09 Oct, 2023
October is breast cancer awareness month, a
month where we are reminded that breast cancer is still one of the most common cancers
among women, and that while it can be fatal, it can also be treated if detected
early.
This month, we also celebrate breast cancer
survivors. Below are the stories of three brave and inspiring women, who’ve
graciously shared with The Avenues Insider their persشonal experience with
breast cancer and explained the importance of early detection as well as having
a strong support system.
Breast cancer survivor and Engineer Shirin Kamshad shared her inspirational battle with breast cancer that began in 2021 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer after a self-examination. Shirin underwent treatment for a year and a half, which ended with a complete recovery.
Kamshad, 44, explained that the support and love of her family, friends, and colleagues directly contributed to raising her morale since her diagnosis. She said: “They flooded me with love, support, and encouragement. Their presence in my life is such a blessing – especially my sister Zainab, to whom I am so grateful for presence in my life, she always stands by my side and plays a big role in making me happy.”
Regarding her successful recovery, she shared: “I have complete faith that God would help me overcome this difficult stage, so I treated breast cancer the way I would treat any other disease – I lived my life normally and continued going to work.” She continued, “during my treatment, I did not cover my head, even when my air had fallen out due to the chemotherapy; I was so proud that I was strong and able to face life. I went to work, fulfilled my responsibilities as a mother towards my children, and performed the household tasks such as cooking. I was only a breast cancer patient on paper."
Menna Farag, a
breast cancer survivor, pointed out that early detection is neither
difficult nor expensive, it greatly helps in treatment and increases the
recovery rate up to 90%. Menna realized she needed to get checked when she
‘accidentally’ discovered a lump on her breast; on that same day, she went to
the doctor who advised her to get an ultrasound because she was younger than
40, and that’s when the tumor was confirmed.
She explained
the importance of mental health, saying: “your mental health strongly
contributes to strengthening your immune system, and I say this of experience.
The love and support of my friends and family really helped with my mental
health; optimism and patience greatly helped in getting rid of cancer.”
Farag believes the weapon to fighting breast cancer is for a woman to accept the disease and whatever changes that might bring into her life, take the treatment, follow a healthy diet, and leave the rest to God.
Aisha Al-Jheel,
another breast cancer survivor and the first Kuwaiti to be diagnosed with
breast cancer at the age of 23 without any family history, shared the moment
she realized she had breast cancer: “During Fajr prayer, I just knew something
was wrong with my right breast. I went to the doctor who performed the tests
that confirmed cancer”. Aisha was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and
successfully underwent chemotherapy for 6 months, which resulted in the removal
of both her breasts during an operation that lasted 18 hours.
She revealed
that the support of her friends and family was the reason behind improving her
mental health and that her faith in God’s ability to heal her was her weapon to
beating cancer.
Al-Jheel advised women to regularly self-examine, as she believes that early detection can save their lives.
