|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 30 May 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Dream that saved her life by Aryadasa Ratnasinghe As the twilight faded into the darker side of the western horizon, faintly illuminating the eastern landscape, Manisha, the flawless mademoiselle woke up after an emotionally disturbing dream, affected by the discordant caterwauling of cats in the neighbourhood. It was a sound most unpleasant to her ears because she thought that such sounds were a bad omen. During the night she did sleep heavily, but in the early hours of the morning she recovered her equilibrium as to remember again the horrible dream she visioned during sleep. It was that she was lying on bed in a ward at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital. But she never knew or thought that she was suffering from the lethal disease. She knew that cancer was legion and whoever suffers from it rarely gets cured. Moon Contemplating over her train of thoughts about the dream, she looked up through the fanlight above the window of her room and, at once, her eyes caught sight of the waxing moon and its clear crescent being effaced by a slow moving cloud. The air was so cold and chilly that she preferred to remain in bed for some more time. Taking her pillow, she pressed it almost comfortably to her bosom, and sank into a short slumber, wishing to get up late. Manisha knew that cancer was a horrible disease which kills by destroying vital tissues in the body, although the cause of cancer is still unknown.
While still on bed, the sun having punctured the eastern horizon, shed its rays radiating the visible spectrum, which slowly stole into her bedroom and fell across her body, kissing her lovely and well-formed feet so nice to look at, with one bright slanting beam. Her tender hands lay on the pillow and her delicate fingers remained pressed to the pillowlace. Complexion Though somewhat darker in complexion, Manisha was a nice girl in her twenties, blessed with beauty par excellence. The boys in the neighbourhood adored her for her graceful and passionate looks, which were most delightful to admire in a young girl, of which she was proud of. Her best friend was Daphne of equal age with similar physical features, lean and tall. Vision Wishing not to stay in bed any longer, Manisha opened her eyes widely, rubbed them like a sleepy child, sprang quickly out of the bed, slipped into her pink frock, opened the door and went towards the kitchen to tell her mother Kamala of the unhappy dream. When Kamala heard about it, she at once said "Don't be mad Manisha. It might be an awkward vision and dreams are train of thoughts during sleep." In order to console Manisha, her mother told her that there was none in her family, or that of her father's, who had suffered from such a cursed disease. "So, don't worry over the dream. Just forget about it and be happy" said Kamala with a touch of confidence. Kamala knew that cancer precipitates a crisis to be apprehensive, for the reason that most patients who develop it die an untimely death. Specially in a woman who suffers from breast cancer, the thought itself gives rise to frustration. On the other hand, mastectomy (surgical removal of the breast) is essential to prevent the widespread of the disease by the growth of cancerous tissues. Breast cancer is common among women. Bathing Surprisingly enough, one day, while bathing, Manisha observed a little induration in one of her breasts, but she did not take it seriously, as something to be medically examined, because it did not cause any pain to her or any derangement in her health. However, after some time, the hardness of the tumour increased, the surface became rough and felt the growth of a swelling within the muscular walls of the breast. Manisha was not at all happy at the swelling and suspected it to be a malignant tumour akin to cancer. She returned from the well with a confused mind and told her mother Kamala about the growth. The mother did not listen to her seriously and told Manisha "Don't worry. It may be a cystic growth. This evening I'll take you to Podisingho Vedamahattaya," the native physician well-known for his expertise in treating boils, cysts etc. But, Manisha refused to go and wished to see a doctor. Died The following day, Manisha went to meet Daphne and told her the story. Since Daphne's mother had died of cancer of the womb, she advised Manisha to go and consult a cancer specialist, who will be able to diagnose the case and advised her what to do, and to act accordingly without procrastination. "Daphne ! I sometimes feel a sharp pricking pain in the region of the breast. My general health has now altered very badly, because I have no taste for food, suffer from insomnia and feel as I am lifeless. My mental worry is killing me alive. At times I feel like committing suicide to escape from the misery. My mother seems not to understand me," said Manisha with fallen hopes. Doctor On the advice of Daphne and due to her persuasion, Kamala took Manisha to the doctor chosen by them. He examined the area that covered the malignant tumour, which was reddish, livid and with veins more apparent than usual. He diagnosed the case to be cancer and asked from Manisha "For how long are you having this ?" She replied in the negative. "It is always the case with cancer. No one knows or, perhaps, takes a serious view of a suspected cancerous growth at the beginning. Cancer, in general, denotes all forms of malignant tumours which occur when the cells of a tissue or organ multiply in an uncontrolled fashion, unrelated to the biological requirements of the body. This disease affects the whole constitution, and general symptoms of a cancerous cachexia develops with much intensity." So said the doctor after examining Manisha. "So, doctor, what should I now do ?" asked Manisha. "Get yourself admitted to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital. It is the best place for you. Whatever it is, mastectomy is the best solution to the problem," said the doctor. At the hospital, the surgeon found that the whole breast had been invaded and the pectoral muscles had been destroyed. The doctor performed the operation having obtained the consent of Manisha, to prevent further damage to the breast and to save the other breast from cancer. The dis-figurement of the body image, as a woman, worried Manisha. Daphne who went to see Manisha in hospital, pacified her not to get worried. The dreamtime diagnosis foretold Manisha of her fate, in losing one of her breasts. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
She also knew that it results in terrible pain, depending on its
location and the extent of metastasis. The dream was that she was
suffering from breast cancer, which is most devastating to her body image,
specially being in the threshold of life anticipating marriage.
