Writing Hope, One Story at a Time
Since 2023, Chong You Zhen has penned stories of cancer patients and survivors. The volunteer writer for the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) has published several pieces on the Society’s website and digital platforms, all while juggling a full-time job.
His first article for SCS provided a glimpse into four individuals who are living with advanced stage cancer. Despite immense personal hurdles, all four were giving back as volunteers in a groupwork therapy programme and finding ways to live life with purpose.
This optimism is characteristic of You Zhen’s work for SCS, which aims to provide a “sliver of hope” to those affected by the disease. “I think the challenges of cancer speak for itself, so I have focused on countering this by focusing on real stories of strength and positivity,” he says.
A Personal Brush with Cancer
You Zhen knows well the challenges of living with cancer.
In 2011, when You Zhen and his two siblings were still schooling, his father was diagnosed with renal cancer and had one kidney surgically removed. By 2020, the family faced another setback as the cancer resurfaced and spread to multiple organs including the lungs and spine.
“We retreated inwards and entered crisis management mode,” You Zhen recalled. While his father pursued treatment, harsh side effects pushed the family to opt for home-based palliative care, supported by SCS’s home care and nursing team. They continued this approach until You Zhen’s father passed away in 2023.
You Zhen recounts a sense of withdrawing from the world. “We were not aware of anyone around us going through anything similar, and it became quite an isolating experience.”
It did not help that the family’s crisis unfolded amidst the dark years of Covid-19, with pandemic-era social restrictions. In this sense, his volunteer work with SCS has been cathartic. He often hears cancer warriors speak of initially feeling like “the only one” going through the situation, and the relief after meeting others fighting similar battles.
All this has bolstered his belief that we need to foster more conversations about people and families affected by cancer; to share such stories openly.
Not the End
Writing about cancer has not led You Zhen to dwell on lives cut short. Instead, it has highlighted the importance of leading full lives.
With each interview, he observes a shared trait among many affected by cancer: their generosity. “These cancer warriors took charge of their situation so that their loved ones can retain some degree of normalcy in their lives,” he explains. “They even found ways to contribute to communities and meaningful causes. These individuals have admirably learned to manage the realities and the emotional rollercoaster that their conditions inevitably bring.”
A cancer diagnosis, he emphasises, is not the end. Many people he meets continue to live and thrive, not merely passing their time under the “weight” of a countdown.
He vividly recalls interviewing Lee Lee, an SCS beneficiary who is battling stage 4 cancer. Sitting in a cafe on a weekday evening, she shared how she mindfully spends her time on meaningful activities and people whom she loves. The simplicity of her answer left an impact on You Zhen.
“My fingers paused for a moment against the keyboard,” he said. “I quietly told her that I would try to produce a piece that would do justice to her time spent on the interview.”