Library

I had radical hysterectomy surgery to remove my uterus and all 45 pelvic lymph nodes on 4 January 2016. However, a biopsy conducted on the 5.5-cm sized tumour that was removed from my cervix revealed that I have cervical melanoma Stage III, as the report concluded that the cancer cells had expanded into one of the lymph nodes in my left pelvis. Melanoma is a rare form of skin cancer but even more rare to be found in the female genital tract on the cervix, because there had been a total of only 81 reported cases in the entire world since 1889.

When I first heard of my condition, I was a little taken by surprise although I took it all in rather calmly and had to break the bad news gently to my family and good friends, especially my mum’s personality is sentimental and loves worry too much. Fortunately, she took the news very calmly and didn’t suffer from an emotional breakdown, which could have been very destructive for her wellbeing.

As I was recuperating after my operation in January, a very good friend of my mum- Auntie Joyce Wong came to visit me at home, and it was then that I realised she has been a 365 Cancer Prevention Society’s volunteer at Marine Parade Christian Centre, helping to prepare and distribute love lunches for the last 1-2 years, so I asked her more about the organisation and she referred me to its website. Subsequently I decided to attend the 365CPS health talk for the first time on 5 March 2016 that was held in St Andrew’s Community Hospital.

From here, I learnt about the “10 Cancer Fighters” 2016 programme which the 365CPS staff later encouraged me to join and I eventually did. Since April I never looked back and began attending many different activities and events by 365CPS including health talks cum love lunches, started going regularly for lymphatic detox exercise 2-3 times a week in Simei (which is nearest to my home in Bedok), emotional management and healthy cooking classes, art therapy, dancing and so on. It has been extremely a beneficial and eye opening learning experience, with useful information on how to take better care of my health through good nutrition, exercising regularly, managing stress and emotions. But most of all, through making many new and good friends who are also fighting cancer, we are able to support and encourage one another when the going gets tough!

Cancer is definitely not a “death sentence”, and I’m so glad to be a part of this 365CPS big family which provides a loving and encouraging environment for fellow cancer fighters to walk this journey together, in motivating one another to never stop fighting this lifelong battle with cancer. As long as we don’t give up and continue to press on, hope is always an inch away!