Breast cancer survivors honoured by Emirates Red Crescent

Survivors of the condition share their stories after being honoured for their courage.

Abeer Al Tadfi is on of several women honoured who fought and beat breast cancer, after it returned a second time. Vidhyaa for The National

ABU DHABI // Abeer Al Tadfi just wanted to run away when it was discovered that she had breast cancer – for a second time.

“I got into the car and kept driving, said Ms Al Tadfi, a Syrian. “I was in Fujairah and suddenly realised I reached Abu Dhabi.

“Everyone was worried because I wouldn’t answer any calls, until the doctor who treated me the first time called and he calmed me down.”

Ms Al Tadfi was among 20 breast cancer survivors who were honoured recently by the Emirates Red Crescent.

She survived her first bout of cancer in 2013. Ms Al Tadfi, 34, said she was even more devastated when doctors told her the disease had returned.

“The first time I was scared of the disease and looked forward to the treatment but the second time I was terrified by the treatment,” she said. “I saw it as monster.

“The Abeer I was during my first cancer was very different to the Abeer during the second one.”

The first time she was keen to have chemotherapy and gave herself special treats and makeovers before each session.

“I gave myself a short haircut, to prepare for the hair loss. Each time I dyed my hair a different colour, bought new clothes and went out for coffee, because after the session I couldn’t have any,” she said. “Then when I lost my hair I bought a wig and applied fake lashes.”

After surgery in which a quarter of her breast tissue was removed and chemo sessions, she was cured. “But I always suspected it might come back, so I went for a mammogram every month.”

Ms Al Tadfi’s second experience was even more traumatic because her mother, who lives in Europe, also discovered she had breast cancer at the time.

“I got nervous breakdowns and started seeing a psychiatrist,” she said. “I even took a five-month break from my job. The first time, I continued to work.

“I felt the night was too dark, and the morning would never come.”

Ms Al Tadfi had further chemotherapy and decided to have a double mastectomy to “get it over with”.

Despite the hardships, she said she took some positives from the experiences. “I enrolled in university as I always wanted to finish my higher eduction.”

Bushra Al Hadad said her second cancer experience was less of a shock than the first. She was only 24 when she discovered her disease “by coincidence” while breastfeeding her daughter.

“I received therapy in Singapore for one year and continued taking hormone pills for five years after,” Ms Al Hadad said. She also had surgery to remove half of her breast.

“My daughter was one year and six months old so everything was difficult,” she said. “I was devastated at first but seeing my daughter in front of me, I wanted to live for her.”

Twelve years later, while having plastic surgery on her breast, the surgeon found a new tumour.

“I was less scared but I did not want to repeat the treatments because I had already tried it and never wanted it to do it again,” Ms Al Hadad said.

So two months later, she had a mastectomy.

“This time I was more aware and I tried meditation,” she said.

In general, she became less worried about her problems in life. “Your focus becomes the afterlife.”

Ms Al Hadad still enjoys shopping and dressing nicely “but I don’t get too engaged in these matters.

“Automatically one only becomes concerned with life’s essentials and there is no energy left to go around shops anyway.”

The treatment journey for Fatheya Sayed will be a long one.

“They told me I need to continue treatment for 10 years,” said Ms Fayed, 59, an Egyptian.

She began radiation sessions at Tawam hospital five years ago after her cancer was discovered and has five more years of treatment to go.

“In the beginning I was devastated of course, and they told me I would lose my hair,” she said.

“Radiation is difficult, and my body hurts a lot. The most important thing is to be satisfied with God’s will.”