Emma Skoglund lives with a chronic brain tumor and chronic breast cancer.
The brain tumor was discovered in 2011 and then it was as big as a chicken egg.
With the help of operations and treatment, the size of the tumor was reduced, but it is not possible to remove the operation completely.
In 2017, Emma suffered from breast cancer and she is being treated for it today.
Breast cancer has spread to the skeleton and on her back she has metastases, which is what affects her everyday life the most.
- Therefore, it is important that I get my treatments, otherwise I notice that I get worse, she explains.
Important with support from relatives
With the pandemic and Emma going on chemotherapy, she needs to be extra careful.
This has meant that she has not been able to meet her family in Dalarna as often as before due to all the risks.
The contact she has with them now takes place mainly by telephone.
- The support from relatives is everything.
It is very important and gives me new energy.
It has been tougher than I thought to be isolated and has affected me mentally.
Furthermore, Emma believes that it has been a frustration both for her and the family not to be able to be seen.
- It feels like there is frustration and powerlessness from both sides not to be able to provide support in the same way.
By giving a hug you can show understanding but you can not now.
Dog as company
Although Emma cannot meet the family in Dalarna as often as she lives in Västerås due to the risks, she is grateful that she has her dog Freja.
- She means everything.
I think I would have felt worse without her.
She is the one who pulls me out and makes it possible to have a little social exchange with people when you take a walk, says Emma Skoglund, while she pats Freja.