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Following a shock diagnosis, breast cancer survivor Mrs Sari faced up to her reality and focused on recovery.

IT ALL STARTED WITH A ROUTINE CHECK-UP, ONE SHE HADN'T EVEN PLANNED FOR. Mrs Sari, a wife and working mother from Indonesia, was visiting Singapore when it occurred to her that with time on her hands, she should fit in a health screening.

It was a decision that possibly saved her life. Doctors found something unusual, a discovery that led to her Stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis. “The news came as a complete shock as I had no family history of breast cancer, had no symptoms and felt perfectly healthy at the time,” recalls Mrs Sari, who was then 49 years old. At that point in her life, she was doing well in her banking career and was even nominated for a company award.

When she shared the news with her firm, they were very supportive, which put her mind at ease as she returned to Singapore for treatment.

In sharing her cancer story and recovery journey, Mrs Sari, who turns 56 this year, singles out the importance of faith, a good medical team and the unwavering support of her family.

Acceptance Is Key

As a Christian, Mrs Sari placed her faith in God and accepted her situation. “I recognised that despite being at a high point in my career, I had to face the reality of cancer,” she says. Instead of feeling down, she found inner peace and courage through her faith group. This helped her face the cancer challenges ahead.

“For me, it all boils down to mindset,” she elaborates. “Happiness and sadness come from within. If we choose to accept our situation, our environment can complement and support us. If we choose to embrace happiness despite our circumstances, we can be happy. On the other hand, if we don't accept our situation, no amount of external support will make us truly happy. Happiness is something we create for ourselves.”

Trust in Your Doctor

As soon as she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Mrs Sari went for a lump removal surgery in 2018. She put her trust in the doctor, cooperating fully with his guidance as she embarked on the road to recovery. Besides surgery, Mrs Sari also went for eight chemotherapy sessions that same year. This was followed by radiation treatment in 2019.

“I am incredibly grateful to my doctor and his amazing team,” says Mrs Sari.

“An important part of my recovery was having access to my doctor via phone and WhatsApp. Whenever I was unsure about something, such as what types of food to eat, I would ask him, and he was always responsive.”

She recalls that when she felt weak after a chemotherapy session, she asked if having a massage would ease her discomfort. Given the go-ahead, Mrs Sari would have a massage a few days after each treatment, which provided relief and boosted her positivity.

Drawing Strength from Family and Community

Mrs Sari is fortunate that, throughout her cancer journey, no one could tell she was ill as she remained energetic and continued working. Along with her inner faith and medical team, Mrs Sari also credits her family for being a constant pillar of support. Their care and concern bolstered her recovery and made the journey all the steadier and smoother.

Praying together every evening, the family hoped for the best. “I was worried about how to explain the situation to my young child,” says Mrs Sari. “How do you tell them that despite our prayers, things may not turn out as hoped?”

And finally, Mrs Sari found the answer. “Even though I still had cancer, I went through everything smoothly and seamlessly. My family and I believe that it is because of God's presence.”

In 2019, while having dinner at a Jakarta hotel, Mrs Sari noticed a representative from CanHOPE preparing for a health seminar. Eager to organise a health talk at her workplace, Mrs Sari approached the representative to learn more about CanHOPE. CanHOPE is a non-profit cancer counselling and support service to help patients and caregivers navigate the treatment process by providing access to nutritional advice, rehabilitation services, counselling and more. Through CanHOPE, patients gain the support of a community that helps them face the fear and uncertainty brought on by cancer.

Mrs Sari began attending CanHOPE activities in Jakarta, where she found solace and strength in a community of cancer survivors. The safe, supportive environment allowed her to connect with others who understood her struggles, offering reassurance that she was not alone and helping to combat feelings of isolation and stigma.

Today, Mrs Sari is cancer-free, thriving in her career and actively sharing her journey to inspire others. Her story is one of courage, resilience and the power of community — a reminder to cancer patients and survivors that they are not alone in their fight and that hope and strength can be found even in the face of adversity.

Myths and Misconceptions

Don't let misinformation shape your understanding of breast cancer.

Misconception #1: Breast cancer only affects older women

Statistically, the peak incidence for breast cancer in women is between the ages of 40 to 60, says Dr Khoo Kei Siong, Deputy Medical Director and Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology at PCC. However, the incidence of younger women being diagnosed with breast cancer is on the rise. While doctors may not fully understand why this is happening, risk factors can include genetics, lifestyle choice and environmental conditions.

Misconception #2: The only surgical option for breast cancer is a mastectomy

Patients may delay seeking treatment due to a fear of medical procedures and a loss of control over their lives. This results in late-stage diagnoses and limited treatment options. In reality, early detection through regular screening gives a patient more treatment options. A lumpectomy, for instance, preserves more of the breast compared to a mastectomy, which removes all of the breast. After a tumour or a breast is removed, patients need to receive adjuvant therapy, in the form of chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy, to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring.

Misconception #3: Wearing a bra while sleeping causes breast cancer

“This is not true,” says Dr Khoo. “There are many other myths out there as well. For example, some people believe using deodorant increases the risk of breast cancer — this is completely untrue.”