesses in a TV interview. However, she revealed that her husband decided to leave her life, something that cost her more than her illness. But she did not put it down and, armed with courage, she succeeded.
At her side all this time were her parents, her brother and her friends whom she is grateful for and feels lucky to have. However, she revealed that her husband decided to leave her life, something that cost her more than her illness.
Stefanos Korkolis
For the first time, the residents of Chania spoke about the difficult battle he fought with cancer. Stefanos Korkolis causing applause from the audience. "I also have cancer. I discovered it last October, but as you can see I am here at my piano, in my music, next to people I love and και everything is fixed. Prevention. I want to emphasize to young people… stop it as much as you can. "Cigarettes really kill… I smoked four packs…".
The well-known composer revealed in an interview that the announcement of the diagnosis was a strong shock.
"This disease cannot be overcome. You accept it, you live with it and you walk. Of course, your life changes. From the day I had surgery I gathered at my house. The body can not stand the long journeys, from Japan to Brazil, that I did before giving a concert. "I quit smoking and alcohol," he explained.
Costas Chardavellas
He spoke about the difficult times he lived through when he learned that he was suffering from cancer Costas Hardavelas at newsbeast.gr.
"If you believe that you have a 70% chance of leaving and a 30% chance of staying then you may go crazy. I do not know if you can stand this thing, I do not know how you can live with such a thought, how you can sleep with such a thought. However, when the doctor told me that I have a 30% chance of living and a 70% chance of leaving, I just did not believe it. I probably did not accept it, I could not accept that I am who I am, with all that I have done in my life, with all the activities that I have, that I have almost never got sick, that I do sports, that I have great stamina "I could not believe, to accept that I had only a 30% chance of living" he had said and continued:
"From the first moment I believed that I have a 100% chance to live. That's how I could and I slept, that's how I could and I had overcome the anxiety of an end that was almost inevitable because if they give you a 70% chance of leaving, it's like being told you will leave. 70% is 7/10, 7 out of 10 chances. This fact did not crush me, it did not crush me because from the first moment I did not believe it. For me there was a possibility now, because that's how my soul said it, 70% to live and 30% to leave, I had upset the medical statistics ".
Haris Alexiou
The audience who attended the presentation of the support program for cancer patients, "You are a Woman, You are a Power", shuddered with emotion, listening to her shocking confession Charoulas Alexiou for her own battle with cancer.
The great singer took the stage and spoke openly about the staff of Golgotha.
"I felt the earth leave under my feet, when I learned that I was suffering from breast cancer", were the words of Haroula Alexiou. He went on to say: "With the announcement of the disease, the shock is great and lasts a long time. You see your life from the beginning and questions like: "Why me?", "What did I not do well?", "Why did I let it happen?", Occupy your mind. We become self-centered, closed in on ourselves, and uninterested in learning that other people are sick. "Women need help to get out of their very close world, to find themselves again and to continue their lives as mothers, husbands, friends, workers."
But then he found the strength to emerge victorious from this battle. One fact that positively affected her psychology, as she stressed, is that she did not have to go through the painful process of chemotherapy and radiation. "I am just happy to be free. "Imagine that I postponed my premiere for only a week after the operation I underwent and returned to my daily life and my obligations", said Haroula Alexiou.
Athena Tsilira
Giving a life lesson, the actress Athena Tsilira she spoke with emotion about the cancer adventure from which she emerged victorious and about what changed in her life.
"When I found out I had cancer, I took the mammograms in my hands, went to a corner of the hospital and started crying. I got lost. I did not know where I was, what I was going to do, what was waiting for me. It was very heavy in my mind to be told: “You have cancer. "Tomorrow you have to do a surgical biopsy to see if it has expanded." At that moment a woman came next to me. She was very beautiful. He said to me: "Why are you crying?". I replied: "Out of happiness!". "You mean?" He asked me. "Are you all right? "I have cancer," I replied.
