The 61-year-old is back at work and is the car dealer’s face. When she meets customers, her smile competes with the grins that are for sale behind her in the room. But the sales secretary at Bertel O. Steen in Åsane has a completely unusual and dramatic story. Within six months, she developed cancer in her throat, breast and abdomen. Three different and very serious cancer diagnoses that had to be fought at the same time. – I went through eight operations, six chemotherapy courses and a lot of radiation. The doctors did a gene panel on me to find out why my body was producing so much cancer, but they found nothing. It was just bad luck, says the 61-year-old. POWERFUL RADIATION: Trude has severely reduced saliva production after receiving powerful radiation in her throat. Photo: Private – Indescribable exhaustion Fortunately, the treatments worked. Trude is cancer-free and back to work, but she is not the same as before. – After the cancer, I felt an indescribable exhaustion. Being cancer-free and “healthy” doesn’t mean you’re the same as you were. I will never be the same as I was before cancer. In the middle of the conversation, she suddenly has to interrupt. – I have to swallow, sorry. Can we start over? Powerful radiation treatments on the side of the neck mean that her saliva production is greatly reduced. This means that her throat is constantly dry. Trude must drink water before she can continue. – I have also lost much of my sense of taste. I don’t know the taste of meat or sweet things, she says. RUN FOR THE FATHER: Trude Fermann Jensen in 2018, the last time she took part in “Stafett for life”. Back then, she ran for her father, who died of cancer. Photo: Hilde Kleppestø Something about the relay At the weekend, she is mobilizing everything she has to run at “Stafett for life”, an annual event organized by the Cancer Society. She has been there several times before. But this year it’s different. From being a supporting player, she is now a so-called “fighter” – a survivor. – In 2018, we were a group of ladies who participated to support and pay tribute to everyone who has cancer or is affected. Imagine if I had known then that I myself would be affected. It’s good that you never know what tomorrow will bring. – Trude’s story is unique, and we are very happy that she and others use this support arena, says Geir Vangsnes, district manager of the Cancer Association. – One of the things that we know cancer survivors want is to meet others who have been in similar situations and have experience of something similar to their own. The first relay of the year starts on Askøy on Saturday. There, Trude is joined by family and friends who stand up to support her in the fight for a more or less normal life after the cancer. NOT HEREDITARY: Doctors found no genetic predisposition to cancer. The three simultaneous diagnoses were pure bad luck. Photo: Privat Wants to return to full-time work The illness has sapped his strength, but the sales secretary has been determined to fight his way back to work. She herself says that the most important thing is to eventually return to a 100% position with Bertel O. Steen. – It is important to feel that you have some value, that I will not just become “the woman with cancer”, says the 61-year-old.
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