“I will remember the summer of 2023 for my whole life. I felt the life for 100 percent – to the full extent it was possible. My family was with me and that bring joy to each of my days.”

On February 24, 2022 I woke up from the loud explosion sounds on the street. Me and my husband understood that the war begun in our country. We decided at once that we need to leave Kyiv region where we were living that time. There have been rumors that the bridges would be destroyed and this will hinder us from leaving our place later on. Within three hours our most required belongings were packed and we traveled in direction of Zakarpattya along with our two children who were 2 years and 8 months respectively. We were staying in western part of Ukraine for one and a half months. We were paying rent and buying food with our own money so little by little we were running out of money. Our acquaintances offered us to live in their suburban house located in Zhytomyr region so we were living there just about one month long. When Kyiv region was totally liberated, we started to think about returning home. My husband traveled home first in order to inspect the situation there. I was afraid to bring my children to the place we were running out from under the sounds of explosions. There were as well regular air raid alarms that I was not ready for and I didn’t know what to do with children during these alarms. So, we decided to travel with children to Bahkmach city in Chernihiv region where my parents have lived.

My father has had a stroke before the war has started so I’ve been a whole 5 days with him in intensive care unit. Thanks to God he got better but after this case I noted a lump on my leg. I appointed meeting with family doctor but he ensured me that there is nothing wrong with a lump but recommended to appoint the meeting with surgeon later on. Unfortunately, the war has started so I didn’t reach the surgeon. While I stayed on the western part of Ukraine, I noticed that the lump is somehow grew up but I didn’t appoint the meeting with local doctors because I was waiting for my return to home to visit local oncologist who has been observing me. Back in 2016 doctors found oncology (melanoma) in my organism. They made surgery in time so for many years I have been in remission. So, this lump started to worrying me. We traveled to Kyiv for two days in order for me to be able to visit local oncologist and get consultation but he left Ukraine. I was confused and didn’t know where I can find adequate medical assistance in the country where the war take place. Part of the doctors were called for military service, another part left Ukraine so I didn’t understand what I can do. I addressed to private hospital right next to my house and doctor assured me that I don’t have any reasons to worry about. He prescribed me an ointment to grease the lump and assured me that I can easily travel to my parents and not worry about a thing. I stayed with at my parents’ place for three months – I didn’t hear single air raid alert or missile sound there. In September 2022 I decided to return home in order for my children to be able to visit kindergarten and for no reason I decided to visit an experienced oncologist. He insisted on urgent surgery to cut the lump with following study of this bio material in laboratory. In the middle of September I’ve had surgery in state clinic and only after six weeks I received conclusion from histologist that there is possibility of cancer cells existence. Doctor offered me to conduct extensive examination in private clinic. In two weeks I received conclusion stating that I’ve got melanoma metastasis. It was second time after beginning of the war when my life has divided into before and after periods. I’ve been so much afraid and confused. I was understanding that I’ve got pretty aggressive form of cancer which progress continuously, in addition there is a war in country and I don’t know who can provide me adequate professional assistance under such conditions. We started to search for doctors but that was not easy. We were considering options to travel abroad Ukraine to search for medical assistance. We found a doctor in Kyiv who possessed extensive knowledge of skin diseases. He has science degree and works for Charité clinic in Germany. That was a great opportunity to get his consultation. In an hour he explained me my health condition as of that day and explained what should I do further and what treatment options are possible as of the time being. I have had to make another series of examinations which I conducted later. It was from this doctor that I first heard about immune therapy which is effective enough for the disease which I’ve had. I’ve got also lymph node disease requiring surgery in the nearest future. Oncology treatment was too expensive for my family. Our local doctor advised us to address to Ministry of Health of Ukraine and apply for medical evacuation. In the beginning of 2023 my husband applied on the web-site and within short time I’ve received a phone call from Ministry of Health asking tor send my documents and medical conclusions related to my health status. Later on we were informed that Sweden approved my application and can provide medical evacuation. We have had to travel on March 09, 2023 but I was told later that I have to wait a bit more because evacuation date has been rescheduled. I was nervous and worrying. I have had cancer cells on lymph node and diseased area could be increased each day. I therefore decided to have a surgery on lymph node in Ukraine as I didn’t know when exactly I shall be evacuated to Sweden. In the middle of March I’ve had surgery and I’ve had my lymph node removed. On March 20 I received a call from the Ministry of Health informing that my evacuation will take place on March 27 from the city of Lviv. Me and my husband bought tickets to Lviv and I right after surgery traveled with my husband to Lviv to wait for further evacuation. Our children were with my parents at that time as I didn’t know what will happen to us in the nearest future and how would my treatment will progress.

