I have always been conscious about my health. When I turned 40, I made a decision — every October, I would get a mammogram. It became a routine, something I did for myself, without waiting for any symptoms.

When I was 43, in 2023, a routine mammogram showed a lump in my breast. It had already spread to my lymph nodes.

What shocked everyone was this: I had no symptoms at all. Doctors kept asking me, “Why did you come for a mammogram?” And my answer was simple: “Because I am over 40.”

I had no pain, no visible changes, nothing I could feel. That is the reality of breast cancer — it can be a silent disease, growing quietly inside the body until it is too late. That is why mammograms are not optional — they are life-saving.

At the clinic, something happened that stayed with me. A radiologist, clearly irritated, said: “October has started — now these crazy women will start coming for mammograms.”
I remember thinking: What kind of training allows a doctor to say this?

In a country where so many women die from a disease that is treatable if caught early, why would anyone be frustrated that women are getting checked? Instead, I felt grateful for the awareness campaigns in October. They are clearly working — enough for clinics to notice an increase in women coming forward. That is something to celebrate, not dismiss.
But it also made me realize: awareness is not just needed in the public — it is needed within the healthcare system too.

When I consulted different doctors, I faced another moment that stayed with me. An experienced oncologist asked me why I had gone for a mammogram.

I explained, “Because I am over 40 — it is recommended.” He replied: “I am an oncologist, and my wife has never had a mammogram.” I was stunned.

If an oncologist — someone who sees breast cancer patients regularly — has not emphasized this even in his own home, then what must the level of awareness be in the general population?

That moment changed something in me. I realized that awareness cannot be assumed — it has to be built, conversation by conversation.

I started speaking to the women around me. I encouraged them, explained to them, even took time to convince some of them to go for mammograms.

Some listened. Some did not. Even now, I have two friends who refuse to get a mammogram or biopsy. They believe that these procedures themselves cause cancer. This is one of the most dangerous misconceptions. Detection does not cause cancer — it saves lives. Mammograms and biopsies are tools that help us find cancer early, when treatment is more effective and recovery is more possible.

My cancer was detected at Stage 2 — before I had any symptoms, before I could feel anything — but it had already reached my lymphatic system. I had to undergo a PET scan in Peshawar, as it was not available in Islamabad at the time. There, I was told that there was a possibility the cancer could have spread further — even to my brain. Hearing that was terrifying. In that moment, your mind goes everywhere. You think about the worst possibilities. You wonder if it is already too late. But I was not alone. I had my family and friends. And that support became my strength.

Then began treatment. Chemotherapy was the hardest part.

I went through 8 cycles — two every month. Those four months were the most difficult time of my life. Chemotherapy takes so much from you — physically, emotionally, mentally. But I was determined. I told myself I would get through it — and I did.

After that came surgery. It was long and complex. Along with breast surgery, I also had to undergo a hysterectomy due to my cancer being ER/PR positive. Radiation followed. It was comparatively easier. I did not experience severe skin burns, but I did develop inflammation in my oesophagus, which improved after treatment ended.

Today, when I look back, I feel one thing more than anything else: gratitude.

Gratitude that I chose to get regular mammograms.

Gratitude that my cancer was detected when it still could be treated.

Because the truth is this:

You may feel completely fine.

You may notice no changes.

You may not feel any lump.

And still — cancer may already be there, silently growing.

My Message to Every Woman

If you are over 40, please get a mammogram every year.

Do not wait for symptoms.

Do not wait for fear to push you.

Do not let myths stop you.

Invest that time. Invest that money.

It is an investment in your life.

Because early detection does not just save lives — it gives you a chance to keep living the life you love, with the people you love.