Then she showed me her breasts and said: “Look! I have been through it. None of your business! If it is operable, it passes. Remember this". This woman gave me so much courage and I said: "I will fight it and I will face it". During the period of chemotherapy and radiation I had a very good oncologist by my side. We were talking! Then I promised myself that I would speak openly about this issue, because even if a woman listens to me and sees that I work, I continue my life normally, I have overcome it and I am much better, maybe I will help her. Many times illness can be a blessing. It gives you such a slap that it makes you appreciate things differently. During the chemotherapy I said that when this story is over I just want to look at the sea. I will be happy only with that. "I became a much stronger person," he told Ego magazine.
Maria Houkli
The feelings of anger, fear and pain that a woman experiences through her cancer adventure were discussed by Maria Houkli. "Your body is impoverished, it changes, it is carved for life. For a long time your only wish is to get up early and be well. To spend the night and sleep peacefully ".
"Breast cancer is curable. I will say it again. Breast cancer is curable. It is not the end of the world. It can be cured if detected early. All you have to fear is fear. You have to cross it and cross opposite. You will cross over. "
The statement of Maria Houkli:
"No one is prepared for evil, no matter how informed. The news that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer strikes you like lightning. It changes the rhythm of the world inside you. It angers you, scares you, despairs you. A glass dome stretches around you that leaves out what your daily life was until then. Then life pulls you by the sleeve and so it should. You squirm and rush against the internal enemy. When it happens to you, no one can understand what is happening to you. But do not be discouraged. This is how we humans are made. It's just that those around you need to be able and willing to swim with you at the same time of the torrent. As long as they are there to keep you from falling into the big battle. The battle in this case is war. Especially in our difficult times, more than ever, there is an economic war of separation-exclusion. But it will always be a personal struggle that has strategy, has tactics, losses small defeats, but brings great victory. The facts after the news that you developed breast cancer have a lot of pain and fear. Your body is impoverished, it changes, it is carved for life. For a long time your only wish is to get up early and be well. To spend the night and sleep peacefully. To put it another way. You enter a dark room with wild beasts. They will tear you to pieces, but it is up to you to find the way out and come to light. Because breast cancer is curable. I will say it again. Breast cancer is curable. It is not the end of the world. It can be cured if detected early. After all, of course, it will be different. But you will not be less of a woman. Life afterwards will be more meaningful. Priorities are rearranged. Evaluate different people and situations. No one is prepared for evil. But all you have to fear is fear. You have to cross it and cross opposite. You will cross over. "
Anta Livitsanou
Her serious health adventure made her speak openly on her Facebook account in order to raise awareness and mobilize the world.
The reason for it Anta Livitsanou who gave her own battle with thyroid cancer (malignant nodule) that she removed and wanted to motivate people to do a thyroid screening through the text she posted on her Facebook profile.
The actress talked about the surgery she did and the removal of the malignant nodule she had in her thyroid, something she discovered accidentally, after a preventive ultrasound.
"I am proud of every injury and every stitch that shows victory. I will wear my new sign from the surgery as a sign against the cancer (malignant nodule) of the thyroid that I removed.
I share it with you because for my crazy luck I discovered it by accident doing an ultrasound preventative. Ethical lesson: prevention saves lives. It is certainly not the most pleasant thing, but it is the only way to preserve our health and the people we love. After my diagnosis and complete ignorance, I learned with great sadness that thyroid cancer cases after Chernobyl jumped to 70%. Victims? All of us.
I inform you to motivate you to do preventive checks. An ultrasound can save you.
Health and light to all.
With love,
Anda ”
Kourkoulis Nikos
"After an acute pancreatitis, it was found that there was a problem in the head of the pancreas. Cancer. It was a lump. Words do not scare me. The doctors gave me hope. They said I had to go abroad for surgery. I was in a very good mood. I did not believe there was this problem. "I never felt sick." This was stated on the show "All for my health" by Kourkoulis Nikos.
The singer, who has spoken several times about his faith in God, stressed that he knows in himself that a higher power was the one that helped him overcome the adventure with his health.
"A friend of mine urges me to go to Mount Athos. We get on the boat and there are two people next to me. They tell me we are fans from America. I told them I would go too soon. So I find out that one of them was the one who would operate on me. When I get there I am next to the picture and a grandfather calls me inside. There I collapsed. I felt the need to open my soul. I did Easter there. I went down to Athens and took an exam (…) You have to believe that you will get well. "Panic and bad thinking do not help at all."