What are the significant transformations that you have faced since finding out about your cancer diagnosis?
I was diagnosed with Stage 2 HER2-positive breast cancer in July 2020. Upon receiving the news, there were, of course, a lot of tears and sadness, but after two days of fully digesting the news, I decided to battle this disease, no matter what. My family of four and I drew out a plan for how we would face this. From consulting a friend who is a doctor in the National Cancer Institute, to looking for any and all tools and advice that would aid me in this journey, we went all-out battling this illness together.
How have you managed to create inner strength and resilience as a breast cancer patient to both be present in your personal and professional lives?
Luckily, I wasn’t working at that point in time. I ended my busy career in 2012 to become a homemaker. My immediate family was very supportive, and, of course, me being a very positive person helped a lot. I requested that my family treat me as usual and not like a cancer patient. I tried to be as cheerful as always, going about my daily activities like cooking and cleaning, which was also assisted by my husband and son wherever needed. Things were definitely much easier to manage as it was COVID season in 2020. Both my husband, son, and loving pet dog, Monty, were by my side throughout everything. Even travelling for hospital treatments was a breeze as there were fewer cars on the road. In a way, I was very blessed with a holistic environment. I am always grateful to god the Almighty for this.
What valuable advice do you impart to support groups like BCWA (Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia)? How do support groups such as these help women through their battle with breast cancer?
BCWA was a great support through the final part of my journey battling breast cancer. Ms. Ranjit of BCWA was a beautiful soul who gave me great encouragement in fighting this battle. Thereafter, I was given an opportunity to undergo training and became part of the BCWA support group in April 2021, while going through radiotherapy treatment.
Meeting up with fellow warriors and exchanging views and experiences helps boost morale and confidence. Each one of us has gone through different experiences in battling through this journey of breast cancer. The BCWA support group helps fellow warriors go through this period by giving them valuable psychological and moral support and, sometimes, a shoulder to cry on.
How can society progress to accommodate people battling breast cancer and other life-threatening illnesses such as this?
What have been the greatest pillars that have helped in your journey through life?
My husband and son were the greatest pillars of my journey. Not forgetting my mom, siblings, cousin, and two dearly departed best friends. My diagnosis was a well-kept secret and not shared with any of my extended family.
What do you hope to see change in the field of cancer treatment and women empowerment?
All the above are also dependent on their age, background, ethnicity, religion, and cultural beliefs. The empowerment of these patients is paramount to ensuring their continual survival and flourishing in life. It is important that we aid in empowering patients of all genders, as current empowerment efforts tend to be one-sided. The empowerment of these individuals can only be achieved through dedicated informative efforts and safe spaces for them to learn, share, and interact.
Images Provided by Vandanaa Suran
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