Seeking the Light at the End of a Cancer Treatment Journey

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON

Khariza Abdul Khalid has a blessed life. At 47, she is the Executive Director of Gamuda Land and a mother of 3 precious children.

However, it was not always rosy for Khariza, for in 2012, the discovery of an unusual bulging on her left stomach led to a diagnosis of stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in the lymphatic system—a network comprising our lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, lymphoid organs, lymphoid tissues, and lymph fluid. When one develops this cancer, their white blood cells grow in an abnormal manner, forming tumours throughout the body.
A SHOCK, THEN COMES DETERMINATION

“I was scared, worried, nervous,” recalls Khariza, “but I was informed that I would have to go through chemotherapy.”

Fortunately, her husband and parents were very supportive, acting as the rock for her to stay strong and supported throughout her cancer treatment journey.

Her parents even stepped in to care for her children during the period.

A LONG JOURNEY

“I had to go for 6 cycles of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant,” Khariza shares with us.

Each cycle took place in a month, and she would, depending on her health condition, have 2 weeks of rest or staying in the ward for 3 to 4 days.

During this period, she took a year leave from work.

“I’m grateful for the support from not only my family, but also my employer and colleagues,” she tells us.

Additionally, she is also grateful for the compassionate care, understanding, and support she received from the doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff during her treatment journey.

“Don’t worry too much,” Khariza advises others that are embarking on their cancer treatment journey. “It is not an easy road, but you will get through this!”

A HOPEFUL FUTURE

By the end of the 6th cycle, Khariza received the news that she had been hoping to hear: her cancer cells had been eliminated.

She would undergo immediate bone marrow transplant, to replace bone marrow damaged during chemotherapy and to regenerate her immune system.

These days, Khariza is feeling more like her old self.

“I am blessed,” she says. “I am feeling heathier and more energetic too, as I have added exercises and workouts into my daily routine.

Not taking life for granted anymore, she also devotes more time to bond with her family and friends.

Keep the Hope of Pregnancy Alive in Spite of Breast Cancer

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON

FEATURED EXPERT
DR CHRISTINA LAI NYE BING
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Sunway Medical Centre
WHY IS BREAST CANCER SO PREVALENT AMONG YOUNGER WOMEN THESE DAYS?

Aside from unhealthy diet and exposure to cancer-causing chemicals or carcinogens in the environment, Dr Christina Lai Nye Bing shares that one possible factor is that women are choosing to marry and have children at a later age.

This somewhat paradoxical concept can be explained by the link between breast cancer and the female sex hormone oestrogen.

“Breast cancer is a hormone-related cancer, and high levels of oestrogen in the body increases the risk of breast cancer as it encourages cancer cells to grow by promoting cell division and reproduction,” Dr Christina explains. “Women in the previous generation who get married and have children earlier have a lower risk of breast cancer, as the oestrogen in their body decreases when they are pregnant and choose to breastfeed.”

FEATURED EXPERT
DR HOO MEI LIN
Consultant Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist
Sunway Medical Centre
IS PREGNANCY IMPOSSIBLE AFTER CHEMOTHERAPY?

Given that chemotherapy plays a big part in the treatment regime of many women with breast cancer, this raises the concern of whether the dream of having a family in the future an impossible one for them.

The unfortunate truth is that chemotherapy affects a woman’s fertility, with a 40% to 80% chance of early menopause.

The ovaries stop producing eggs upon menopause, so with that, the dream dies… or does it?

While Dr Hoo Mei Lin admits that the damage to the ovaries due to chemotherapy is irreversible, there is still a glimmer of hope.

“Patients can plan ahead, as conservation methods such as embryo freezing, egg freezing, and ovarian tissue freezing are available to enable patients to fulfil their wish of having children,” she shares.

Egg and ovarian freezing are suitable options for women that do not have a partner prior to having to undergo chemotherapy.

KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE

Dr Hoo advises breast cancer patients to have an open mind about their future and even consider having children.

After all, breast cancer patients under the age of 45 have an 80% survival rate after treatment!

“With the rapid advances in medical technology today, there is hope for breast cancer patients and survivors to plan their future. Technologies like egg and embryo freezing gives them the opportunity to have children in the future,” she says.

When it comes to cancer diagnosis, the focus is often about treating it, making fertility an afterthought. However, with the advancement in medical technology, surviving a cancer diagnosis is becoming increasingly successful hence, it is important to speak to your doctor as there are ways to help preserve fertility.