"The story began long before that. I had felt a lump in my left breast in December 2021. As I had skipped a mammogram appointment, I got really nervous and immediately booked a new, and had the lump checked with mammography, ultrasound, and a biopsy. That lump turned out to be benign. When I felt a new lump in my right breast 18 months later, I wasn’t worried but decided to book an appointment to get tested. The new lump was a bit painful, and based on what I found online, it didn’t seem like cancer, so I wasn’t worried. But I still contacted healthcare.

The doctor felt the lump and suspected an adenoma – calcifications in the milk ducts. But soon came the shocking news: ‘You have triple negative breast cancer which is aggressive.’ From that moment, everything moved quickly. I was in shock and cried for three days. It was so hard to grasp what was happening.anda better leader for my team.

A colleague at the office had passed away from the same diagnosis a few months before, and before that, a childhood friend had also passed away from the same diagnosis. It hit me hard, but when you look at the statistics, that’s not how reality looks. I want to spread the message that there is another side. I want to convey what it’s like to have cancer. It has been tough, but I stand tall and look forward."

What happened within you?

“I really thought that was the end of it. I googled a lot, which you shouldn’t do. But I’m good at sorting information and taking in what I want to take in. When I felt the lump growing despite strong medication of 15 doses of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, I became very worried. I cried for a week and couldn’t concentrate. Many tissues were used that week. When the MRI confirmed activity in the tumor, it was decided to skip the last dose and go straight to surgery.”

How did this affect your daily life?

“I remember one morning when I was dressing my daughter for preschool – the tears just flowed. It was like someone turned on the faucet and I couldn’t turn it off. The doctors wanted to do a ‘lumpectomy (only remove the cancerous area), but I asked for a mastectomy. I wanted to get rid of it all. After the surgery, I was offered a prosthesis. I had a temporary one for a few weeks, but it was so uncomfortable trying to keep it in place. ‘There is no obligation to have two breasts,’ my surgeon told me. I thought about Essity’s purpose Breaking Barriers to Well-being and felt like a hypocrite if I went to work not as myself. Since then, I have not used a prosthesis and I call myself a ‘uni-boober.’”

How has the treatment been?

"Before you get cancer, you don’t think of things like this. You don’t know what to expect. I’ve had to deal with difficulties I hadn’t encountered before. Everyone reacts so differently to chemotherapy. My body has held up quite well considering. Of course, I’ve felt nauseous and tired. I’ve received blood transfusions due to anemia. Temporary incontinence issues from a type of chemotherapy they call the “red devil”. Part of the surgical wound didn’t heal as it should, so they put one of our products, Cuticell. That incident made me feel extra proud of what we do at work. The chemotherapy is so strong that it suppresses the entire immune system. With a child in preschool and all the germs that come with it, I ended up with neutropenic fever and pneumonia. I had to keep track of my temperature because only a slight fever could be a sign of bad infection.

But I’ve also received support from healthcare and my loved ones, which has been invaluable. Going through cancer treatment is a tough journey. People don’t always understand the struggle you have to go through to come out on the other side.

Despite all this, I stand here today, stronger and more determined than ever. I want to raise awareness and show that there is hope, even when it feels darkest."

How has your daily life changed since the diagnosis?

"It has changed a lot as I need to distribute the energy I have differently. My partner leaves for work early, and then my daughter and I snooze for a long time. After breakfast, I take her to preschool. If I’m tired, I go home and work four hours from the couch. I’ve learned to create my own energy by moving – I cycle or walk to work. If I’m very tired, I stay in bed.

Essity has supported me a lot during my illness. I’ve appreciated my colleagues’ understanding and flexibility. It has been a comfort to know that I have their support. My colleagues and managers have been fantastic. They have shown great understanding and empathy, and I have felt supported every step of the way."

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned during this journey?

“The biggest lesson for me has been to accept support and to be open about the diagnosis. Sharing is caring and there is a sisterhood in breast cancer. Being in a support network where you can ask questions to women who are going through or have gone through the same thing as I have has been invaluable. I’ve learned not to google too much. But the biggest lesson is that there is strength in community. I’ve joined several social media groups about cancer. It’s tough and challenging, but there is support to be found.”

Do you have any advice for others going through a similar situation?

"Accept support! Join a group and talk to others going through the same thing. There is empowerment in community. I remember once when I was sitting in the waiting room, and a woman came out, and I heard her telling her companion that her cancer had also been found in a lymph node. I asked if I could give her a hug and said it will be okay. We sat and talked for a while there in the waiting room. There is strength in sharing your experiences. Another time when I had lost all my hair, I was at a café buying coffee. The barista asked me if I was undergoing treatment and said, ‘You will get through this.’ It turned out she had survived a severe leukemia diagnosis.

Statistically, a cancer diagnosis today is not a death sentence, but that’s how it feels to get one. I want to share my journey to show that there is hope. We can get through this together."

Name: Ingrid Karlsson
Age: 47
Works as: Treasury Administrator Cash Management at Essity’s headquarters in Stockholm
Favorite product in Essity’s portfolio: For me, TENA absorbable underwear was a lifesaver. It’s impossible to stay dry when you have the “red devil” chemotherapy in your body and the continues coughing caused by pneumonia.

Through our brands, we offer innovative solutions for breast cancer-related incontinence, lymphedema, and wounds, addressing the often-challenging side effects of cancer treatments and surgeries. We actively collaborate with healthcare providers and customers to raise awareness, provide essential resources, and empower patient communities.

Text: Lotta Thun