Doctor told 32-year-old woman not to worry about bruising and a lump in her breast — her two-word question led to a cancer diagnosis
Regular health checkups are crucial, and minor body pain should not be ignored, as it may indicate a serious health issue. Ariba Karim, a 32-year-old from Belfast, Northern Ireland, also did not overlook her pain after her doctor told her not to worry about her concerns. In a post shared on her TikTok page, @that.matchagirl, on September 27, 2026, she shared her story. It was later reported by Newsweek on October 12, 2026. After finding bruising and a lump in her breast, she went to a doctor, who checked her and told her she didn’t need to worry. She used two words to avoid being dismissed and got her diagnosis.
@that.matchagirl How am I feeling post chemotherapy and when is it happening next 🩷🎗️✨ #cancer #fyp ♬ Holocene - Bon Iver
A few months ago, the woman experienced a stabbing pain in her breast. However, as they were only episodes, she dismissed it as normal after discussing it with her friends. Later, she experienced fatigue among other symptoms and even noticed some bruising. When she accidentally discovered the lump, she knew she had to get checked. The doctor gave her antibiotics and told her it was nothing because she was under 40. "That was his only reason for not suspecting cancer,” she recalled. She cried and admitted she was concerned, and he insisted she should not worry. To this, she replied, “Why not?” After those two words, the doctor gave her a referral for further tests, and later it was discovered that she had cancer.
She had all the symptoms and didn’t want to waste time, so Karim went to a private clinic. “I won’t ever forget the consultant who took the ultrasound and how her face changed when she started it," she recalled. A few tests later, the doctor called her back and revealed she had stage 1 cancer. "I looked at him in disgust. I just couldn’t believe what he had said,” she mentioned. They later found other tumors, and Karim decided to go ahead with chemotherapy. Ever since, she has been documenting her journey on social media. Her recent clip captured how she had mixed emotions after a session of chemo. Throughout this long road ahead, she remains grateful that she advocated for herself. Had she not counter-questioned her doctor, she would have gone home thinking everything was fine, but still feeling uneasy and confused.
Advocating for yourself is the most important thing you will ever do, because at the end of the day, no one knows your body better than yourself. In another story, a student didn’t stop after doctors dismissed her concerns. She experienced nausea, vomiting, fatigue, among other symptoms. Doctor after doctor told her it was just anxiety. They looked at how “healthy” she looked and determined nothing could be wrong with her. She refused to give up. She continued taking tests and seeing specialists. Finally, one ultrasound showed she had high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. From feeling belittled to receiving a life-changing diagnosis, the woman noted that she didn’t know how to receive the news. She had never suspected cancer, but she finally knew what the problem was and what the route to healing would be. When it comes to health, the right diagnosis means half the battle won.
You can follow Ariba Karim (@that.matchagirl) on TikTok for more content on health and lifestyle.