Fathimath Ihusana, Maldives

My journey into oncology nursing wasn't something I planned, but it opened my eyes and gave me a deeper purpose. It taught me to be more compassionate in my role as a nurse.
In November 2021, during a routine checkup, my mother was suspected to have a cancer lesion in her breast. She was in a denial
phase, so to accept this news and to do the biopsy it took more than two weeks. But when the biopsy report came, it ended up with the diagnosis we had feared the most. In that moment, I was no longer just a nurse-| was a daughter facing a reality I had never wanted to confront. Standing on the other side of care, experienced firsthand the fear, uncertainty, and emotional weight that patients and families carry.
This experience became a turning point in my life. It deepened my empathy, strengthened my commitment to oncology nursing, and taught me that beyond clinical skills, presence, understanding, and compassion are what truly define meaningful nursing care.

The biggest challenge was helping my mother come to terms with her diagnosis.
Supporting her through the time of suspected lesions to the last session of radiation required patience, understanding, and emotional strength.

What helped me the most was my profession as an oncology nurse. My knowledge and experience allowed me to understand my mother's condition and care for her during the most vulnerable moments. I was able to accompany her through every stage of treatment, including the operating theatre and ICU. Alhamdulillah, I am grateful for the support, trust, and privileges given to me by the treating doctors and the entire medical team.

As a healthcare professional, I received good support from our local doctors and my nursing team, friends, family, colleagues and the medical team at Amrita Hospital. After surgery, we returned to Hulhumalé, where my mother started her chemotherapy, and her first cycle was initiated at Hulhumalé Hospital. However, one challenge I faced in our local healthcare system was the lack of a strong multidisciplinary team, especially access to counseling and dietitian support. Because of this gap, my mother relied more on advice from other patients rather than professional guidance from us. Unfortunately, this led her to follow inappropriate dietary advice, which resulted in a serious complication.

A cancer journey in any kind of involvement is never easy, and everyone struggles it in different ways. My advice is to have faith and trust in Allah, and to move forward with hope. Even in darkness, the light is never too far.
Take every challenge and hardship as a blessing, follow your doctor's advice, and attend regular follow-ups. Most importantly, focus on prevention -do regular screenings and health checkups instead of waiting until symptoms appear.