Fifi, Egypt
My experience with breast cancer transformed me into a stronger person, and it allowed me to rediscover my children's feelings towards me, the depth of their love, and how they are my support and source of strength in life. This is in addition to my discovery of the importance and beauty of the simple things in life, which I did not pay attention to before the illness.
I was diagnosed with the disease in late 2020. At that time, I was with my daughter at a hospital where she was undergoing a dental examination, and she insisted that I undergo a mammogram on my breast, as she believed in the importance of early detection. Strangely, the examination did reveal the presence of a tumor.
My daughter immediately contacted Baheya Foundation and booked an appointment for me to undergo all the necessary examinations. During this period, until my examination appointment at Baheya, I reassured myself and said that this was definitely a benign tumor and that the matter would be simple. However, when I underwent the examinations, I learned that it was a malignant tumor, but fortunately in its early stages. The doctors' decision was that I would undergo a challenging partial mastectomy.
My limited thinking at that time was that my treatment depended only on the surgery and that there were no other procedures to be taken afterwards, so I was surprised when the doctor told me that I would start chemo, and my mind completely rejected the idea. The idea affected me psychologically a great deal, but my children were by my side and wanted to support me in any way. At that time, my eldest son shaved his head completely and told me that he was happy with his new look and that he saw himself more beautiful like this. I understood his purpose at that time and was happy inside for this gesture.
When my hair started to fall out, I began to accept the matter with contentment and peace of mind, and I had hope that tomorrow would always be better.
As for my children, I am a father and a mother to them, and I am the breadwinner for my family. As a pharmacist, I worked in my cousin's pharmacy after my husband's death so that I could provide them with an income to live on.
Unfortunately, when my cousin learned of my illness, he fired me from work and said that he was afraid that his work would be affected, all without any thought for my circumstances and those of my children.
At the same time, I found a stranger offering me a job and saying that he would support and help me. This is in addition to my friend who was with me all the time and tried to help me in every possible way, doing household chores for me and helping my family.
My daughter, Mariam, was with me all the time, taking me to treatment sessions, and she also helped the fighters at Baheya during her presence there. All the time, I kept my children before my eyes as my reason to beat the illness.
After the second session of chemotherapy, my veins unfortunately dried up and I could not tolerate the chemotherapy, so I had to have a porta Cath device installed, which was provided to me by Baheya Foundation because I could not afford the costs of purchasing it.
I am now in the hormonal treatment stage and participate in psychological support sessions at Baheya, which have made me feel that life is more beautiful and that tomorrow will be better.