From Survivor to Supporter: Tongue Cancer Survivor Has Made it His Mission To Give Back
It was in 2005 that Ramapathy Doraswamy first noticed a lump beneath his tongue. He visited a GP, dutifully applied the medical gel he was given, and the lump went away—only to resurface again three months later.
He mentioned it to his dentist and was immediately referred to the National Dental Centre. A biopsy was done, and within a week, the news was out: It was tongue cancer.
“Naturally, I was very worried,” the 76-year-old recounts. The doctor recommended surgery to remove the cancer cells, but this involved cutting off part of his tongue. What if he lost his ability to speak? He was in a customer-facing role then—how would he be able to work?
Finding the Good in Tough Times
With the support of his loved ones, Ramapathy bit the bullet and went for surgery. Although he did not need to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy, the side effects from his surgery lingered. “I found it difficult to eat and talk—especially on the left side of my mouth, it was difficult to chew,” he says.
During this trying recovery time, his wife, son and friends were his pillar of strength. They constantly encouraged him and took turns accompanying him for walks to keep his fitness up. His managers and colleagues were also incredibly supportive and assigned him tasks that would minimise the need to speak to customers.
It took months for the side effects to vanish. But although Ramapathy was given the all-clear, in 2010, cancer struck again: His wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. This time, it was his turn to step up. He accompanied her to and fro from chemotherapy sessions and cooked special meals to accommodate her appetite.
Giving Back
Ramapathy's own experience with his cancer, together with his son, showed him the immense value of having a strong support system and inspired him to give back. It, in turn, contributed to his ability in supporting his wife during her cancer journey, allowing him to understand, empathise, and journey with her through the toughest times.
Having benefited from the services at the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) during their battles with cancer, Ramapathy and his wife are now active supporters of SCS activities.
They actively participate in events to connect with and support other survivors, helping to foster a sense of community and shared strength among those navigating similar journeys. For example, they were one of the first few members of the organisation’s dragon boat team, the Purple Dragons, and even today, train for around two hours a week with the group.
In 2017, when SCS started Relay For Life, an overnight fundraising event, Ramapathy was also one of the first to sign up. Since then, he has faithfully participated in the event year after year.
In addition, for a month each year, he also volunteers to help distribute Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kits at polyclinics, to raise awareness for colon cancer.
One of the things Ramapathy likes most about working with SCS is the chance to meet other patients and survivors, to be inspired by their stories, and to in turn encourage them. Earnestly, he shares about one tongue cancer warrior he met, who was initially resistant to undergoing treatment.
“I called him, and he was surprised I can talk,” Ramapathy shares. “But after listening to me, he told the doctor he will go through with the operation. Now he is doing well!”
His advice to others battling cancer is to “be positive and fight”. After all, he says, there are many avenues for support—and just as many people like him and his wife ready to step up and lend a helping hand.