Her story: Brigitte Chemla

When life strikes a blow, you have two choices: Fall down and lie there or give it right back.

That's exactly what Brigitte Chemla did when she was diagnosed with breast cancer late last year.

Before that, Brigitte's experienced things people often dream about.

She'd travelled around the world 12 times, raising funds for various charities across India, her home for 15 years.

She travelled through towns and cities, staying no longer than three days in each place, speaking at lectures and visiting companies to build a big network of support for the causes she believes in.

To her, the goal was simple — to give back as much as she could.

And the French native made sure the people she raised money for are well taken care of — whether in schools, orphanages, hospitals or even small clinics.

Moving to Dubai

When I visited her, Brigitte welcomed me warmly with a strong Parisian accent and contagious smile.

She told me how she moved to Dubai two years ago to continue her work with the health insurance management company MSH (Mobility Saint Honore) as the operations director for the Dubai office in DIFC.

“When I started feeling an unusual pain in my breast, I immediately went for a check-up. Some doctors say we should check our breasts often but we are not professionals. How do we know what to look for?''

To Brigitte, cancer was almost always a forbidden word, so much so that it seemed foreign.

No one in her family has cancer and she even took a health test which told her she had a 90 per cent chance of never contracting the disease.

‘Get screened'

“I want to tell everyone to get screened. It only takes a few minutes of your time but it could make a lifetime of a difference,'' she said

“If you are going through it, join a support group like Brest Friends as you need those moments where you can just breath and be yourself,'' she said.

“I felt my body had betrayed me and lost confidence in myself. As soon as I met Dr Houriya Kazim, who set up Brest Friends, I knew I was in safe hands because she took time to care for me mentally and physically during and after the surgery,'' said Brigitte.

With a few more months of chemotherapy left, Chemla is hoping she will get the all-clear.

She braved three surgeries to try and save her breast but ultimately had to have a mastectomy.

On the same day as the operation, she opted for reconstructive surgery.

To Brigitte, losing a breast was devastating. But losing her hair was just as hard.

“I had hair all the way down to my back and one day I decided to cut it all off. For once, I felt in control of this disease,'' she said.

Cherishing those moments

Now, she works as much as she is physically able. There are good days and bad days, but she cherishes the rare moments when she feels alive again.

“The week before my chemo, I feel good and so I go out and do as much as I can because I know it will not last. I do absolutely everything I can, EVERYTHING,'' says Brigitte.

Her advice to others is to not go through it alone and to do all one can to avoid depression.

Life is about living as best you can.

What's it all about

International Women's Day is marked around the world on March 8 every year in celebration of all women, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or economic background.

Women's organisations and governments observe IWD by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding them of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.

Information courtesy: www.internationalwomen'sday.com