53 years old Hawa Bebe bte Hydrose is a breast cancer survivor. The single mother of 2 found out that she had stage 2 breast cancer in 2015. With thrombocytopenia, a condition where blood platelets are abnormally low, Mdm Hawa Bebe refused to undergo chemotherapy as it could further lower platelet production and may lead to more side effects.

55-year-old Mr Sim Teong Choon, had been smoking for 39 years before he quit at the age of 52. He used to smoke up to 2 packets a day. At the age of 52, he was diagnosed with throat cancer.

SCS support group member and lung cancer survivor, Lynda Lim Kwee Hua, took part in this year’s Singtel – Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer. The 58-year-old had to go undergo chemotherapy and surgery last year. With half a lung, she completed the 5km route while taking medications in between her run.

The Great Gobi Desert, which dominates over much of Southern Mongolia, is one of the earth's most brutal deserts with extreme temperatures fluctuating between negative 40 degree Celsius in the dead of winter to a sizzling 50 degree Celsius in summer. These grievous conditions are hardly what one would have in mind for an ideal vacation, but for Mr Ellil Mathiyan, a double cancer survivor, it is one he is looking forward to. 

In 2015, SCS Bishana Support Group member Ms Connie Goh was diagnosed with Stage 1B cervical cancer at the age of 41. She displayed no symptoms prior to the diagnosis and only discovered the cancer by chance after she decided to go for a health check-up due to work stress.

20 year old Nurhidayah Bte Sapadi is the only daughter to her parents. Her dad is a delivery driver and her mum is a freelance massage therapist. She has a younger brother who is in a special needs school. In 2016, Nurhidayah discovered a lump on her left neck which was diagnosed as stage 2 hodgkin's lymphoma. She was shocked as there was no family history of cancer. The diagnosis hit her family hard.

Mdm Irmawati, 40, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2013. And she was 32 weeks pregnant. Mdm Irmawati first discovered a lump in her left breast at the age of 20 which was non-cancerous. In 2011, she found a lump in the right breast. Thinking that the lump would also be non-cancerous, she ignored it. Two years later she felt multiple lumps and went to consult a doctor. She was advised to go for a biopsy. But just before her biopsy, she found out that she was pregnant with her second child.

However tough the odds may seem, maintaining positivity and perseverance in life can yield good outcomes eventually. Mr Wille Foo, 50, is a survivor of Gastric (Stomach) Cancer. Listen to his story and hear how he survived gastric cancer and a subsequent relapse. Willie first came in contact with SCS when he shared his story at an SCS Gastric Cancer GP Educational Seminar in 2016. SCS teamed up with Eli Lily to share Willie’s story.