Cancer survivors share stories of hope with patients, families

AMMAN — Losing a leg was not a reason for 19-year-old Jarrah Hawamdeh to lose hope in his battle against cancer.

Four years ago, Hawamdeh was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer), which resulted in the amputation of his right leg from the knee down, but he faced the disease bravely.

“At one point I realised that life goes on whether we act strong or weak… so I made the decision to be strong and embrace life,” he told The Jordan Times on Thursday on the sidelines of the King Hussein Cancer Centre’s (KHCC) third gathering for cancer survivors.

He said his belief in God and the support of his family and friends has helped him remain strong and brave.

Hawamdeh now volunteers at the KHCC to support other patients and is involved in other voluntary activities.

“Life is worth living no matter how bad the situation is,” he concluded. 

Hawamdeh, KHCC worker Nasra and university student Shurooq Al Shams narrated their stories as cancer survivors, while Abdulraheem expressed what it is like to be a father of a girl with leukaemia. 

HH Princess Dina Mired, director general of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF), said cancer survivor gatherings have a positive impact on cancer patients and the entire audience.

“Hope is the patient’s best medicine,” she said at the event, during which cancer patients and their family members could pose questions to the survivors, who urged the patients to change their negative thoughts about the disease in order to beat it.