SUCCESS STORY
 | Life
doesn’t always remain the same and I guess this is what makes it so
beautiful. Seventeen years ago while living in Geneva I was diagnosed
with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (a kind of cancer). I underwent treatment there
and recovered successfully and was living a normal and happy life with
my family only to find out 16 years later that I once again had cancer,
this time it was breast cancer.
I had
never imagined that such a coincidence could happen with me. I still
remember the day I visited Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital
& Research Centre for
| my annual checkup. Keeping in view my
history, age and the high incidence of breast cancer in Pakistani
women, I was asked to undergo a mammography. I felt uncomfortable at
the thought of going through any diagnostic test that could be
suggestive of cancer but then I thought I had been through the worst
and it was just a routine test. But I didn’t know that this test and
day would change my entire life. I was once again diagnosed with
cancer. We were completely shattered. It just didn’t seem fair. I was
just having a normal checkup and not mentally prepared to be diagnosed
with cancer once again. It just couldn’t be true we thought and had the
diagnosis reconfirmed from other laboratories in search for the result
we wanted to see. But whether we were prepared to face it or not, it
had happened and I had no choice but to face the ordeal once again.
With the support of my family and friends I prepared myself for the
battle. I had faith that if He put me to it He will definitely take me
through it too.
I underwent surgery and then chemotherapy. Undergoing chemotherapy was
perhaps the most difficult part of the treatment. I was well aware of
the side effects but the first experience was really difficult but
gradually things became better as my body adapted to the
medications.
I was well aware and satisfied with the modern methods of treatment I
had as a part of my cancer treatment at SKMCH&RC. However what
truly fascinated me the most was the behavior and attitude of the staff
working there. I believe that some of the people working there are not
human but truly angels in disguise who work dedicatedly for the welfare
of patients.
My long and tiring treatment ended in August 2009 and now I am leading
a normal life. I could not have gone through it once again without the
help of God, a positive frame of mind, the prayers of my family and
friends, and the support from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.
Having to face cancer twice in my life was indeed very difficult and a
life changing experience. But it has taught me to cherish every moment
of my life and I feel I am a much better person now.
Rubina Saeed Chaudhry
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