Breast Cancer Patient Finds Hope in Family Away from Home
“I am all alone.” These were the thoughts that ran through Raquel Delos Santos mind when she first heard she had Stage 3 breast cancer in 2023.
Wistfully, she shares how she left the Philippines to work as an engineer in Singapore in 2000, when her son was just two years old.
Being away from her loved ones has always been hard for her. But the last year has been especially tough for the 65-year-old, as she weathered the storms of chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and now hormone therapy—away from the people closest to her heart.
“I was so scared of the results”
The journey began in 2019, when Raquel first discovered a lump in her breast. At first, she wasn’t worried because she had already discovered a similar bump two years earlier. Back then, the doctors told her it wasn't cancerous and simply removed it.
She thought it would be the same this time.
But her plans to return home for treatment were derailed by a mild heart attack, and then COVID-19 travel restrictions. By February 2023, the lump could be ignored no longer; it had grown significantly larger and started oozing discharge.
The polyclinic referred her to the hospital for a thorough examination. The two weeks she had to wait for her biopsy results were a nightmare as she ran through the different possibilities in her mind.
“I was so scared that I got my sister to come [from the Philippines], so the doctor could read the results to her instead,” she recounts. When Raquel finally heard that she had cancer, she broke down completely.
Struggling to Find Hope
At first, there was a glimmer of hope when she discovered the cancer had not spread to other cells. But this was soon extinguished when she started treatment.
Raquel had planned to do chemotherapy, but the medication affected her eyesight and she had to stop after just five sessions for fear of going blind.
Radiotherapy caused her to suffer from lymphedema, where lymphatic fluid builds up in the body’s tissues and causes swelling.
This swelling severely impacted Raquel’s upper body movement, leaving her unable to lift even 2kg with her left hand. As a result, she lost her job and struggled to cover her treatment expenses.
Finding Home Away From Home
It was at her lowest that Raquel was introduced to the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS).
SCS helped her find financial support to cover her radiotherapy bills. She was also able to participate in the SCS Return to Work programme. This gave her access to services such as physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy, psychosocial counselling and more to help her prepare for the job search.
Through Return to Work, Raquel was selected as a part-time barista for the SCS CAmpung Cafe. “The job helped me rebuild my confidence,” she says.
Most importantly, perhaps, SCS gave her a sense of belonging and friendship that she craved.
Hearing the stories of other cancer patients and survivors gave her comfort and reassurance. Friendly faces and casual conversations with the staff while she worked as a barista also lifted her spirits. She now enjoys attending SCS social events in her spare time.
Fighting on into the Future
Reflecting on her battle with cancer so far, Raquel is grateful for the friendships and support she has received at SCS.
The road to recovery may still be long and winding, but with the encouragement of the SCS community, she fights on and hopes to soon be permanently reunited with her family in the Philippines.
When asked about her message to other cancer patients, she replies immediately: “Keep fighting",” because there is always something worth living for.