Breast cancer diagnosis at 29 changed her perspectives on life

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Fit, active and in the midst of pursuing her degree, Miss W’s life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 20s.
As her body changed through the treatment, and as she navigated through tough moments with her loved ones beside her, she began to find new meaning in life.
How did you find out about your cancer and how did you react to the diagnosis?
Miss W: My boyfriend was the one who noticed the lump in my breast. At first, I brushed it off as breast tissue. I thought I was too young to get cancer. I remember telling my boyfriend, “Don’t worry, it’ll go away”. But deep down, I was concerned so I made an appointment at the polyclinic to get the lump checked.
Eventually, I saw a private doctor who performed a lumpectomy on me and confirmed the cancer. When I heard the diagnosis, it felt like a scene in the movies. My hands and legs went numb. I was shocked and confused — why did I get cancer? It didn’t run in my family, and I was young and led a very healthy lifestyle.
I also felt shame and didn’t want to tell anyone about it. There is some stigma about illness in our society. People see it as a weakness or think you must have done something wrong to get cancer.
Can you describe your treatment journey and how you coped with it?
I had first-stage triple-negative breast cancer and was subsequently tested positive for the BRCA1 gene. After completing chemotherapy, I had a double mastectomy and then a hysterectomy.
Going through chemotherapy was very painful and difficult for me. I developed high blood pressure and all sorts of infections — you name it, I had it. Halfway through, I wanted to stop the treatment, but I kept going back to a phrase that my father used to say to me, “If you don’t love yourself, no one will”. I realised that I needed to love myself and love my life, and so I pressed on.
I had very good support from my close family members and friends who helped me pull through the treatment. My good friend would skip classes to accompany me to every chemotherapy session. My sister would rearrange her work schedule so that she could bring me home after that. They made sure I was never alone. I also had the best doctors and nurses who gave me very good advice and encouraged me.
What was the biggest challenge for you as a young person going through breast cancer?
Having cancer in my prime felt like the rug was pulled out from under me. I was in the second year of university and had to take a one-year break from school to undergo treatment. Having cancer also forced me to question the meaning of life. That was hard because I was young and didn’t have the experience to answer all the questions that I had. But being young also meant that I could recover quickly.
How did breast cancer affect the way you feel about yourself and your body?
I was a very vain person but breast cancer made me feel detached from my body. It also made me focus on what’s important. In the past, I defined beauty by what was on the outside and my ideal was Victoria’s Secret models. But now, beauty is more internal to me. It’s about my ability to be kind and care for others and still be strong after what I’ve been through.
How did breast cancer affect your relationships?
It definitely tested my relationship with my boyfriend. I became very insecure and I would say nasty things to push him out of my life. But he gave me a lot of assurance and once I overcame my insecurity, our relationship grew stronger. In fact, he told me that after all that we’ve been through, he is sure that he wants to be with me for the rest of my life. We have set a date to get married in two years.
How did having cancer at a young age change you?
It made me grow up quickly and I’m a different person now. When you are faced with the possibility of death, it forces you to reassess your priorities. You can’t help but take a step back and think about who and what is really important in your life. It became clear to me that what matters are my family and good friends, and the life that I still have ahead of me.
What advice would you give to other young women who are going through this journey?
Ask for help when you need; don’t feel embarrassed by it. Unfortunately, we live in a society that confuses weakness with vulnerability. But know that cancer makes you vulnerable but not weak. In fact, it makes you stronger.
Focus on your priorities, your future, and your loved ones. Because that’s what matters in the end.