Layan Damanhouri

Saudi Gazette

 

SINCE first being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, Dr. Samia Al-Amoudi has spoken openly about the illness, which was considered taboo in Saudi society. Al-Amoudi has inspired many people by sharing her personal experience and taking the initiative to help others in spreading awareness about the illness.



In January this year, she was diagnosed again with a new primary breast cancer. Al-Amoudi immediately tweeted her thousands of followers the news of developing breast cancer for a second time. After winning her second battle against breast cancer, she launched “Memoirs of a Saudi Woman”, her autobiography as a Saudi woman living in a society that has gone through many changes over the years. She writes about her role as a Saudi obstetrician and gynecologist, university teacher, single mother of two, her exposure in the media and many more. In an exclusive interview with Saudi Gazette, Al-Amoudi shared her experience and discussed her latest book.



SG: How do you compare the two cancer diagnoses?



Samia Al-Amoudi: The first time it was a shock and a surprise to me because I never thought that I would get breast cancer. This is the normal feeling. Most women don’t think that they will get it. The second time I was expecting that I might develop breast cancer. The only difference is that I was expecting to have a recurrence on the same side, because this is what’s typical. The surprise was that I developed another primary on the left side.



SG: When it comes to dealing with the situation, was it easier the second time or different?



Al-Amoudi: After I got breast cancer for the first time, being a doctor, we know the fact that there’s a chance of recurrence. I kept telling myself all the time that I might not be able to stand another recurrence in the future. I was wondering if I got a recurrence, what I’m going to do. It’s in God’s hands that He gives us the strength to deal with it. I think I’m coping to a large extent with the second time.



SG: You managed to win this battle. But you mentioned in your book that you faced other challenges as well. Can you tell us what they were?



Al-Amoudi: The challenges are many when you get breast cancer, especially in closed, conservative societies like Saudi Arabia. When I got breast cancer the first time, the first thing my family and friends told me was: “Now that you’ve got breast cancer, let’s keep it between ourselves. There’s no need for people to know that you’ve got breast cancer.” That was shocking to me, because I felt that they were taking it as if it was something wrong, a taboo that we should hide. That was when I started to think “why?” I wanted to break that silence. This is why I insisted on writing my story in Al-Madinah newspaper. It was a weekly column, covering each week of my journey with breast cancer.

 

SG: In 2007, you said in an interview on CNN that women here are afraid of check-ups because they fear they’ll discover they have breast cancer. Today do you see a change in awareness since you first opened the Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi Center of Excellence in breast cancer care?



Al-Amoudi: Definitely, there is a change. In 2006, I wrote my first article in a community where it’s not usual for a woman to come and say: “I have breast cancer”. In 2006, there were sporadic campaigns. In October 2014, the number of campaigns all over the Kingdom exceeded one hundred. The awareness definitely has changed. Many survivors are coming out and talking about their stories, which was not usual in the past. The number of women asking for screening is increasing. Have we reached what we want to achieve? Not yet. But definitely when we compare it to 2006, there is a tremendous change.

 

SG: What is it you wish to achieve that you still haven’t?



Al-Amoudi: First of all, we are hoping to reach a day where our daughters live in a world free of cancer. I always keep telling my daughter, “I hope one day you will sit with your friends and talk about breast cancer and you’ll say women used to have it and used to die from breast cancer”, like when we talk about small pox and other diseases. The second thing is to have the same statistics like those in Western countries where they discover the disease at early stages so you can achieve a cure rate of about 95 to 98 percent. We don’t want to see cases of advanced breast cancer in the community.



SG: What steps are you taking to reach this level?



Al-Amoudi: First of all, breaking the silence and talking about it, and encouraging women to have breast self-examination, to go to doctors and not get scared if they feel a lump, because 95 percent of these lumps are benign. Only 5 percent are malignant. For those who are 40 years and above, they should have the mammogram every year. And to empower women with knowledge so that they understand that even if they are diagnosed, the treatment and management nowadays is totally different. If it’s at an early stage, they might save their breast and not need chemotherapy. It’s not a death sentence like it was before.



SG: Your name is always coupled with the word “courage”. In 2007, you won the first International Woman of Courage Award presented by the US Department of State. What’s the secret to your success in facing any difficult challenge in general?



Al-Amoudi: This is a very good question. I wish I had the answer! If somebody asked me in the past “what will you do if you got breast cancer?” I would not have an answer. But when I got breast cancer, I found that being a Muslim with good faith, we have good faith that it’s from God. We know it’s something stressful and not easy, but we have to accept. Acceptance by itself gives you a lot of comfort and relief. Secondly, the way you deal with it will reflect on the family and the people surrounding you. So this gave me the push and the courage not to deal with it in a different way because I didn’t want it to impact my kids. At that time, Abdullah was 13 years old and Israa was nine years old. I’m the mother and the father. I didn’t want them to misunderstand what’s going on. I wanted to give them courage. At the same time, I felt that it’s meant to be for a reason. Being a doctor and a woman, I thought maybe I do have some courage to spread the word and increase awareness in my country and everywhere.



SG: You were named in the Power 100 list of the most influential Arabs. Since you were given the label of influence, how do you connect with your audience? How do you reach out to them?



Al-Amoudi: I’m one who loves the media and believes in it. It’s a very strong tool, whether through newspapers, TV, and, nowadays, social media. I believe that all these are my tools to be connected with people, especially the young generation. I’m very active on Twitter.



SG: Your book discusses your own challenges as well as the stories of others. Would you say a Saudi woman faces unique challenges or are there universal issues for all women?



Al-Amoudi: We have challenges that are common with all the women of the world, but we do have special challenges peculiar to women in Saudi Arabia. As for my book, I thought it’s time for a Saudi woman to document what’s going on in Saudi society, especially for women. Being part of the first group to graduate in medicine from King Abdulaziz University in 1981, the challenges were great, whether in education or healthcare issues. I wanted to empower women with all these messages by telling my story.