Hi, I’m Cindy. I’m a breast cancer survivor and this is my story.

When I went for a yearly mammogram, the doctor found a small mass in my breast.

To my dismay, I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer.

When I received my diagnosis, I was overwhelmed with worry and I was frightened.

As of late 2023, it has been more than 3 years since my diagnosis. I have completed treatment and I am no longer taking medication.

I am now living free of cancer.

My symptoms

I followed the general advice for women my age of having annual mammogram screenings and in hindsight, it saved my life!

I noticed redness and flaky skin on my breast, which made me feel uneasy. I decided to take these symptoms seriously since I knew that having flaky skin on my breast is not normal for me and it could be a sign of something serious.

During the mammogram, a small mass was found in my breast. Eventually, my gynae confirmed my worst suspicion, stage 1 breast cancer.

I made some changes to my lifestyle as I prepared for treatment.

I became more mindful of the food I eat. I chose a healthier diet of nutritious food that gave me energy. My exercise frequency increased as well.

I knew that undergoing treatment would be stressful on my body and I wanted to gain as much strength as possible for it.

My treatment plan

All of the treatment options were recommended by the doctor and even though I felt comfortable enough with the medical care provided to me, I still did my own research and visited health websites to have an even more comprehensive view on my treatment options.

I did not proceed with the lymphadenectomy because it was found that the cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes.

After deciding on my treatment plans, I still felt a bit anxious and scared about the treatment journey. Hence, in addition to conventional medical care, I also sought an alternative treatment option, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine.

As of now, I have completed treatment for cancer and do not require medication anymore.

I experienced several side effects from surgery and chemotherapy.

I experienced fatigue and hair loss, which are common side effects of the treatment options I took. As an attempt to lessen the effects of fatigue, I improved my nutrition intake.

I took my time to recover and I did not push myself too hard.

Receiving the news of cancer was a harrowing experience for me.

My diagnosis was life-changing not only for me, but for my family and friends too.

Prior to knowing I had cancer, my family and I did not go on many family trips. However, since my cancer treatment was successful, we commit to at least 2 overseas family trips every year to make more good memories together. I also made more time for my parents and called them almost daily.

My next family trip will be to Australia! We will be sending off my eldest son as he enrolls in a university there.

We are currently planning a trip with my girlfriends to Taiwan next year.

Now I want to relax a bit more and spend time with my loved ones.

Prior to cancer, my dream was to progress further in my career in the auditing field. But now I just want to more relaxed and spend time with my family, hopefully see them (my kids) graduate university. My family and friends motivated me to be resilient through treatment.

My biggest fear is the recurrence and spreading of cancer.

I try to overcome my fear by communicating regularly with my doctors and nurses. They are professionals who are familiar with women like me, and I ask them how to manage my emotions. I also seek emotional support from my family and friends, and their reassurances help to put me at ease.

Now, having gone through cancer and starting life post-cancer, I feel optimistic.

I am glad that I trusted my instincts and sought for a medical assessment as soon as possible. Even though I worry about relapse, I feel hopeful about my future. I have dreams that I want to achieve, both by myself and with my family.

Being diagnosed with cancer can look like a death sentence, but it is not. Have faith in your doctors and nurses and do as much as you can to stay strong for treatment. Don’t give up!