TO ERADICATE BREAST CANCER AS A LIFE - THREATENING DISEASE
I never thought I would get breast cancer. It was a
difficult period for me but with the help of my family,
my support group at Breast Cancer Foundation, and my doctors,
I have finally come to terms with my cancer and learnt to face it. More..
- Breast Cancer Survivor
BCF believes that members play an active role in education and raising awareness of breast cancer. Both men and women are encouraged to become members.
A Survivor’s Story
Amy Tan, 45
Our first meeting with Amy was indeed a pleasant experience. Always smiling, her amicable and approachable personality puts us at ease. Speaking a mix of Mandarin and English, she relates to us her story of how she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in 2002. She had to undergo an operation and subsequent chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy.
During the therapy, she constantly felt lethargic and could hardly leave her house. Incessant pain and losing of appetite became especially torturous at night when she was unable to get any sleep.
A mother of 2, she was worried for her children who were still quite young at that point in time. However, the endless support of her husband and children has kept her going and given her the strength to live each day. Having experienced 2 recurrences, once in 2005 and another in 2007, she quitted her job to focus fully on restoring her health.
Amy joined the Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) in 2006 where she participated actively in many activities! One of her greatest experiences was joining the Mrs Singapore Pageant. She surprised herself when she took to the catwalk as a model in front of a large audience! She showed us a couple of her pageant photos and we were very impressed at the confidence and beauty she exuded.
She had also put up many dance performances together with the ladies from BCF at many events, such as the KK Hospital as well as the Cathay Opening ceremony. She related that this journey had not been easy for her but it was definitely fruitful and she had learnt to take life less seriously and enjoy it to the fullest. Being part of the dragon boat team, Paddlers in the Pink, and taking part in a dragon-boat competition in Australia in 2006 made her tremendously proud too. However due to her recurrence last year, she had put her activities on hold to undergo treatment. Yet, she still retained her positive outlook of life and never-say-give-up attitude which we truly admire! We truly wish her good health and hope that she recovers soon!