I used to be active and take jogs in the morning, but I struggled to breathe and had excruciating chest pain.

After tests and scans at the hospital, it turned out to be stage 3 lung cancer.

I used to jog in the mornings, but it got harder and harder and I started losing my breath more often. One day I had severe chest pain and I thought I was having a heart attack. I was worried and rushed to the hospital, where doctors took a chest X-ray and CT scan.

They found a mass in the right lung and swelling on my face and upper chest. The tumor was pressing against a vein that carries blood flow from the upper body to the heart. It was called SVCS (superior vena cava syndrome).

The tumor had spread to the nearby lymph nodes, and I was diagnosed with stage 3B non-small cell lung cancer; that was in August 2022.

Post-diagnosis, the one lifestyle adjustment I made was to refrain from alcohol completely.

The treatment options recommended to me were

• Chemo (with carboplatin, paclitaxel)
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy

After taking my doctor’s advice and my own finances into consideration, I proceeded with this treatment plan whilst feeling anxious, scared but motivated at the same time.

As of now, I’m currently on targeted therapy.

I struggled with fatigue and hair loss over the course of treatment. I also had a weakened immunity and kept getting the flu and infections.

To cope with these side effects, I improved my nutritional intake and took prescribed medication. In addition, I had to wear compression wear for the swelling caused by SVCS.

During treatment, I continued to cut alcohol out of my lifestyle and started improving my nutrition by eating a healthier diet every day.

Other changes to my life include the relationships I have with my loved ones. While I don’t talk to my parents over the phone as often as I used to before my cancer diagnosis, I do visit them more frequently. In contrast, I’m not as close as I was with my 2 kids; we don’t spend time together as often anymore and our yearly family trips are a thing of the past.

In terms of my plans for the near future, I’d like to attend more plays with my family. In particular, I want to go see The Lion King together.

My dreams and aspirations revolve around my family, who have motivated me throughout my entire cancer journey.

To be honest, I was afraid of being a burden to my family. That was my greatest fear throughout my experience with cancer, and I addressed it by making sure that my finances were sufficient to support me.

It’s been more than a year since my cancer diagnosis, and the feelings of fear and sadness that I felt then have since dissipated. In fact, I feel rather neutral now.

Face it head on, you might not see it at first but living is worth the fight.