“I want to live and see my children get married”: Breast Cancer Patient Finds the Will to Fight
It all began when Mdm Rozita noticed a small bump, slightly larger than a 50-cent coin, on her left chest. She thought it was a mosquito bite, but when it didn’t go away after a day or two, her friend suggested she see a doctor.
“I started to get scared,” the 56-year-old recalls. The doctor recommended a mammogram, and when the result was Stage 3 breast cancer, her heart sank.
“It was as if the world had stopped. Everything came crashing down. All I could think about was that I was still young and that my children hadn’t gotten married yet,” she recounts.
“I looked like Voldemort”
Madam Rozita opted for a partial mastectomy, where only the tumour and a small margin of surrounding tissue is removed.
In preparation for the operation, she underwent 20 sessions of chemotherapy to reduce the size of the lump as much as possible.
After the operation, she began radiotherapy. That was the moment when things took a turn for the worse. The medication caused her to vomit and lose her appetite. She was constantly tired. Then the hair began to fall out.
“My hair all dropped out—my eyebrows, eyelashes, even the hair on my arms,” she exclaims. “My tongue, fingernails and toenails were all black and I could barely recognise myself.”
The physical changes were a huge blow to Madam Rozita’s self-confidence. She refused to look in the mirror, leave the house or even accept guests.
One of the worst moments for her was when her father turned up at her doorstep unannounced. She had tried to keep her illness from him so as not to worry him.
“He was in shock when he saw me bald and was speechless for at least 15 minutes. My heart broke,” she tearfully shares.
Finding her Tribe
What kept Madam Rozita going in those dark days was the support of her loved ones.
Her husband helped her with the laundry, cooking and other chores so that she had time to rest. When he was at work, her sister came round to keep her company. And no matter how bad-tempered or depressed she was, her children remained patient and understanding.
Visiting the Singapore Cancer Society's rehabilitation centre also did wonders for Madam Rozita’s physical and mental well-being.
The multidisciplinary team of physiotherapists, nutritionists and other professionals helped her to manage physical symptoms such as back and joint pain. She learnt to look out for lymphoedema, a swelling caused by the accumulation of lymph fluid in soft tissue. She also learnt how to eat and what exercises she should do to regain her strength.
Importantly, being at the rehabilitation centre gave Madam Rozita the opportunity to make friends with other cancer survivors. They gave her comfort and encouragement—and soon she was soon looking forward to leaving home for weekly exercise sessions with her friends.
Regaining Strength and Confidence
With support of her friends and the medical team at the rehabilitation centre, Madam Rozita slowly regained her strength and energy. In 2023, she even participated in the Singtel-Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer.
“I’m not the kind of person that would do this thing,” she admits. “When they first asked me, I said it is too far and I will faint!”
She was persuaded to give the 5km race a try, and surprised herself by completing it—and enjoying the walk!
Reflecting on the similarities to her cancer journey thus far, she muses: “When you have friends walking together with you, it’s manageable!”
Holding on to Hope
Today, Madam Rozita is undergoing targeted therapy to prevent a recurrence of the cancer.
She realises that she is considered a “high-risk” patient and that the cancer could return one day. But instead of wallowing in her misery and fearing the future, she chooses to live: she does her best to stay healthy and enjoys every moment she can spend with her loved ones.
“I'm blessed to have a few more years,” she emphasises, “I hope to live as long as possible to see my children get married, and maybe even see my grandchildren”
Her advice for others? “Have faith and don’t take life for granted”.
Mdm Rozita sends her deepest, most heartfelt thanks to the incredible people who have stood by her side throughout her journey. With immense gratitude, she acknowledges: Richelle and Wendy, her dedicated trainers who kept her strong and motivated; Vijaya, her ever-supportive physiotherapist who guided her through every step of recovery; Tze Ching, her caring dietitian who helped her regain her strength; Anne, her compassionate occupational therapist who supported her in reclaiming her independence; and Dr Samuel Ow, her oncologist whose expertise and reassurance gave her hope.
Their unwavering support, kindness, and encouragement have made all the difference in her fight against cancer, and she holds each of them close to her heart.