Cancer diagnosis is a life-changing experience that touches not only the patients, but also their loved ones, friends and communities.
For me, cancer is something more personal. It has shaped my life in two different ways: firstly, as a family member of a loved one who have battled cancer, and finally, as an oncologist treating patients with cancer every day.
My first encounter with cancer started within my own family. My maternal grandfather was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer many years ago, at a time when treatment options were limited, and survival rates were much lower than today.
Watching a loved one struggle with this disease from going through treatment, feeling helpless, and to worry about what is going to happen next has wider effects that spread beyond the patient themselves. The emotional toll on family members, and caregivers is immense. There is constant fear, uncertainty and pain of watching your loved one going through the cancer journey can be unbearable to some.
These experiences shaped my perspective long before I became an oncologist, making me well aware of the challenges families faced when dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Over the years, cancer has also affected other friends and their family, reinforcing the reality that this disease does not discriminate – it can strike anyone regardless of age, background or status.
As an oncologist now, I am wearing two hats, one as a member of the general public who has experienced cancer in the family like my patients’ families, and another as a doctor treating patients who are going through similar struggles.
This dual perspective gives me a deeper and better understanding of what patients and their families endure.
Cancer is not just a disease, it is a battle fought on multiple fronts; physical, emotional and psychosocial. Every day, I meet patients and their caregivers who are navigating the same fear, and uncertainty that my own family once faced.
Beyond that, I also see their hope, and their strength in fighting this disease. Due to this unique journey of mine in seeing cancer from a different lens, I am not there to just treat the disease, but also providing them with hope, guidance and support through one of the hardest times in their lives.
Cancer matters to everyone because almost all of us will be touched by it, whether personally or through someone we love.
In Malaysia, cancer cases are on the rise, and we have 1 in 8 lifetime risk of developing cancer. To make matter worse, close to two third of cancer in Malaysia were diagnosed at later stage (Stage III and IV). A more advanced stage at diagnosis will negatively impact the patient outcome and cure rate.
Therefore, raising awareness is important and we need to talk about cancer more openly as many are still hesitate to seek medical attention due to fear orstigma. The truth is early detection and treatment can save lives. Every month of delayed in cancer treatment can raise the risk of death by around 10%!
We need to encourage everyone to go for regular medical check-ups and cancer screening, to understand the risks, and supporting those who are going through the journey. It is a shared challenge that requires collective effort. My experience has taught me that we all have a role to play in the fight against cancer. Whether you are a patient, a caregiver, a doctor, or simply someone who wants to make a difference; a simple gesture by providing a listening ear when someone needs to talk can makes a difference in their life.
Cancer matter to all of us as it is a reminder of how fragile life can be and our shared vulnerability; but also, how strong we can be and the collective strength we can put together in facing the adversity.
United by strength, Unique in Every Journey!
