Advanced Care: Latifa Al Ayyaf's Breast and Brain Cancer Treatment Journey in Saudi Arabia at KFSHRC

[00:00:05] I went through three rounds. The first, second, and third rounds were different in terms of treatment. Emotionally, I was preparing myself to receive chemotherapy.

[00:00:14] I received 12 doses, and I had no one with me. To the point that, on the first day I started chemotherapy for the third time, I wrote a sentence: "I am not alone. God is with me, and by His command, an army of angels is watching over me."

[00:00:30] Of course, I was afraid of the illness, but my fear never reached the point of panic. I trusted Almighty God, and I trusted my own ability to endure the shock and the treatment.

[00:00:44] I also trusted the institution where I was being treated, the place that had embraced me for 17 years. To me, the hospital was like a second mother.

[00:00:51] I have a close connection with this hospital. It has been there to carry me from one stage to another. I trust this place because of my mother's experience, my own experience, and my sister's experience here. All of that makes me trust this hospital.

[00:01:06] This place is different. Here, I found competent doctors, excellent care, cleanliness, and respect for patients' rights.

[00:01:23] I had not heard much about patients' rights before, but at this hospital, I saw how those rights were applied to me, my mother, and my sister. That is why I trust the hospital. I even recommend it to friends from outside the Kingdom. I always tell them that the Specialist Hospital is different.

[00:01:41] To me, the doctor was like a father. Of course, after God, the doctors deserve a great deal of credit.

[00:01:51] First, they explained every detail of the treatment to me. They would say, "Latifa, you will receive this, then this, and then this." I used to tell them, "You don't necessarily have to tell me what the treatment is."

[00:01:58] I did not understand the treatment I was going to receive. I did not know what chemotherapy meant or what the different combinations were. I did not understand those things. But I trusted them because they comforted me as if I were a member of their own family.

[00:02:11] Almighty God had placed these people in our lives not merely to treat us.

[00:02:18] They did not just treat us and examine us. God had also placed them there to comfort us. They would say, "Doctor, don't be afraid. Latifa, the treatment is easy, by God. It is simple. Don't listen to what people say, Latifa. Don't listen."

[00:02:30] And indeed, I stopped listening to...

[00:02:35] ...the things people were saying on YouTube and the internet. I would hear a lot of talk during gatherings, and it was the opposite of what the doctor was telling me.

[00:02:42] They were very careful about protecting my psychological well-being, perhaps even before focusing on the treatment itself. That truly helped me. That is what made me strong, thank God.

[00:02:51] The nurses, both men and women, were like family to me—my loved ones and my brothers and sisters.

[00:02:56] Every time I came to the hospital to receive a dose of treatment, I would come in and receive it there. I will never forget a Canadian nurse who asked me, "Where is the patient? Where is the patient?"

[00:03:10] I told her, "Me." She said, "Oh! You're the patient?" because I was sitting there playing a game on my phone.

[00:03:19] I was comfortable and relaxed. What was there to worry about? Deep inside, thank God, I felt safe and at peace. I was in the hands of Almighty God, and I had a wonderful medical team.

[00:03:28] I was surrounded by people who treated me with kindness and gentleness. I received my treatment in my room, feeling comfortable and at ease. In short, I was comfortable.

[00:03:42] Of course, no person on Earth goes through life without facing difficult stages and setbacks. Everyone does—rich and poor, young and old, those who have a lot and those who have little.

[00:03:56] Everyone faces obstacles. Every obstacle has its own story, brings its own spiritual reward, and is part of what has been written for us.

[00:04:05] I believe in two things. First, I believe in Almighty God and that our destinies are written, and that God does whatever He wills.

[00:04:18] Second, I believe in the saying: "How many healthy people have died without an illness, and how many sick people have lived for a long time?"

[00:04:25] No matter how much someone may offer another person, if that person cannot help themselves from within, others cannot do it for them. We cannot control other people, but we can control our own determination and strength. We can be courageous, and we will discover who we really are.

[00:04:40] A person may think they are weak, but when faced with illness—especially illnesses like this—they may discover that they are strong. I am one of those people. I always thought I was fragile, but after my illness, I discovered that I am very strong.

[00:04:53] I hope all doctors will follow the example of the doctors at the Specialist Hospital, who comfort us, give us hope, draw up our treatment plans, and show us a safe path, with God's help.

[00:05:07] When I write a message on this wall, I am creating a point of connection between myself and other patients.

[00:05:13] I write a message to them, and I read the messages written by those who came before me. I give them courage and strength, and they give me courage too.