August | 2012 | Let's Arise Again

I use to read in books that disease don’t differentiate between young or old; but now when I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 25 I believed that fact.

I am the only son for my parents and I am the big brother to one little sister. Since the age of 10 and I became orphan as my father died of the same disease. Now , I inherited it. It’s not cancer that I fear but it’s how my family will be without me. Being the only one who takes care of my old mother and my little 12 years old sister. How would they live without me ?

I wonder why doctors say that early detection of cancer can help save life. When the truth is you don’t know you have cancer unless it’s metastasized to other organs. Which is what happened to me? As the symptoms didn’t show and I wasn’t diagnosed until too late to intervene. The fact of cancer is that you don’t have time ; you don’t have time to decide nor to take a breath . In a moment you might be alive and tomorrow – no one knows .

People and family looks in a sympathetic way , while doctors want a fast reply about your decisions and your friends everyone gives an opinion or not to go for surgery others say ” Yes do it ! “. I got confused and to some point I didn’t what to do nor who to guide me . Whatever it was ; it has to be done fast. Meanwhile ; the image of my father when he was suffering after the he undergone multiple surgeries was haunting me .

I use to hear nurses saying in empathy how unlucky I was ! Being a handsome young man and having cancer. Everything is destiny . Before we were born our lives were written, I am Muslim , and I believe in Allah and that He would guide me and be the most merciful .

So that day the doctor was waiting a reply from me whether I agreed for surgery or no. I made a prayer and then I agreed. Whatsoever the consequences could be ! And if either ways we are dying ; I want to die trying .

” There are always a wings of hope “

Some Statistics:

–          Around 12.7 million new cancer cases were diagnosed worldwide in 2008.

–          The most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide are lung, breast and colorectal cancers. The most common causes of cancer death are lung, stomach and liver cancers

–          Approximately 70% of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

–          One in 4 deaths in the United States is due to cancer.

–          The rate of death in cancer has also been increased in 2010

Sources of the statistics :

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/world/cancer-worldwide-the-global-picture

http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/2012/ReportNationRelease2012