06/05/2026
I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in May 2025 from my first hospital after a removal of a 2 cm small lump in my right breast. Within 2 days of seeking a second opinion from another oncologist in another hospital, I was informed that it was actually stage 4 breast cancer. The PET scan done at this hospital showed that it had spread to other organs. Upon learning that terminal stage cancer was incurable, I felt like hope and luck was no longer on my side, and that death is coming. Physically, I don’t feel like a cancer patient because I can still go about my daily routine like a normal person. When the diagnosis was confirmed, I was shocked and asked my doctor why this happened, as I did not have a family history of breast cancer. He just answered: “You are just unlucky.” I was shocked and my mind was blank for few seconds. I didn’t even have time to feel sad when I heard my husband and my daughter had already burst into tears. I should have felt sad, but I didn’t because I needed to keep them calm. I proceeded to ask: “How much time do I have left? Am I dying soon?“ He replied: “Listen. Your current stage is not curable, but it is treatable. My job is to make sure that you can continue living a good life without suffering and pain. I will try my best to extend your lifespan, but you have to trust me and follow my treatments.”
My first round of chemotherapy back in mid-June 2025 was on a weekly basis. After starting treatment, I was tired all the time, but had trouble getting deep sleep. I had a poor appetite, nausea, body aches, and my body was numb. My skin color and texture changed, my hair was thinning, and my skin was dry and itchy. I had diarrhoea, and I would taste rust in my mouth all the time. As the treatment progressed, I noticed that my muscles lost strength, and my mobility was badly affected, especially with my lower limbs. I couldn’t climb stairs, squat or walk properly. My hands and feet felt heavy, with a needle-like pain constantly attacking me when I moved. I struggled to lift things off the ground. My feet would sometimes be swollen too. The doctor said that these were the side effects from the booster shots of my white blood cell medication. My weekly chemotherapy that lasted for more than 3 months, along with multiple blood tests and scans, had made my body collapse like Lego blocks falling apart.
A nurse who always did the therapy for me shared her experiences in dealing with cancer patients. She said this to me: “You know what? Cancer patients don’t die because of cancer. I’ve seen many cancer patients in and out of the hospital. Some left on wheelchairs, some left without letting the hospital know, some gave up on the treatment, and even died from the side effects or secondary infections. Those who survived were the ones who remained active in their lives, doing whatever they could do in daily life, like exercising, socialising with friends and family members, eating healthy and cutting out processed food, and practicing a “happy go lucky” mindset. This was a turning point for me. I realized that I didn’t want to live my remaining days inactive, in despair and sorrow. Not wanting to rely on only medication, I decided that the best way to combat the side effects from my cancer treatment was to exercise regularly. In fact, research shows that exercising regularly boosts immunity. I looked for a personal trainer to help me regain my strength and mobility with a workout routine, tailored specifically for me.
After attending a few sessions with Ke Wynn, I found that my body adjusted well and I was able to minimized the side effects from the cancer treatment. I started sleeping better. My mobility improved. My body surprisingly ached less. I no longer had to take any sleeping pills or painkillers.
As my blood test results got better, the doctor switched me to an oral form of targeted therapy at home. I continued my exercise regularly under my trainer’s supervision. My strength and mobility improved significantly, and I even joined my family on a trip in December 2025.
Exercising definitely helped me get through the shocking news I received when I returned to the hospital for a monthly routine checkup in January 2026. My PET scan results and tumor marker levels had unexpectedly worsened. The doctor had to run a thorough liver biopsy on me that gave me multiple needle scars, so I was forced to stop exercising for a week. I still tried going to the park for a walk everyday, even for just few minutes. Despite my worsening situation, my mind remained calm. I knew that my good mood was partly the result of exercising. When my doctor advised me to go for another round of monthly infused targeted treatment (similar to chemotherapy), I accepted it without hesitation or doubts because I knew that he was trying his best to make sure I stayed alive. I took a walk in the park to process the news. My mother told me to not start another round of chemotherapy.I believe things happen for a reason, and that thinking positively will make me a stronger and better person. I needed to keep myself focused, and love myself without constantly questioning why bad things kept happening to me.
Life is a gift from God. It isn’t easy being an adult with responsibilities and social roles to fulfill, not to mention surviving in a highly competitive society. I have endured this for the last 49 years of my life. I know my body is already telling me that it is tired and needs to rest. I needed to help my body regain energy. As my doctor says, the results are sometimes good, but sometimes alarming as my body works hard to fight fires left and right. At this moment, I knew that I had to learn how to love myself better. Life is too short to ask for an answer to why things are the way they are. Live in the present. Focus and remain calm and happy is the only thing I can do at this moment. I stopped stressing over what could happen in the future. I want my remaining days to be filled with love, joy and hope. Exercising is one of the ways to improve my mood. Looking back at all the ups and downs in life, from school to the workplace and now family, surviving until today is already a gift to me. I am grateful for all those I have met in my life journey who shared their kindness and love with me. I don’t see any reason why I should let my life come to a stop just because I was labeled as a stage 4 cancer patient. My purpose in this world is to experience all the ups and downs in life. There is a Chinese saying—生老病死. Everybody experiences life in 4 stages—life, old age, illness and death. Today, I am already at the “illness” stage of my life, but I am not afraid of death. What I am most afraid of is not having experienced enough of this world, and not having lived the way I wanted. In this way, I consider myself a cancer survivor.
It is okay to feel sad. It is normal to wonder why I am so unlucky. Accept it and let it happen. Overcome it with love and hope. Take a walk. Feel your heart beat. Feel the sweat roll down your cheeks. Tell your body that it has done a marvellous job in life. Don’t be afraid to start exercising, even if it is just a short walk or only for a few minutes of your day. Always feel grateful that you can wake up the next morning with eyes that can see, a nose that can breathe and smell, ears that can hear, a tongue that can taste, a body that can move, and a mind that can think. You are not alone in fighting cancer. I am fighting it right now. You can too, because living is winning.
- JESS
