Detect Early to Defeat Decisively: “Get a Mammogram” Three-time Cancer Survivor Advises
Aparna Suri broke into a huge smile when she took the final steps across the finish line for the 5km race at the 2024 Great Eastern Women’s Run (GEWR).
To the 50-year-old—who had never participated in such an event before—representing Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) for the run was more than just about “completing a race”. It was also a celebration of her resilience; a symbol of how countless cancer treatments could test her strength, but would never extinguish her spirit.
“It takes a toll on you to have to be strong again”
Over the last 28 years, Aparna has weathered the blows of three types of cancer. Her first brush with the illness was in 1996. 21 years old and newlywed, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes, and had to undergo both chemotherapy and radiation.
In 2015, she was following up on a viral ear infection when she found she had thyroid cancer and had to surgically remove the thyroid gland.
The most recent was in 2023, when a mammogram revealed a lump in her breast and it was uncovered to be Stage 1 breast cancer.
She muses that in some ways, the third time was the most challenging because of the need for both surgery and chemotherapy.
The side effects this round were more challenging to cope with: Compared to her first bout with cancer, when she only lost "some hair" during chemotherapy, this time her hair loss was so drastic that even her eyelashes fell out.
“I cried when it happened,” she shares. “It definitely hit me harder because now I looked like a cancer patient as well.”
Regaining Strength with SCS
Besides hair loss, Aparna suffered from weight gain and experienced pain in her arm from the removal of lymph nodes. Her oncologist referred her to Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) for help. This turned out to be a major turning point in her recovery journey.
Aparna was assigned an occupational therapist and dietician to help with her side effects. She also started Strength ABC (after breast cancer), a physical training programme designed to help survivors with their unique post-surgery challenges.
“My first two cancers I never had support like this,” Aparna gushes.
She adds that it was precisely this support and the encouragement of her trainer at SCS that gave her the courage to participate in GEWR—walking if she could not run.
She is proud to have achieved something she once thought was impossible, and is now even more motivated to keep on training to improve her fitness levels.
“Just challenge yourself slowly to do a little more each day,” she encourages others. “You don’t need to be ready for a championship—you just need to be able to do a bit better each time in your own eyes.”
Take Control of Your Health
Hearing Aparna share so candidly about her cancer journey, one may be surprised to know she “didn't talk much” about her condition the first two times.
What changed was her realisation that by sharing her story, she can encourage others to seek help and treatment as soon as possible.”
“I cannot reiterate how important it is to do the tests. You can take control. If you go for annual checkups and the cancer is caught early, your chances are better,” she says. “If even one person hears my story and goes for a mammogram, that will mean a lot to me!
Aparna Suri broke into a huge smile when she took the final steps across the finish line for the 5km race at the 2024 Great Eastern Women’s Run (GEWR).
To the 50-year-old—who had never participated in such an event before—representing Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) for the run was more than just about “completing a race”. It was also a celebration of her resilience; a symbol of how countless cancer treatments could test her strength, but would never extinguish her spirit.
“It takes a toll on you to have to be strong again”
Over the last 28 years, Aparna has weathered the blows of three types of cancer. Her first brush with the illness was in 1996. 21 years old and newlywed, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes, and had to undergo both chemotherapy and radiation.
In 2015, she was following up on a viral ear infection when she found she had thyroid cancer and had to surgically remove the thyroid gland.
The most recent was in 2023, when a mammogram revealed a lump in her breast and it was uncovered to be Stage 1 breast cancer.
She muses that in some ways, the third time was the most challenging because of the need for both surgery and chemotherapy.
The side effects this round were more challenging to cope with: Compared to her first bout with cancer, when she only lost "some hair" during chemotherapy, this time her hair loss was so drastic that even her eyelashes fell out.
“I cried when it happened,” she shares. “It definitely hit me harder because now I looked like a cancer patient as well.”
Regaining Strength with SCS
Besides hair loss, Aparna suffered from weight gain and experienced pain in her arm from the removal of lymph nodes. Her oncologist referred her to Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) for help. This turned out to be a major turning point in her recovery journey.
Aparna was assigned an occupational therapist and dietician to help with her side effects. She also started Strength ABC (after breast cancer), a physical training programme designed to help survivors with their unique post-surgery challenges.
“My first two cancers I never had support like this,” Aparna gushes.
She adds that it was precisely this support and the encouragement of her trainer at SCS that gave her the courage to participate in GEWR—walking if she could not run.
She is proud to have achieved something she once thought was impossible, and is now even more motivated to keep on training to improve her fitness levels.
“Just challenge yourself slowly to do a little more each day,” she encourages others. “You don’t need to be ready for a championship—you just need to be able to do a bit better each time in your own eyes.”
Take Control of Your Health
Hearing Aparna share so candidly about her cancer journey, one may be surprised to know she “didn't talk much” about her condition the first two times.
What changed was her realisation that by sharing her story, she can encourage others to seek help and treatment as soon as possible.”
“I cannot reiterate how important it is to do the tests. You can take control. If you go for annual checkups and the cancer is caught early, your chances are better,” she says. “If even one person hears my story and goes for a mammogram, that will mean a lot to me!