Fight it back

cancer survivors’ day

This week, You! pays homage to a few cancer survivors, who share their journey on the occasion of Cancer Survivors’ Day observed recently...

National Cancer Survivors Day 2018 is an international event observed on the first Sunday in June every year, which highlights cancer, sufferers, survivors and how the disease affects lives. It celebrates the ones who have survived, has hope for the newly diagnosed, and acknowledges support for affected families and outreach in the community. Keeping this in mind, this week, You! pays homage to a few cancer survivors, from Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), on the occasion of Cancer Survivors’ Day...

My journey

One day while taking a shower, Sadaf Ahmad felt a hard growth in her breast. She had heard of the importance of having an immediate check-up through health awareness programmes on television. Her mother and other female family members encouraged her to get professional help. And after some tests, she was eventually referred to the Breast Clinic at AKUH.

Sadaf had always believed that the hospital was too costly. However, she was pleasantly surprised at the caring attitude of the doctors at the Breast Clinic and the welfare programme officers at AKUH. “The treatment for this disease is very expensive. However, all the breast cancer patients here are treated equally. The doctors are very cooperative and understanding: they work with the patient to provide them the best options and a way forward,” shares Sadaf.

Sadaf’s family was shocked to hear her diagnoses, as she was the first woman in her family to have breast cancer, but they were very supportive when her health started deteriorating.

She underwent treatment for breast cancer for three years, including a surgery that was followed by seven sessions of chemotherapy and nineteen sessions of radiotherapy.

“Dr Tayabba told me to never let my will-power fail, or I would become weak,” Sadaf recalls.

At that time, Sadaf’s greatest concern were her daughters, now aged thirteen and eleven years. They would become frightened when she returned home after chemotherapy and suffered from the after effects such as loss of hair and darkened nails. Fortunately, her husband was understanding and supported her and the children’s needs.

With her faith in God, support from family and doctors giving Sadaf the courage to survive the ordeal, she is fully recovered from breast cancer and is leading a normal life.

“I became closer to God during this entire experience. God gave me this disease, and He also helped to cure me,” she concludes.

A 16-year-old’s tale

Sidra, a high-spirited girl from Larkana, was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. For a young girl, this news came as a complete shock. “It was not easy for me or my family to accept that I had been diagnosed with blood cancer. But then, my parents decided that they would go to any length to give me another chance to live,” recounts16-year-old Sidra Bhutto.

“In the beginning, it was an agonising bone pain and fever. And waking up every morning with bone pain was debilitating. Initially, my parents thought it was just a viral fever and took me to a local hospital. But they grew more concerned when the problem lingered and the doctors were unable to find the reason,” she recalls.

?The family decided to go to Karachi for treatment. After initial screening and diagnosis, they consulted Dr. Zehra Fadoo, Professor of Oncology, AKUH, to discuss the treatment options. Dr. Zehra and her team were optimistic about Sidra’s recovery. Together, they developed a comprehensive treatment plan to provide Sidra with complete medical assistance, including preliminary and follow-up care.

Sidra’s parents felt positive that she could be cured. Sidra underwent rigorous chemotherapy during which she lost her hair, got mouth ulcers, reported fever, nausea and vomiting; yet she remained undefeated. Her faith in God and her positive attitude kept her going. Her family stood by her side and gave her strength which enabled her to continue her treatment for three years.

“The doctors were so dedicated. They took very good care of me and supported me at every step throughout the treatment process,” she enunciates.

Sidra has been off treatment for over a year and has now returned to her normal life. Today, she goes to college with aspirations to become a doctor to help children with cancer, to give them the strength and courage to fight it, just like she did.?

Don’t let it beat you!

In 2012, the results of a biopsy test at the AKUH revealed that Aliciya Josephine had breast cancer. This news was a great blow for her. “I felt devastated. I felt like the whole world fell upon me... I had been living a good, clean life. No smoking. No drinking or prohibited drugs. Why me?” shares Aliciya.

The trial was worst for her because she had moved to Pakistan from Philippines nine years earlier, to work for a family based in Karachi. Aliciya followed the advice of Dr Shaista Khan and underwent surgery to have her breast removed. After surgery, she underwent chemotherapy. She lost her hair; her limbs went numb and her skin blackened, yet she remained insurmountable. She kept herself busy with activities such as gardening and participation in the Special Olympics project. Her employers were also very supportive and enabled her to continue her treatment for three years. “I told myself to fight: cancer will never beat me. I will beat it and save my life!” she says adamantly. “That is what my mother would also want me to do...”

Aliciya remained strong and she was eventually cured of cancer. She now comes to AKU for regular checkups. Her advice to all other women is to visit a doctor if they feel that something is wrong with their body, because early detection can help save a person’s life - as it saved hers.?

—Stories have been shortened for reasons of clarity