womanthismonth.com | OCTOBER 2026 STORIES OF STRENGTH 82 Finding a Way STORIES OF STRENGTH When Budoor Alansari discovered a lump in her breast one ordinary morning, she refused to ignore it. Through diagnosis, treatment and the difficult return to everyday life, she found strength in her family, faith and the belief that even the hardest moments would pass. It began on an ordinary morning. I was up early for my usual routine of prayer, reading and exercise when, while getting ready for work, I noticed a lump in my left breast. I had never felt it before. At first, I told myself I was imagining it and went to work. Throughout the morning, however, I kept checking and the lump was still there, unchanged. I left work and went straight to find a doctor. Two private hospitals told me there were no appointments available, but I did not give up. I went to the health centre near my home, where a doctor examined me and immediately referred me to specialists. My feelings in the days that followed were mixed, but I chose to wait for the results rather than let my mind race ahead. I told only one person: my husband, who became my greatest source of support throughout the experience. When the diagnosis came, it was my doctor’s approach that softened the blow. Instead of saying the tumour was “malignant”, she told me it was “not benign”. She patiently explained that cancer is no longer as frightening as it once was and that medicine has changed. Her words made the shock much easier to accept. The hardest decision was how to tell my children, Ali, who was 16, and Amina, who was 13. I borrowed my doctor’s approach, using reassuring words, hope and a touch of humour. “Which one of you is going to shave my head?” I asked them. “You’ll just have to put up with me bald for a while!” Their greatest fear was that I might die. Once I explained what was happening, some of that fear lifted. In the end, it was Amina who shaved my head. For two days, I could not bring myself to take off my cap, even at home. Then I made a decision. This phase was going to last a while, and I had to accept it, as did everyone else. It was not permanent. It would pass. Treatment was hard, but not in the way people might imagine. The main side effect was a deep, general fatigue that made keeping up with my usual routine difficult. With my immunity low, I turned to hobbies I could enjoy at home. I learned to knit and took up gardening, which I still enjoy today. The end of chemotherapy, the toughest stage of my treatment, is a day I will never forget. I cannot put into words how it felt to ring that bell. Budoor Surgery, radiation and medication followed. Today, two years after my last chemotherapy session, I can barely remember the pain I lived through. I will be honest: returning to normal life has been one of the hardest parts. My body and mind still feel tired at times. Step by step, however, I am finding my way back, carried by faith, positivity and hope. I believe anyone going through this illness should look for the blessings God gives them. Even in difficult times, there are blessings to be found. I hold on to the Quranic verse: “Indeed, with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease.” With every trial, I believe, ease comes doubled. To anyone walking this road right now, my message is simple: every bitter moment will pass.
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