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Two-time thyroid cancer survivor Fatema Frutan has been sharing her story of strength and perseverance across the kingdom in a bid to spread awareness, to inspire and to support those suffering from the disease.
The 33-year-old deputy chief of the Environmental Citizenship Programme in the Bahrain Women Association for Human Development, was first diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer in 2014 – battled it twice until 2018 – and has come out stronger than ever.
“When I was first diagnosed, I felt down but it didn’t take long to realise that this was God’s plan for me and I had to be strong for myself and for my loved ones,” said the recently-elected regional representative for the United Nation Environment Programme for West Asia.
“Being diagnosed caused me to take a full look at my life. I knew that I had so much left to give.
“It was too early for me to stop fighting and I had to fight with all that I got. I wanted to do my role in the community and being a part of the Environmental Citizenship Programme in the Bahrain Women Association for Human Development gave me the motivation to fight and give more.
“My aim is to raise awareness about cancer, support the fighters out there and their caregivers too.”
Her message is clear – never ignore symptoms, no matter how small, do not neglect any follow-ups with a doctor even if you are cancer-free and keep the faith.
“Consult a doctor if you suspect something,” urged the University of Bahrain finance and banking graduate, from Hamad Town. “Early diagnosis can result in a higher chance at survival. Also, never neglect your follow-ups and stay strong. You have the power to defeat cancer. I did it twice so you can too!”
Papillary thyroid cancer, also known as carcinoma, is the most common type of cancer to affect the thyroid which is a butterfly-shaped, quarter-sized gland that sits just below the voice box.
It makes hormones that help control how a body works, including blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.
Often people can’t tell if they have any symptoms of the slow-growing cancer.
Fatema first came to suspect that something was wrong in 2007 after her aunt Ruqaya Abdullah, who works in the medical field, noticed a swelling in her neck and advised her to get it checked out.
Surgeons removed her thyroid’s left lobe.
Over the year, however, the nodules in her right thyroid lobe appeared to have doubled in size.
Nodules are growths that may be solid or filled with fluid and about one in 20 are cancerous. Symptoms include a lump in the neck, having a hard time swallowing, trouble breathing and more.
In 2014, she underwent a full thyroidectomy and was diagnosed with carcinoma. She then had to continue conducting yearly check-ups for her thyroid, breasts and uterus.
In 2016, her regular breast and uterus check-ups revealed high antibodies which meant that her body was fighting cancer. She was transferred to oncology and started on radiotherapy treatment.
“I went through the journey with patience and faith,” said Fatema. “I felt blessed to be surrounded by family and friends.”
In 2017 she was cleared of the disease, however in 2018, it returned. The cancer was back in her neck area near her vocal cords. She had to go through more surgery and this time with the risk of losing her voice.
“Being diagnosed a second time was hard,” said Fatema. “I knew all the endless tests that I had to go through and I had to prepare for a risky operation followed by radiotherapy and isolation.
“I knew it was going to be tough to do all over again but I also knew that I simply had to be more patient.
“This was still God’s plan for me. God wanted me to find inner peace and strength and spread positivity to all by sharing my journey. I looked at this is an opportunity to develop myself.”
Fatema is now clear of cancer once more but is still closely being monitored.
She added: “Count the blessings that you have around you even in the middle of a major life challenge such as cancer. Be thankful for any challenge that you might face because you never know what you will learn from it. Look at it as an opportunity to develop because only you can determine your destiny.”
For details, follow @fatema_frutan on Instagram.
A tale of grit
By Mai
Two-time thyroid cancer survivor Fatema Frutan has been sharing her story of strength and perseverance across the kingdom in a bid to spread awareness, to inspire and to support those suffering from the disease.
The 33-year-old deputy chief of the Environmental Citizenship Programme in the Bahrain Women Association for Human Development, was first diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer in 2014 – battled it twice until 2018 – and has come out stronger than ever.
“When I was first diagnosed, I felt down but it didn’t take long to realise that this was God’s plan for me and I had to be strong for myself and for my loved ones,” said the recently-elected regional representative for the United Nation Environment Programme for West Asia.
“Being diagnosed caused me to take a full look at my life. I knew that I had so much left to give.
“It was too early for me to stop fighting and I had to fight with all that I got. I wanted to do my role in the community and being a part of the Environmental Citizenship Programme in the Bahrain Women Association for Human Development gave me the motivation to fight and give more.
“My aim is to raise awareness about cancer, support the fighters out there and their caregivers too.”
Her message is clear – never ignore symptoms, no matter how small, do not neglect any follow-ups with a doctor even if you are cancer-free and keep the faith.
“Consult a doctor if you suspect something,” urged the University of Bahrain finance and banking graduate, from Hamad Town. “Early diagnosis can result in a higher chance at survival. Also, never neglect your follow-ups and stay strong. You have the power to defeat cancer. I did it twice so you can too!”
Papillary thyroid cancer, also known as carcinoma, is the most common type of cancer to affect the thyroid which is a butterfly-shaped, quarter-sized gland that sits just below the voice box.
It makes hormones that help control how a body works, including blood pressure, heart rate and temperature.
Often people can’t tell if they have any symptoms of the slow-growing cancer.
Fatema first came to suspect that something was wrong in 2007 after her aunt Ruqaya Abdullah, who works in the medical field, noticed a swelling in her neck and advised her to get it checked out.
Surgeons removed her thyroid’s left lobe.
Over the year, however, the nodules in her right thyroid lobe appeared to have doubled in size.
Nodules are growths that may be solid or filled with fluid and about one in 20 are cancerous. Symptoms include a lump in the neck, having a hard time swallowing, trouble breathing and more.
In 2014, she underwent a full thyroidectomy and was diagnosed with carcinoma. She then had to continue conducting yearly check-ups for her thyroid, breasts and uterus.
In 2016, her regular breast and uterus check-ups revealed high antibodies which meant that her body was fighting cancer. She was transferred to oncology and started on radiotherapy treatment.
“I went through the journey with patience and faith,” said Fatema. “I felt blessed to be surrounded by family and friends.”
In 2017 she was cleared of the disease, however in 2018, it returned. The cancer was back in her neck area near her vocal cords. She had to go through more surgery and this time with the risk of losing her voice.
“Being diagnosed a second time was hard,” said Fatema. “I knew all the endless tests that I had to go through and I had to prepare for a risky operation followed by radiotherapy and isolation.
“I knew it was going to be tough to do all over again but I also knew that I simply had to be more patient.
“This was still God’s plan for me. God wanted me to find inner peace and strength and spread positivity to all by sharing my journey. I looked at this is an opportunity to develop myself.”
Fatema is now clear of cancer once more but is still closely being monitored.
She added: “Count the blessings that you have around you even in the middle of a major life challenge such as cancer. Be thankful for any challenge that you might face because you never know what you will learn from it. Look at it as an opportunity to develop because only you can determine your destiny.”
For details, follow @fatema_frutan on Instagram.
