I fought cancer!
I went for my first mammogram in May 2013, and I was supposed to go back after six months as they found something they wanted to keep an eye on. But as life goes, my brother was fighting cancer in South Africa, so I went to go help him and in the end, in November 2013, he died from lung cancer.
Once I had a clear head and things calmed down, I went for my follow-up mammogram in May 2014. The results were hard to determine, so I went back for many mammograms and ultrasounds where the radiologist found and thought it to be Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), which is the stage before cancer. I had to go for a biopsy and the doctors found another area that was detected by pure luck. This was diagnosed as breast cancer on July 1, 2014. I had an Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) done the following day and found four lumps. My world was crashing down around me.
My surgery was booked for July 20, but I was not happy waiting for so long. So we found the only certified breast specialist in Dubai. The doctor sent me for a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, which locates any cancer in my whole body. Results came back immediately and the right breast also had something going on in it.
A double mastectomy was booked on July 12. The doctore also booked a mapping of the lymph nodes on the morning of the surgery to find the two main lymph nodes to remove them and test for cancer.
I had my surgery just over a week ago, and I am recovering slowly. I also just received some of the results: the right breast was only DCIS, so no cancer. The left breast had four lumps: three had DCIS and one was invasive cancer. The lymph nodes are clear now. No more surgery needed! I am still waiting for more results to determine my treatment plan.
Why am I telling you this? Please, all women, go for your regular checks. My cancer was found early enough to be removed. It’s a long journey but worth the fight.
From Ms Louise Erskine
Dubai
Don’t complain
Nothing will change other than the people (‘Rising rents dampen UAE consumer confidence,’ Gulf News, July 24). One will go, one will come. There are so many people around the world who would want to come and work here as it is Dubai. So this article won’t change anything. Although it could be a wake-up call for people to look for a more affordable place to live in. All over the world, people are struggling. It’s not only the UAE. People need to start looking outside of the box instead of moaning about their hardships. If you can’t afford it, move away. If you can afford it, don’t complain.
From Ms Iwona Marta
UAE
Website comment
Can’t survive
Rent and price hikes are frequent but my last salary increase was six years ago. How can residents survive in the present situation? Salary increments are only for public sector employees. Private sector management is blind to the living situation. In my opinion, residents are helpless.
From Mr Rahmathulla
Dubai
Website comment
Unbalanced
The rent for the apartments in the Jumeirah Lake Towers area went up from Dh75,000 at the end of 2011 to Dh135,000 today. My pay went up nine per cent over this time. The public sector of Dubai got a massive pay raise earlier this year and they also got nine days off for Eid. I beg the authorities to mercifully look at this issue and make some regulations for the private sector.
From Mr Max
Dubai
Website comment
Not enough
It is not the debt alone that is the main cause of trauma in the UAE (‘Fighting the trauma of debt,’ Gulf News, July 24). Middle and low income workers are forced to borrow money because their incomes are not sufficient for them to survive due to the high cost of living.
Apart from the cost of living in the UAE, they might have some personal financial problems such as hospitalisation costs if one of their family members are terminally ill. Committing suicide is not a solution; it is giving up finding a solution. Sometimes it is difficult to blame these people who choose to end their lives.
The solution is not only to control bank or other money lending providers, the government should also look into the situation of the mid- to low-income workers and control the housing costs or increase their salaries to survive.
From Mr J. F.
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Get over it
This is not ending anytime soon, so it’s time to get over it. Articles like this are published all the time. The main problem is the uncontrollable bank interest rates and absence of a credit agency here in the UAE. The Central Bank of the UAE must intervene and put a cap on interest rates, especially on credit cards and banks. They need to do their part by offering easy payment plans for defaulting customers rather than filing cases against them and as a result jeopardising the whole life cycle of the customers.
From Mr Ali
Dubai
Website comment
Dealing with defaulters
The least that the UAE authorities could do is introduce a bankruptcy law that would enable the defaulters to get a job and pay off the liability instead of just sending the main breadwinner to jail and cutting off all prospects of the debt being paid. Not to mention, the disruption and problems in the family due to the breadwinner being jailed.
Most of the defaulters are experienced and qualified people who can contribute a lot to the economy. The authorities can even launch a company offering outsourcing services to other companies and pay employees, ex-defaulters, a lower than market salary.
From Mr Abbas Teja
Dubai
Website comment
Over budget
I appreciate the article because most people are coming to earn and are sending money to their families to survive. Unfortunately, the situation is changing economically. Even if we are earning money, the day to day expenses are rising. Our budget for rent was Dh24,000, and after one year it gradually went up to Dh35,000. All the time we are paying by credit cards and loans. Therefore, loans are increasing and the income is not. What will be the solution for this? Our salaries are not enough to pay our credit cards.
From Ms D. P.
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Partially agree
I am biology student in my first year, and I would say that to some extent heredity and genes are so very influential in learning and educational skills of an individual (‘Focus: Genes versus education,’ Gulf News, July 25).
But not it is not necessary that an intelligent individual will give birth to an offspring with the same thinking capacity as that of the parent.
I believe that nurturing a child’s mind is definitely stronger than that of Nature’s magic. I partially support the topic, I feel that genes are stronger than nurturing in some circumstances and vice versa.
From Mr Pavneet Kaur
UAE
Drive safe
It’s the holiday time. During the next few days of Eid break, there is a lot of focus on safety, especially while behind the wheel. Therefore, it is important that driving needs a little more attention in order to avoid the risk of accidents.
The extensive use of mobile phones while driving is the most critical scenario. According to a recent international survey it is four times more likely to have an accident if you talk on a mobile while driving. Common road users who are not careful could potentially endanger their lives, the lives of their passengers and those around them.
The smartphone culture further complicates the scenario. Since emails and social network notifications are readily available on handsets, commuters are in a hurry to open them without realising the fact that they are driving. It is therefore important to decide whether answering phone calls or checking any notifications is really that critical in comparison to their safety.
A friendly reminder to everyone using the road to drive safe: allow enough distance between the vehicles; always monitor your speed; keep your hands on the wheel; and keep your eyes on the road.
Multi-tasking while driving or distracted driving takes your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel, it also takes your mind off driving. too.
While enjoying your well-deserved holiday, you must also realise that there is someone waiting for you at home.
From Mr Ramachandran Nair
Oman
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