Category FAQs Search : Health
Question: Cancer Survivors' Stories in Malaysia
Answer: 1. Ahmad Nazri Bin Hamzah Age: 23 Cancer: Bone Cancer
Nazri is a 23 year old athlete who now represents Malaysia in Wheelchair Basketball. In 2004, he was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was only 14 years old. Doctors confirmed that he had cancer and requested him to undergo CT scan and biopsy. He later underwent 7 cycles of chemotherapy and a total of 10 surgeries. The cancer started to grow and spread so he had to stop schooling for 3 years. After his treatment, he continued his studies and once he completed his high school exams (SPM), he was selected to represent Malaysia for Wheelchair Basketball Paralympics in Paris in 2009. In 2010, he continued his studies at Politeknik Shah Alam.
Throughout his treatment and recovery period, his family and friends stood solidly by his side. At one point, MAKNA came into the picture to assist him. At that time, he was staying with his older sister and with 2 other siblings after their dad, who raised them all alone by himself, passed away due to heart attack. Since joining the Paralympics, he has been staying at Majlis Sukan Negara in Cyberjaya.
His current hope and dream is to help all cancer patients who suffer same fate as him. He now wants to share his experiences and spread the hope to other patients out there that life has no limits, with or without cancer.
2. Nining Yumiarti Age: 42 Cancer: Breast Cancer
Nining, 42 years old, a fashionable and vibrant personality known to friends and colleagues for her charismatic personality chose to ignore early signs of cancer on her left breast. It was in 2002 when she then decided to go for a check-up when the lump got bigger. The doctor who saw her confirmed it was cancer and mastectomy was recommended. Nining underwent 4 rounds of chemotherapy and by then she was already quite weak that another session of chemotherapy would not have been possible.
Throughout her ordeal, her husband was her pillar of strength. 5 years later, she was dealt with another blow when news came that she had cancer stage 1 grade 3. She finally opted for mastectomy instead of chemotherapy, something that she was not willing to undergo again due to the fear of ending up with Osteoporosis which might affect her favourite hobby, dancing. Right after the operation, Nining’s husband passed away and her life was suddenly thrown into a total chaos, with two children to fend for. To occupy her time, Nining kept herself busy and became a MAKNA volunteer. In 2012, she was recognised for her effort and received MAKNA’s Excellence Volunteer award.
3. Low Yong Xuan Age: 3 Cancer: Kidney Cancer
Low Yong Xuan or “Baby”, as she is affectionately known, is a bubbly and active 3 year old girl. Nothing puts a smile on her face as much as when she is watching her favourite Tom and Jerry cartoons, or when she is with her friends having fun at the nursery.
However, Baby’s world has not always been filled with the simple joys of childhood. When she was just 6 months old, Baby was diagnosed with Bilateral Wilm’s Tumour, a cancer found in the kidney that can spread to the lungs, liver or nearby lymph nodes. It is a disease that is commonly found in children younger than 5 years old. Undoubtedly, this was an extremely trying period for her father, a lorry driver and mother, a piano teacher. They were always despairing whether their meagre income would go the distance to fund their daughter’s medical treatment.
Fortunately, with a little help from MAKNA, Baby’s life changed after receiving her treatment. She has now completed her sessions of chemotherapy and continues to go for follow-up treatment every 3 months.
Things are definitely looking better for Baby, the question is, how about many others who too may be in need of a helping hand?
4. Naizatul Syuhada Binti Hassan Age: 19 Cancer: Eye cancer
Naizatul Syuhada Binti Hassan, is a 19 year old former retinoblastoma eye cancer patient. In 1997, Naizatul lost sight in her right eye to cancer. Because of her tireless effort, enthusiasm and with financial assistance from MAKNA, Naizatul secured a qualification that’s given her life a new meaning and dimension.
(Source: MAKNA (Majlis Kanser Nasional) or National Cancer Council, 03 Feb 2021)
Source Link: https://makna.org.my/#