We got to Lviv and stopped in local hospital. On the other morning a couple of volunteers from Poland have come to us with ambulance vehicles. They evacuated a group of people to three countries – Denmark, Sweden and Netherlands. Considering that I recently had surgery I traveled in ambulance vehicle alone as I had to stay in horizontal position and only my husband was next to me. There were a couple people with different oncology diseases that could travel being seated as well as a couple of badly wounded soldiers in other ambulance vehicles. We traveled to Poland first where we spent a night in a hospital. Next morning three airplanes have arrived which evacuated people to three different countries. Our flight was to Gothenburg and there were 9 people on board. We landed in Gothenburg, some of the evacuated people stayed in this city but we have been met by a driver who drove us to Lund city. Local hospital accepted us at once and I was registered in oncology unit. They provided me with a hospital room and a hostel room next to the hospital. Three days I’ve been staying in hospital where they were making different examination. As soon as I’ve had surgery on lymph node removal, I have had to wait from two to twelve weeks in order to start immune therapy according to Sweden medical protocol. I’ve been discharged from hospital and a whole month I was staying in Malmo migration center. We’ve had a separate room for two.

I received a letter informing that I will have to visit doctor in the middle of April 2023. So, in the beginning of May we started my long-awaited treatment. All that time I missed my children so much. We decided to leave them with my mother while I’ll be having treatment in Sweden. I didn’t know how my organism would behave after immune therapy. Will there be any side effects, would I be able to take care of my children… But I was thinking about them all the time and was waiting for a chance to take them to my place. After the first stage of treatment, I was feeling myself good and started to search for tickets to Sweden for my children. However, my parent were insisting that I should wait and have a second stage treatment. On June 19 I’ve had second my second stage of immune therapy and on June 25 my daughters have arrived to us. I haven’t seen them three and a half months – it was like an entire life for me. They both have started crying when they seen me. They asked me if they could touch me and hold my hand so not to ruin my treatment. That was very sensitive moment for all of us. In my opinion the girls have changed – they grew up and started behaving differently – so I even though that I missed considerable pat of their lives and it will never come back. The hole month we spent together and I even didn’t signed them to kindergarten during this period. I wanted to fill myself with their presence, play with them, have a walk, embrace and be all the time around. Despite the disease I’ve had a lot of energy which I wanted to spend on them only. I will remember the summer of 2023 for my whole life. I felt the life for 100 percent – to the full extent it was possible. My family was with me and that bring joy to each of my days. Each day we went somewhere – to seaside, to park, to Malmo. We were happy together. Later on my mother has traveled to us and she helps me while I’m in a process of having a treatment.

Up until September 2023 I’ve had an immune therapy course. In half a year I passed diagnostic check and on one of control pictures they observed metastasis in my lungs. So, they stopped the treatment using current method because this exact therapy is not effective against metastasis in lungs. Doctors offered me additional examinations, making a biopsy and change of treatment tactic in general. That was a hard period of waiting for me. One month I was waiting for biopsy results, my treatment has been stopped and this obscurity was driving me crazy. I was scarry of the fact that I don’t take any treatment and my disease continues existing in my body and progress. In the end of November after consultations doctors decided to increase dose of medicine I take and I’ve been invited to hospital for another therapy session. In November and December I was receiving doubled dose of medicine and after that treatment has been stopped again.

Currently doctors try to mitigate the side effects of my previous treatment and I do all that I can to walk my way worthy. As soon as I feel myself better and can come outside I try to use this chance. I repeat as a mantra that universe knows what to I need and provides me with the best option available, that I’m in a right place and everything happens only for good to me. I’ve got the best life I can live. My life is beautiful and I enjoy each of its day that I can see and feel. I’m so much appreciate everything that I have. And I wait to get well soon so much in order to stay with those who I love so much.

Original text in Ukrainian – Olena Andryeyenkova.