When Hasna was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2016, she was told she may have only 18 months to live.
Thankfully, mother of three Hasna was referred to The Royal Marsden where she has taken part in several clinical trials. Targeted treatment on the PAveMenT trial – which is supported by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity – has successfully reduced the volume of her cancer by 50% and her disease is now stable.
Hasna is so grateful to have the chance to see her children grow older and meet her grandchildren. It’s thanks to life-saving cancer research funded by the Charity that patients like Hasna can have more time with the people they love.
Watch Hasna and her family in this inspiring video:
20 years of navigating cancer
“I was first diagnosed in January 2006. I had just given birth to my second child in September and as a mum your breasts are lumpy when you are breast feeding. But a certain lump didn’t feel right. I went to the GP and was told it is just lumpy breasts and to try using hot flannels. I did that for a month, but it still was there. I went back to the GP but again they said no, you are a young woman it’s nothing serious.”
Hasna then decided to go to her local hospital, where they performed an MRI scan. She was diagnosed with stage 3 ductal carcinoma in situ. This is a breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to nearby lymph nodes.
“After hearing the news, I left the hospital and called my mum. I said, ‘mum, the news isn’t good. You need to find me.’ It was all very scary. I had my children - a seven-year old at that point and a newborn.”
Hasna was proactive and found out that her aunt had breast cancer, and other family members had also died from cancer, so decided to undergo genetic testing. That’s when she received the news that she’s a BRCA gene carrier and had triple negative breast cancer. Over the years, she underwent chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, a double mastectomy and a breast reconstruction.
“After all of this, I went back to so called having a normal life - I went into teaching, and spent time with my children going on holidays.”
A recurrence in 2016
“I found out I was pregnant at 42 years old! I had so many surgeries, drugs, I was on zoladex. I couldn’t believe I was pregnant. But I had my beautiful daughter.”
“After the birth I had a check-up, my baby was three months at the time. That’s when I found out. I saw a nurse at the door and I just knew it was my second time. The cancer had metastasised.”
“This time around I wasn’t fearful, I was just ready – this was me now trying to save my life. I was told that without medication and treatment I had up until 18 months – two years. That’s when I was referred to The Royal Marsden.”
“At The Royal Marsden, I felt like I could breathe finally”
“There were so many treatment options available to me. I’ve since been on many different trials. Currently I am on the PAveMenT trial and I am very happy and excited to see that this trial is working.”
“I am very grateful. At The Royal Marsden they do not just deal with the cancer, they deal with the patient too. I hug and squeeze the staff because I have so much gratitude! I am able to still be here, here with my daughter and my family. My daughter has given me a lot of gusto to keep on going. That life string that you hold on to at times.”
Raising awareness of research
“Research is so important. It’s going in a more person-centred direction – providing treatment for a specific illness, and for that specific person, not just a one size fits all approach. Research is changing every day.”
“Being at The Royal Marsden and having that opportunity to grab onto the next trial, I know that I can get a better quality of life by being on them.”
“The Royal Marsden is a special place. I have met a lot of people over the years from different walks of life. Everyone says thank goodness for The Royal Marsden. It is so true.”
