18 Oct 2010
I AM a victim of breast cancer and I totally agree with the letter (“Mammograms crucial for all women aged 40 and above”; Oct 11).
I am 41 years old and I was diagnosed with zero-stage breast cancer in April, despite not having any family history of cancer. I had a mastectomy and underwent immediate breast reconstruction. I count myself lucky in not needing to go for either chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
During my stay in Singapore General Hospital (SGH), I met other breast cancer patients. One had been diagnosed with second-stage breast cancer when she was 35 years old, and the other, third-stage when she was in her early 40s. Both have since recovered. So mammograms do detect cancers at an earlier stage and they save lives.
Although I am saddened that I have lost a breast, I am grateful I detected the cancer at an earlier stage.
I am also thankful to all the doctors and nurses who took care of me in SGH, particularly Dr Preetha Madhukumar of National Cancer Centre, Dr Ong Yee Siang, Dr Ng Siew Weng and all the wonderful nurses at Ward 63A.
Tan Swee Hong (Ms)
Click here for jpeg format
« Back to previous
page
back to top