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The
news is out - your doctor has informed that you have breast cancer.
You are shocked and terrified, particularly when you have never
had a life-threatening illness before
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Breast cancer survivor,
Susan Wong, shares her testimony with members of the CGH-Rainbow support
group. |
| At
Changi General Hospital, the CGH-Rainbow is a support group, offered
by the Medical Social Services Department, to help patients. CGH-Rainbow
aims to help breast cancer patients cope with their illness more effectively
through group interaction mutual support and peer learning. The group
meets monthly at 9.30 am, usually on the last Saturday of each month.
For enquiry, please contact the department at Tel: 850 2880.
At the same
time, CGH has also, with the sponsorship of SingTel Mobile, supported
a book published by breast cancer survivor Grace Segran. Aptly called
"Cheers to Life! One woman's dance with breast cancer",
the book was written as an encouragement to women battling with
the disease. Some of them were made available free to CGH patients
who were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Triumphing
over Breast Cancer
Here's a moving
testimony of a CGH patient who has fought and triumphed over breast
cancer:
"When I
was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 1998, my first reaction
was one of shock and fear. My illness struck me like a lightning
bolt, suddenly and mercilessly. I had been working many years and
I was at a point in my life when I should be reaping the fruits
of my labour. And now, I have to be stricken with such a terrible
illness. I was filled with doubts and uncertainties.
Many questions
raced through my mind: Am I going to die? How much time do I have?
What are my fighting chances? Will I be able to return to work?
Will removal of a breast make me less of a woman?
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My
surgery was scheduled three days later. I had a mastectomy. After
mastectomy, I waited anxiously for my histology report. The prognosis
was bad. I was told to fight my illness aggressively.
The chemotherapy
treatment lasted 24 weeks, followed by 5 weeks of radiotherapy.
The treatment was harrowing and debilitating to say the least.
On reflection,
I was able to cope because of the support of my family, friends
and health care providers. My road to recovery was made less overwhelming
by the help they rendered to me. I like to thank Sister Margaret
Chew from Nursing and Senior Medical Social Worker Eunice Chin for
providing the frontline support, which I believe, is crucial for
the well being of newly diagnosed cancer patients.
A friend of
mine, a staff nurse at a private hospital introduced me to another
nurse. She struck me as a charming lady and very pretty. Looking
at her then, it was hard for me to believe that she survived cancer.
I was a total stranger to her and yet she willingly showed me her
surgical wound. I was touched by the experience. It was only then
that I was convinced that she really survived cancer.
It took great
determination to overcome the hurt and the pain. I fought a fierce
battle and I am glad to say " Life is worth fighting for!"
I hope this will motivate the newly diagnosed cancer patients to
persevere and give your illness a good fight, for you are not alone.
Others have been there before you and survived."
- Breast
cancer survivor, Susan Wong
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