UAE women on fighting breast cancer and reclaiming their lives: ‘I'm not going anywhere'
It was meant to be her 60th birthday dinner with her husband and it turned quiet. Catherine Vander Cammen, a social educator, was a very busy woman living in the UK. One day, after a shower, she noticed that her right nipple was inverted. She went straight to her GP and pressed for a mammogram. “They told me to stay longer,” she recalls. “They took me for a biopsy, and we waited several days for…
A social educator from the UK, Catherine Vander Cammen, was diagnosed with breast cancer on her 60th birthday. She noticed an inverted right nipple and immediately sought medical attention. After a biopsy, the diagnosis was confirmed, leaving her in shock. Still, she went to her birthday dinner with her husband, numb and in tears. Catherine vowed to fight the disease, stating, "I am going to fight this."
Psychologist Hiba Salem explains that cancer can trigger a survival mode, causing people to feel numb or calm. The uncertainty of the diagnosis can lead to constant rehearsals of the worst possible outcomes. Catherine's journey involved surgery, chemotherapy, and multiple procedures, yet she remained determined. She kept a journal, attended therapy, and even volunteered at a cancer support group in the UAE.
Maria Sirotinina, a MedTech leader and biomedical engineer, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36 in 2022. Despite the shock, she remained focused on her treatment plan and expressed a desire to live her best life. Her journey included chemotherapy, hair loss, and fertility concerns, but she found ways to cope and even gained peace with her new reality. Both Catherine and Maria serve as examples of women who have faced breast cancer and continue to reclaim their lives.
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