Meet Dorenda
Dorenda is an energetic young woman. In 2006, she underwent surgery for thyroid cancer at the Academic Medical Center (AMC) in Amsterdam. At that time she was a student, now she is a volunteer at FC Twente, a Dutch football club. Besides her voluntary work, she is a patient educator and lectures medical staff.
What was the initial period after surgery like?
Mentally, it was a challenging time. I felt ’damaged’ with the cannula and was worried about how people would react. Directly after the procedure, I was still in pain and unable to speak, which was very intense. Looking back, after some time, I believe it has brought many good things: I breathe better, get more oxygen, have more energy and my voice has improved.
What was the biggest challenge postsurgery?
I’m a very ’down-to-earth’ person, and I decided to go and see what happens. On top of that, I have a good sense of humor and self-mockery. I decided to be the first person in the room to comment on my situation and address it with humor. Nevertheless, I also experienced moments where I was on my own and struck by the situation. The mental acceptation of what happened was a challenge. All in all, it’s a roller coaster with ups and downs.