“Don’t let your physical problems affect your mental health” Says Two-Time Cancer Warrior Outliving Her 18-month Prognosis
Persistent nausea, hair loss, significant changes in appetite, and debilitating fatigue are just some of the many side effects that make chemotherapy so unbearable.
So, it is surprising when the video call connects and Alice Tan’s beaming face appears. Watching her gesture animatedly as she chatters on—her voice bursting with warmth and exuberance—that the 67-year-old has been undergoing chemotherapy since 2022 and just completed one session the day before.
She barely bats an eyelid as she shares her diagnosis: Locally advanced recurrent gall bladder cancer. Even more unexpected is when she adds, “I’m fortunate”.
“Usually patients don’t survive more than 18 months. But I’m very responsive to the chemo. It’s been more than 30 months and I’m still here” she says with a grin.
“I don’t let it drag me down”
Worth noting is that this is not Alice’s first rodeo with cancer. In 2014, she had an operation to remove her gall bladder when doctors discovered cancerous cells. She endured eight cycles of chemotherapy to bring the condition into remission.
News of a relapse would understandably send others into a downward spiral—to say nothing of the poor prognosis she was given. But Alice remained positive.
“I had no problem with it,” she matter-of-factly states, likening it to the obstacles she has faced starting and running her own company for the last 25 years. “In business, we will always have issues. We just have to solve it. So it’s in my nature to be able to cope with things thrown at me.”
Alice has stopped attending large gatherings, because “our immunity is very low and we are very susceptible to infection”. She also began planning her days around hospital visits.
But for the large part, life has gone on as usual. Work trips continue, holidays are in the works, and she maintains her fitness regime of walking or jogging a few kilometres each morning.
She believes regular exercise is why she has managed to endure such a long period of chemotherapy. “I still have all the side effects, but it’s been minimal,” she proudly shares.
Protecting Mental and Physical Health
Reflecting on her battle with cancer, Alice reiterates her belief that health comprises both physical and mental components.
She sees it as follows: “Let’s say [your health] is 50 per cent physical and 50 per cent mental. If you are physically unwell because of cancer, maybe you have only 20 per cent physical fitness left. But if you can maintain 50 per cent mental fitness, so you are still 70 per cent well!”
“So don’t let your physical problems affect your mental health,” she passionately shares.
“Understand and accept the situation”
Her advice to other cancer warriors is to educate themselves about their condition so they can work closely with their medical team throughout the treatment process.
“Study if what the doctors are suggesting is right or wrong for you, because not everybody has the same type of cancer, and your body is different from others,” she encourages.
She also recommends approaching organisations like Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) for support.
“I was really surprised when they reached out to me,” she exclaims, adding that she benefited most from working with their occupational therapist, physiotherapist and dietician. “It’s very encouraging that there is care and support for cancer patients outside of the hospital,” she affirms.
But perhaps most important of all is simply not to give up.
“Don’t look at cancer like it is a death sentence. It is an issue that can be managed. You can still live well and enjoy,” Alice exclaims.