Hit by three cancers, this advanced-stage patient finds peace helping others
It is challenging enough to fight one cancer. Eddie Low, however, has had to battle three.
Since 2017, he has been diagnosed with lung, liver and prostate cancer. Dealing with them simultaneously has been akin to a whack-a-mole. When one cancer appears to be contained, another flares up. He has had to make huge adjustments, including leaving his job at a church.
Despite this rollercoaster of a ride, one feels a sense of calm emanating from Eddie. He is warm and friendly. Upon learning that my family member has cancer, he immediately offers to provide support through a chat, without hesitation.
“I’m a positive person,” he remarks, adding that this attitude has helped him in accepting things and moving on.
Eddie, who is a devout Catholic, says faith has been a big source of comfort. With a background in pastoral work, he is also used to extending help to others and finding fulfilment in return. This is partly what motivates him to reach out to help others in the cancer community – including perfect strangers.
“It’s a pleasure to volunteer. When I give, I receive and help myself in the process,” he says.
A Triple-Whammy Diagnosis
65-year-old Eddie has a family history of cancer. He lets on that he lost three siblings in four years to the disease.
His own journey began six years ago when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. A sneaking suspicion made him ask his doctor to examine his liver as well. The results came back positive revealing he had not one, but two primary cancers.
Despite undergoing surgeries, he had a relapse of lung cancer a year later. This time, doctors also discovered another cancer in his prostate. After more treatments, Eddie experienced a second relapse a mere eight months later, this time in his liver.
The Covid-19 outbreak happened, adding another layer of stress. With his weakened body, just stepping out of the house felt like a risk. This constant fear followed Eddie each time he stepped into the hospital or crowded places.
“Despite all this, I was determined to find a spark of positivity,” he said.
You’ll Never Walk Alone
A long-time Liverpool F.C. fan, Eddie found parallels between his situation and the football team’s iconic anthem, ‘You’ll never walk alone.’
Despite his ups and downs, he realised he had never once been left to fend off the disease by himself. Rallying around him were his doctors and medical team who provided care; his wife, Angela, who accompanies him to his hospital visits; and his friends, some of whom included fellow cancer patients.
This support network filled him with gratitude and kindled his desire to pay it forward.
He says: “My mantra is you’ll never walk alone. And this drives me to be part of support groups and volunteering to walk with those in need.”
Giving is Receiving
Over the years, Eddie has benefitted from programmes run by the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS). These include its rehab services, as well as a therapeutic group work programme called L.I.G.H.T. Groupwork.
Catering to advanced stage cancer patients, L.I.G.H.T. aims to improve emotional well-being, help individuals gain insights into themselves, and foster hope and a sense of community.
Eddie found himself enjoying these sessions, which involved group sharings as well as reflective activities that helped him discover his feelings. When he was asked to volunteer to support subsequent editions of L.I.G.H.T., he jumped at the chance.
He notes that by helping out, he helps himself too. Listening to others in group therapy, for instance, allows him to reframe his journey positively. He was struck by how some patients appeared to be in worse situations than him – those who face financial difficulties or who were diagnosed at a much younger age. And yet, they continued to push on bravely.
“When I see their struggles, mine are nothing,” he says.
In return, Eddie hopes to be a light to others. “When I share my own struggle, I hope I can give them courage and erase their fears,” he says with a smile. One of the best things to come out of volunteering, he shares, is the friendships made. Relationships that carry on even after the programme has ended.
While he continues to go for treatment, Eddie approaches life now with serenity. “Even if the worst happens, it doesn’t matter,” he says sanguinely.
When talking to other cancer patients, he sometimes encourages them to find comfort in their faith, whatever form this may take for them. He notes that this transcends any one religion, pointing toward spirituality – the capacity to connect with something bigger than yourself. “Go back to your faith. Find peace within you,” he recommends.