Belfast Woman’s Journey to Breast Cancer Diagnosis

In Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ariba Karim, 32, encountered unexplained bruises and extreme fatigue. After two months, she identified a lump. She shared with Newsweek that she experienced a daily stabbing pain in her right breast.

“It initially would only last 30 seconds to a minute, but one day it went on for half an hour,” Karim said. Despite no palpable lump initially, she and her friends attributed the pain to hormonal changes. With a month of pain-free days, she didn’t worry until unexplained bruises and intense fatigue left her needing long naps. “[I] would feel like I’d been hit by a bus when I woke up,” Karim described.

Finding a lump in her right breast prompted her to see a doctor. A private GP examined her and confidently dismissed cancer concerns due to her age. Distressed, Karim questioned this reasoning. The GP prescribed antibiotics and explained that an NHS referral could take 30 to 40 weeks. Seeking faster answers, Karim requested a referral letter for a private clinic.

At Belfast’s Ulster Independent Clinic, an ultrasound and biopsies were conducted. Karim recalled the consultant’s expression changing during the ultrasound. Concern was evident as the scanning continued. Following a mammogram and biopsies from her breast and armpit, doctors noted unusual findings and awaited test results for a conclusive diagnosis.

For her follow-up appointment, Karim received instructions to bring someone to hear the test results. Despite her fears, she hoped for the best. Recalling the moment, Karim said, “I’m really sorry, we did find cancer,” uttered the breast consultant. Stunned by the news, she compared her reaction to someone insulting her pet, describing the silence that followed.

Karim’s diagnosis: stage 1 breast cancer, with an aggressive grade 3 tumor. Thankfully, other tests showed the disease hadn’t spread to her lymph nodes, which were swollen but cancer-free. An MRI revealed a lump just under two inches and detected two additional areas in her breast that warranted monitoring.

Now undergoing chemotherapy, Karim shares her journey on social media (@that.matchagirl) to heighten breast cancer symptom awareness. Her story resonated with many women facing similar situations. Her advice: trust your instincts and seek thorough checks. “You will never regret pushing to get something double-checked,” Karim emphasized. “It could save your life.”