I had constant night sweats. Sometimes, I’d even doze off at traffic lights on the way to work. It could’ve been fatigue; I was overworked after all. Friends said “It’s just symptoms of menopause..” So I shrugged it off for a while.
I was on vacation with my daughter when I started feeling tightness around my chess. But I wasn’t worried. I was in good health and I went for yearly medical check-ups. Surely there couldn’t be anything wrong with me.
So on a clear, sunny day, I went to see a cardiologist. Having listened to my lungs, he quickly referred me to a chest specialist. Tests were done, x-rays were taken – there was fluid in my right lung. They quickly aspirated it and decided to send me home with TB medication. I had Tuberculosis?! But I was feeling energetic again; all was good in the world.
BUT I WAS WRONG!
Three weeks later, at age 50, I was diagnosed with end-stage lung cancer. Fluid extracted from my lung contained malignant cells. I was told to go home and discuss things with my family. How could I have cancer when I felt as healthy as a horse? I cried myself to sleep that night.
I went through the process of getting a CT scan and a bone scan – all of which showed that I indeed did have lung cancer. Doctors suggested I start chemotherapy immediately. But how could I have treatment when I still needed to work? My children were all studying and I needed to keep food on the table. So I decided not to have chemotherapy and kept myself busy with work.
One of the greatest gifts I have in life is a wonderful support system. My sisters persuaded me to seek treatment, my good friend made an appointment for me to seek a second opinion, my employer kept sending me articles on alternative medicine … even my GP told me about an aunt who didn’t go for chemotherapy and survived for more than 16 years! So many choices! I tried many things – a strict diet, many different herbs, juicing, went to see a Chinese herbalist – all to keep myself healthy. All I needed was a few more years until my children graduated.
In 2013, a day after my daughter’s wedding; my condition took a turn for the worse. I was breathless and couldn’t even walk a short distance. My sister took me to the hospital and I went home with a chest tube draining fluid from my lung. After 56 days, the tube was removed but a tumor had now started growing around the site. The pain was excruciating.
I was in and out of the hospital a lot, and by July 2015, I was referred to AsPaC by my primary healthcare provider. My lungs had collapsed and I needed supplemental oxygen at all times. Dr Lalitha and her team constantly checked on me and provided me with care and moral support, all of which I am very grateful for.
In January 2016, I was hospitalized for almost a month. I was having breathing difficulties and chest tubes were inserted in both lungs. I was weak and helpless. Everyday, I begged the doctors to let me go home. When I opted for palliative care, they relented. I came home the same day my daughter brought her baby home.
With indwelling catheters in my lungs, my children learnt to flush the tubes, drain the fluid and change the dressing for my wound.
Being at home, most importantly, I get to watch my little family grow. My children have been nothing but supportive of me.
At the time of writing, it was six years since Jawahir was first diagnosed. She learnt to cope with trying times in life and was determined to overcome whatever came her way. Her faith in God was strong and she was convinced that He will see her through her cancer by giving her courage and healing.