Column by Saba Mahjoor | The women who held me
A personal column reflects on a woman's experience in a cancer clinic, where she finds unexpected comfort and perspective through a conversation with a fellow patient named Fiona. The piece explores themes of mortality, connection, and the shared human experience of illness.
Why it matters
The narrative provides a poignant look at the emotional toll of health crises and the importance of empathy in clinical settings.
Not so long ago, on an oppressively hot and humid day in July, I walked into the cancer clinic. This was my second visit. On the first, I had come in after being referred by my physician because I had found something ‘suspicious’ in one of my breasts.
I stepped into the cool air-conditioned room, the nausea and anxiety of uncertainty rising in me. The waiting room was painted the usual ‘hospital lemon’ and smelt of worry and unease. It was a small room and only a few chairs were occupied. I took a seat next to a lady.
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