Diagnosis: Breast cancer

Widad is a fifty four year old mother of four children. She enjoys good health and lives a life full of happiness and stability. She is also active and loves to travel.

In 2004, Widad discovered a light inflammation on the areola of her left breast. She went to an obstetrician, who in turn ran all the necessary tests. He diagnosed her with eczema and treated it as such, prescribing a bit of medication. Widad used the treatment diligently and the blood stopped for two or three days, then the bleeding would start again. She was disturbed by this and she asked her doctor for a solution. He advised her to go to a specialist who would take a sample of the areola to be tested. Widad awaited the results in an environment of tension, fear and anxiety. Widad’s brother, a doctor, followed-up on the results, and she called him several times a day to ask him about the result. He told her this type of testing requires a long time. 

Widad says: “On the third day, I became impatient and I told my brother that a biopsy does not take all this time. Ten minutes later I heard my brother’s voice at the entrance of the house, I felt the ground shaking under me and I couldn’t stand on my feet. Before he said anything, I read the result in his face. My husband was there and I screamed at them: “I have cancer, don’t I?!” I was destroyed, I felt weak and that life had ended for me. At that instant, I felt a hidden force from God Almighty shaking me to the bone as if speaking to me, saying: where is your faith and trust in God, you who have visited Mecca?!”

Widad regained her composure after her devastation and she looked at her husband and brother. She said: “This is not the end of the world; we are in a country of advanced medicine, thank God.”

Widad visited the specialist who would create a treatment plan, he advised her to undergo a mastectomy. She underwent a mastectomy of the left breast. The tests revealed a need to remove the other breast, because of the affliction of the milk ducts. She then felt a great sadness and said to herself: “I can only get that which my God has destined for me”. 

Widad decided to pray to God asking him for direction. That night she saw in her sleep two great mountains that she would walk toward. As she approached, the two mountains disappeared and she remained alone. She says, “From this vision I agreed to have the other breast removed. After the operation, my doctor referred me to the King Hussein Cancer Center”.

She was surprised when she went to the Center, because she did not expect it to be so developed and specialized in the treatment of cancer. She received special care from the reception staff all the way to the medical team, including doctors and nurses. When Widad went to see the specialist at the Center, who studied all the tests, x-rays and the situation in general, the doctor decided she needed four preventative doses of chemotherapy. Widad firmly rejected this plan, believing that there would be no need for chemotherapy, because her surgeon had informed her that her lymph nodes were not afflicted. “The doctor gave me a chance to think and proposed I meet and talk with the psychiatrist at the Center.” Widad met with the psychiatrist, who convinced her to agree.

Widad started to receive chemotherapy at the Center. Widad says, “When I went for my first dose of chemotherapy I could not find an empty recliner to receive chemotherapy, so the nurse in charge asked me to take a seat until a recliner became available. Another lady insisted on giving me her place, which reflected positively on my psyche. We then became close friends living the same experience”.

The treatment had side effects and Widad experienced hair loss after the chemotherapy. She says, “One day my nephew, who was ten, came to visit and was surprised to see me without hair. He ran to his father, asking him to explain what happened to his aunt.”

Widad completed her therapy and her tests proved good. She says, “I am sure the healthcare and good treatment I received from everyone I dealt with at the King Hussein Cancer Center, from the reception staff and workers to the nurses and doctors, gave me an incentive to fight this disease and live normally. I was inspired to join the Sanad Support Group, receiving the necessary training to do so.” Volunteer work increased her self-confidence and encouraged her to participate in more volunteering work including giving doctor accompanied awareness lectures.   

Widad leaves the interview with one final note of thanks: “I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who stood by me and supported me, including my family, loved ones and friends.”