I RECENTLY had the privilege of meeting a courageous woman in Multan who had developed a mass in her abdomen and was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. She only had a few months to live, according to the doctors who advised her to visit a hospital in Lahore where she might receive some treatment.

She took the chance and underwent surgery and chemotherapy at the recommended hospital, and when I met her, it had already been more than a year since the initial diagnosis. She never gave up.

Her story is a lesson for physicians as well as patients that not all stage four cancers automatically mean a death sentence. It is important to seek care at a facility which is adequately equipped to treat cancer, and to proactively participate in decisions related to one’s health. It is essential to take informed decisions.

Let us commit to educate ourselves on ovarian cancer. Some common symptoms include feeling bloated constantly, having a swollen tummy, feeling full quickly after eating and frequent micturition. One should not ignore any unusual symptoms and should seek expert medical advice instead of depending on family and friends who may support one emotionally, but not clinically.

Mariam Khan
Lahore

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2021