8 March International Women’s Day – Inspiring Stories of 6 Women Who Experienced Cancer

All women are working women...

International Working Women's Day is observed annually on 8 March. It has become a global day recognizing economic, political and social achievements and highlighting discrimination. With its inspiring theme, 8 March supports women's advancement and assertion of rights in every respect.

We Are Ashamed: Violence Against Women Is Increasing, Not Decreasing

Violence against women, according to the first article of the declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993, is: Any gender-based act resulting in or likely to result in physical, sexual or emotional harm, threats or coercion, and arbitrary restriction of freedom, whether in public or private. Its second article says this includes, but is not limited to, physical, sexual and psychological violence within family and close circles.

Violence inflicted simply because women are women, arising from gender inequality, violates their human rights . Although more frequent in developing countries, women everywhere face physical and psychological violence.

"There is a path we can walk more confidently and correctly: making the Great Turkish Woman a partner in our work."

Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK

After this sad emphasis on violence, for 8 March we wish to share small but precious details from inspiring stories of 6 women experiencing cancer.

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Nilüfer

One of millions of women continuing healthy lives after treatment. Describing feelings after ultrasound and mammography at diagnosis, in her own words:

"When doctors began investigating, I was startled and discouraged. I cried once that day, thinking my daughter was still very young. One becomes emotional. For a definitive diagnosis, they said I needed a needle biopsy . I was afraid, then attended the appointment under local anesthesia. I felt no pain and tried to stay calm. Surprisingly, pathology was still inconclusive. They performed another, larger biopsy whose name I cannot recall. It was more troublesome, but painless. Afterward, on a holiday I will never forget, I was told there was very early cancer in a milk duct. On 25 October, my breast was removed. I will never forget that date. I feared only surgery; losing my breast did not upset me. I could not walk around with a live bomb. Outside the duct, there were small tumors at 3 sites in the breast tissue. My cancer was very aggressive, so despite tiny tumors, chemotherapy was inevitable."

"I stayed home as much as possible. I disliked wigs but did not want to go out without one. I accepted everything and did not panic."

"Please take ownership of your illness, research, discuss everything with doctors and learn the details without dramatizing it. Chemotherapy's negative effects fade quickly after treatment. Do not grieve lost hair; believe me, it grows back thicker." says Nilüfer.

• Related topic: Breast cancer symptoms and treatment – The DIAGNOSTIC JOURNEY through questions

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DEFNE SAMYELİ

Screening identified the beginning of cervical cancer.

She says: "Experience taught me all my fears were unfounded. Pathology showed we intervened very early. I gave talks, and Türkiye saw a boom in smear testing . Many women had checks. They rightly say good can lie beneath apparent evil."

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LOCKEY MAISONNEUVE

Diagnosed in 2006, she received chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomy (breast removal) and radiation.

In many public talks sharing her experience, she emphasized: "Always be kind and compassionate to yourself" .

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YILDIZ TİLBE

She describes treatment: "I told nobody except family. Thankfully I had already had a child; otherwise it could have worn me down. During illness I was deeply in love and thought only of him. Troubles can emerge as bodily problems. After becoming ill, I forgot him completely. I learned not everything deserves so much thought or unnecessary sadness."

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SAMIA AL-AMOUDI

A doctor herself, SAMIA AL-AMOUDI received breast cancer treatment and informed women worldwide, encouraging regular cancer screening . Diagnosed in April 2006, she decided to lead awareness campaigning in Saudi Arabia. Her courage as a single mother in the Middle East inspired many to change how they viewed the illness.

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ANGELINA JOLIE

ANGELINA JOLIE has not had cancer but is strongly associated with breast cancer awareness. In 2013 she had both breasts removed and in early 2015 her ovaries removed, after a BRCA1 mutation was identified. This meant a future 87% breast cancer risk and 50% ovarian cancer risk. Why hereditary testing? Her mother died of ovarian cancer aged 56, and Jolie learned some ovarian and breast cancers are hereditary.

• Related topic: Who should have genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer?

In a New York Times article describing surgery, Jolie shared that her mother underwent ovarian cancer treatment for 10 years. She said, "My mother lived long enough to hold her grandchildren. But my children will never have the chance to know how loving and good she was" . Through awareness, Jolie may have given her own grandchildren that chance.

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AMELIE BEYRIES

AMELIE BEYRIES, faced cancer 2 times and became known as a singer during treatment. But in 2007, aged 28 at her first breast cancer diagnosis, she felt life slipping away. The Canadian-born pop singer-songwriter drew attention with her 2017 album, Landing , and her best-known song became music from the Will Smith film, The Pursuit of Happyness . Her path to singing and songwriting, however, is quite different.

"If you had known me 10 years ago, I never cried" she says, brushing away tears while discussing treatment. "Before illness, I was very controlling" she adds.

Thinking the first treatment ended everything, she moved to a mountain house for protection. Cancer nevertheless returned. In dark depression after losing faith, she immersed herself in piano and wrote "Alone."

She insisted nobody should hear her recordings, but friends persuaded her, beginning her singing journey. Asked about future plans, she says it is hard to discuss: she is writing a second album but dislikes thinking far ahead. Despite approximately 1 year in remission, she previously learned long-term plans were not for her.

"I try to focus only on what is happening now" she says.

The world knew Beyries through music for the Will Smith film, The Pursuit of Happyness .

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I celebrate 8 March International Women's Day with all our women patients, families and the hardworking women forming most of our team, particularly my mother, wife and daughter.