My PINK Story

for Breast Cancer Awareness - October 2021
As a Breast Cancer Survivor, I have learnt a lot. The shocking realization of getting diagnosed with Breast Cancer, back on Friday the 13th of December 2019, sent shivers down my spine. But what it made me realize the most, was the power that each moment holds. In under one moment, my life changed forever. And today in retrospect, I can confidently say, ‘Definitely, for the better.’
I finally fully understood, that ‘time waits for no one’ and that concept alone changed my life. Instead of waiting for logistically all the pieces of the puzzle to fall together to reveal the perfect picture I desired, today I just go after what I want right NOW, right this very second.
That profound change of attitude, that bold move, opened doors for me.
I remember, after completing my rigorous treatment and thanking my lucky stars that I’m finally cancer free, I was left struggling with the psychological implications of it all. My oncologist reassured me that this was completely normal and to be expected, after what I went through.
And then one day, out of the blue, I just felt like drawing and painting. Being a writer at heart, this was quite surprising.
And so I began, and what started out as one painting, slowly became three and then 6 and then eventually 10. Today it stands at 30 paintings plus two storyboard collections. I didn’t know why I was doing it, all I knew then, was that it made me feel a WHOLE lot better, and so much lighter.
It’s only when I got to the half-way mark that it suddenly hit me. I was telling my story through my paintings & story boards. I was letting it all out. And I needed to tell people my story, needed to fully contribute to the Breast Cancer Awareness Cause. I desperately wanted those who had cancer like me, to learn to own their disease. I wanted them to turn their pain into power and to be proud of what they went through. I wanted them to grab life by the balls.
And so, I created a theme for my series of paintings that represents the following slogan:
Empowering those with breast cancer or those that had it previously with a ‘I can achieve anything’ attitude!
The series of paintings are split into 3 categories, marking my Breast Cancer Journey. It starts off with the horror of finding out about the disease, the treatment and then the recovery. I end the exhibition on a positive note with positive messages for moving forward.

By the time I discovered my Cancer, I already had it for 1 year and 8 months and so I was told that it was Stage 3. If only I had tested earlier, I could have caught it at the beginning and avoided all the upheaval & ordeal. It is because of this, that I chose to create and show the re-occurring ‘Do Best ‘n’ Test posters all through-out the exhibition.
The World Health Organization, (WHO) announced that, “Today, 1 in 8 women are likely to develop breast cancer. In 2020, there were 684,996 deaths from breast cancer globally. In 2021, it is estimated that 43,600 women and 530 men will die of breast cancer.
So, please, Do Best ‘n’ Test today!
“TPL is proud to align itself with the Breast Cancer Awareness Cause. We find it necessary and vital to spread the awareness of Breast Cancer as it effects a considerable number of women globally. And, my dearest friend, Shireen Jabry, who happens to also be the Founder & Publisher of TPL, has gone through this and so supporting her with a cause so close to her heart, is I find, absolutely necessary,” says Hussam Hattab, the Founder & Creative Director of TPL.

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