My name is Tali. I was diagnosed with two brain tumors in 2019.
I have one meningioma in the left frontal lobe and another tumor touching the brainstem.
At the moment, the tumors are small and are being monitored regularly.
I live in Uppsala, Sweden.
In 2011, I was battling breast cancer.
I had already suspected breast cancer in 2010. After a whole year of begging my former family doctor for a mammogram and being refused, the tumor was discovered during a routine mammogram a year later. Unfortunately, it had spread to the lymph nodes, which required chemotherapy treatment.
After chemotherapy, while undergoing radiation treatment, I developed mastitis (an infection in the breast). I was mistreated in different ways and neglected by the oncology department. This led to serious complications and severe blood poisoning, and I almost died twice within the same week.
Fighting for Better Healthcare
During my cancer journey and the complications, I realized that many of the problems in the hospital were mostly caused by financial cuts. I saw the pressure that the doctors and nurses worked under due to a lack of staff. It is easy to make mistakes when they are tired and working under stress.
I decided to make my voice heard in my county in order to get our politicians to make the necessary changes, so that other women with breast cancer would never have to suffer as I did!
I used all the available media to tell my story and portray the reality, and I demanded an investigation and changes. During the toughest period of my life, I started a Facebook support group, reaching out to women who were willing to share their own experiences. I spoke to politicians, wrote articles for local newspapers, and was interviewed on television news programs.
Luckily, it helped! An extensive investigation was launched and led to several improvements!
Being able to contribute and see the positive results made me very happy!
Complications
Because of the terrible complications, I have never recovered. I developed severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and my quality of life was gone. I lost my job... Unfortunately, this illness affects my life negatively in many ways. But I am trying to hold on.
Gratitude and caregiving
Being a single mom with an 11-year-old child, we were lucky to receive so much love, support, and practical help from my friends and even from the parents of my child’s friends. They took care of him when I was at my lowest, so he would not have to see me suffering. I am forever thankful for the help I received. I felt very blessed!
Thinking about everything I have been through, and about all the love and support I received, it was very important for me to spread love and help other people who were going through tough times. I wanted to do what I could to support people affected by cancer.
In Sweden, there is a lack of rehabilitation for cancer survivors. Out of the blue, I founded a nonprofit organization that offered cancer patients rehabilitative activities combined with enjoyable experiences. I reached out to good people and companies that were happy to sponsor a good cause.
My organization,
Kryssa för livet
(We Cruise for Life), collaborated with a shipping company whose pleasure craft offered both lively nightlife and conference facilities. The organization is no longer active due to my condition. Nowadays, I “travel” in an electric wheelchair.
In 2019, I was diagnosed with two brain tumors.
One is in the frontal lobe and the other is near the brainstem, which means living with a great deal of fear and stress. Although I know that the tumors are growing very slowly, the worries are always on my mind... I am learning to live in the moment.
I undergo MRI scans every year. Before every examination, I feel panic. Every time I receive the answer, “The tumors haven’t grown,” I celebrate! It feels as though I have six more safe months!
My Poem
I wrote "On Borrowed Time" after getting to know María de Kannon Clè, the founder of Brains Get Famous. María was very supportive, and we became friends. When she told me about Brains Get Famous, I immediately felt the urge to help in any way I could. The best way to start was to let the Brains Get Famous family use my poem, in which I share my thoughts and a message that I believe other people with brain tumors can also relate to.
Love and thanks to María for your friendship and for the wonderful global work that you are doing!
Visit Tali’s personal blog, where you can learn more about her nonprofit work and other creative projects and interests:
Tali’s Place
https://talisplace.blogspot.com/
You are welcome to follow me on Instagram:
Songs by Tali Yifhar
https://www.instagram.com/songs_by_tali_yifhar/?__pwa=1
My Songs on Music Platforms
Nowadays, I am concentrating on my songwriting. I have been writing poems and songs since childhood, but I never thought about releasing them. It was only after the shock of being diagnosed with brain tumors that I decided to release my songs.
I released my first song in 2023, when I was 63 years old. I am trying to release as many as I can, while I can.
Songs by Tali Yifhar on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1iJ6AwSHkc02X2W9LNMs2J?si=7RQ-cSAMRwm-8q9SMcJ64g
Songs by Tali Yifhar are available on all music platforms.