Mennat-Allah, Egypt

Like so many others, my family has been deeply affected by the challenges of serious illness, particularly cancer. From my father's struggle to my mother's ongoing fight, and now my own experience, these diseases have become a central part of our lives. This became even more clear when, at just 23 years old, I received my own diagnosis.

My father passed away due to brain cancer in its advanced stage, and my mother has been battling breast cancer since 2020, with a recurrence in her liver. She had stopped her treatment upon learning of my illness to care for me.

I began experiencing symptoms in 2023 and contacted Baheya Foundation to schedule an examination. However, the available appointment was quite far off. During that time, I consulted several doctors and underwent examinations, all of whom assured me that it was a benign tumor and that my concerns were likely due to my mother's illness.

When my appointment at Baheya finally arrived, and after the examinations, they requested a biopsy as the tumor appeared suspicious. The results revealed that I had a tumor that would require a total mastectomy along with chemotherapy. At that moment, I was devastated, but the doctor reassured me, calmed me down, and explained the situation in detail. 

I underwent the surgery, but I was completely opposed to the idea of chemotherapy, having witnessed my mother's suffering with it. I did not want to relive that ordeal.

The oncologist respected my wishes and reassured me that we would repeat certain tests. If the levels were higher than normal, I would unfortunately have to start chemotherapy as my medical condition would be at risk. Unfortunately, the test results were not in my favor, and I knew that I would have to resort to chemotherapy.

The doctor was very respectful of my wishes and gave me time and space to consider my options. She explained that they could not force me into anything, but that I needed to understand that this was the appropriate treatment for my condition, and one that I needed to pursue.

I decided to comply with the doctors' recommendations and begin chemotherapy. At every appointment, the doctor would check on my physical and mental well-being, and inquire about the side effects I was experiencing. Everyone working at Baheya treated me with utmost kindness, love, and care. This journey has impacted and transformed me, and I have navigated it with the help and support of those around me.