For years, Nele has lived under a dark shadow: she has been diagnosed with cancer four times. Five years after her last treatment, she shares her zest for life, her hunger to enjoy it all, and what kept her going during the hardest times.

Eighteen and cancer

Nele (51) faced cancer very young. At eighteen, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system. “Strangely, it wasn’t even called cancer to me. The treatments worked as expected, so I had a lot of trust in them. My spleen was removed, and I had radiation therapy.”

Two years later, Nele relapsed. “This time I needed heavy chemotherapy and lost my hair. At twenty, that felt like a disaster, of course. But I didn’t let it stop me — I kept going to school as much as I could. I never fell behind a year, and I’m proud of that. The only thing I couldn’t finish was the extra teacher training I had planned.”

Giving up was never an option

About ten years ago, Nele received bad news again. “Breast cancer. Very unlucky, though doctors suspected a link to the radiation I’d had years earlier.” She underwent a breast-conserving surgery, radiation, and hormone therapy. She recovered well and was ready to celebrate her final check-up five years later when she learned she had breast cancer in the other breast. Unimaginable — but Nele fought once more. “I have two children, so giving up was never an option.”

Chemo again, hair loss again

For the second time, chemo made Nele lose her hair, but it affected her less than before. “By then I knew it was only temporary.”

This time, Nele chose not to wear a wig. Instead, she wore chemo hats and scarves from Rosette la Vedette. “I also wore more make-up and deliberately planned self-care moments. It felt good to give myself that attention.” It’s something she still tries to keep up now that she’s healthy again. “I often book a spa day. I wear less make-up now because I don’t feel the need for it anymore.”

(In 2014, we met Nele as a customer at our pop-up shop. She joined a makeup session, and even in the short chat we had with her, she already radiated incredible zest for life.)

 

Science as her anchor in the storm

Boundlessly positive — that’s Nele. She’s energetic, full of life, and always tries to see the bright side. “Despite everything, I feel I’ve been lucky. I’m grateful I had breast-conserving surgeries both times and that I didn’t suffer unpleasant side effects from the hormone pills.”

That positive attitude, along with her rational side, carried her through four diagnoses. “I always approached it scientifically. I asked many questions about my treatments and researched well-founded sources online. Knowledge always gave me confidence. If I believed in my treatment, I could keep going.”

Peace of mind

Even today, that’s what gives her calm. “It’s been five years now. Normally, regular follow-up would stop, but I found that hard. So my oncologist agreed to let me keep annual check-ups. That gives me peace of mind. She told me she wants me to ‘grow old well.’ I love that. I sometimes forget how much those treatments have impacted my body. Sometimes I think: maybe I will die of cancer someday, something must be wrong with this body. But that thought doesn’t paralyze me, and I hope it only happens in forty years.”

A new hobby

So how is Nele today? “I feel great. My energy is back, and I’m hardly ever ill. The treatments left some physical marks, but I love walking, and I walk a lot. I’ve also been back to full-time work for years. I even tend to work too hard — that’s just who I am. Even during treatments, I worked whenever I had the energy and motivation. I needed that. And my employer and colleagues were very understanding when I couldn’t.”

Is everything back to the way it was?

“I take more time for myself now. I used to live mainly for the kids, but now I deliberately plan me-time. Walks, or my new hobby. About a year and a half ago I signed up for a photography course almost by accident. There was a camera at home because my daughter had studied art, and I got intrigued. Now I take lessons on Saturdays and go out with my camera on Sundays. We get assignments, and I’ve learned to make real time for them.”

Today, I’m greedy for life. I love classical concerts, opera, theater — I try to enjoy as much as I can.

“If I can beat cancer four times, I can do anything”

Did her bumpy path bring anything good? “Saying cancer is meaningful goes too far for me. But I have become more self-confident: if I can beat this, I can handle anything. That doesn’t mean I can relativize endlessly. That wouldn’t be healthy either. Good health is essential, but you can’t dismiss everything else just because you’ve had cancer. Other things in life matter, and they’re allowed to touch you too.”

Does Nele have advice for others?

“Do what feels best for you. For me, that was doing as much as possible like before. For others, it might mean slowing down a lot. But what helps everyone, I think, is getting outside or being around friends. And you know what’s comforting? Knowing that most discomforts, like hair loss, are temporary.”

Curious for more inspiring stories like Nele’s? Discover them all in our Personal Stories section >>