I was 28 years old when I felt a lump in my left breast. There was no one in my family who had ever had cancer and the word did not even cross my mind at that time. I discussed the lump with my mother who said it could be due to breast-feeding my daughter. My daughter was around two years old at that time.

I waited for a month, hoping for the lump to go away, but with each passing day, I felt that something was not right. I went to a gynaecologist who told me to get ultrasound done. After the ultrasound, I went to three different hospitals and everyone told me there was nothing to worry. The lump was not going away and I knew this was not my normal.

Then I discussed with my father about going to Shaukat Khanum Hospital, which is a cancer hospital, and this meant facing the possibility of ‘cancer.’ It turned out to be a life-saving decision. I was told that only a biopsy could confirm if it’s cancer. When I collected the report, I remember reading the diagnosis as “invasive ductal carcinoma.” I had to look it up to know it meant cancer. I spoke to my friend who is a doctor in the US, and she told me that it seemed to be an aggressive type of breast cancer, but she said ‘Gulnaz, you have to fight it.’

It was around January of 2014 when I formally registered as a patient at a specialist cancer hospital in Lahore. My treatment plan included six cycles of chemotherapy and twenty-one sessions of radiation therapy. I had long hair and I asked my oncologist if he could mix something in the medicines that would save my hair. I still remember what he said, ‘your hair will grow back but this is about your life and this treatment is crucial to save your life.’

Then after my third chemo, I wanted to give up because I felt very exhausted physically, and emotionally. I asked my doctor if I could stop treatment. When I was on the verge of giving up, he motivated me to keep going and said ‘you are already half way through, don’t give up now.’ It was because of his encouragement and because I kept thinking of my daughter that I continued. I was struggling with my married life at that time because my in-laws were not supportive during treatment and my husband divorced me during radiation therapy. I survived through it all.

My active treatment ended in 2015 and then I started studying for a master’s degree. After graduating, I started teaching at the same private university. My five-year follow-up is also completed now.

My message for other women is that do not ignore any unusual symptoms and go to the right place for diagnosis and treatment.