How Surviving Cancer Made Me More Positive

My interview with Mariam Tariq, a young lady who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21

Tell me a little about yourself?
I am 23 years old, live in Irvine and majored in Political Science from UCSB. I have a strong passion for social justice and believe in the need for major institutional and cultural reform. I am a post-grad trying to figure out my next steps.

One word that would define you?
One word!?! That’s hard. I would say the word optimistic best describes me in all my different stages of life.

How did you find out about your cancer?
I felt a lump when I was away at UCSB and went in to get it checked out. My pediatrician ( I know, I still go to her) and I moved it around, and she told me if it didn’t hurt, there was nothing to worry about. At the end of the school year, I felt it was much bigger, so I went to get it checked again. I almost didn’t go, just because I was tired and wanted to sleep in- but I’m so glad I eventually went. After that visit, the doctors did an ultrasound, a mammogram, and a biopsy. I had to do all three on the same day because we were leaving for New York the next…