CLUMPS of hair would be scattered all over her bed every morning.
It was, to Selvi Shanmugam, a tangible sign that she was well into her battle with cancer.
The mother of two, who is still in the midst of treatment after being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer last year, always used to have long, shoulder length hair.
"It's just hair, it will grow back," she says, displaying her steely determination to face each aspect of cancer treatment with courage.
She admits that her breast cancer diagnosis and the prospect of gruelling cancer treatment, though daunting on a personal level, was much harder on her family members who could not bear to see her in discomfort.
Her husband took it particularly hard until Selvi was able to convince him that she could get through this process, no matter what it entailed.
"I have always believed in looking for solutions rather than asking why it had to happen to me."
A chess trainer, who works with children, Selvi takes a very methodological approach to her diagnosis. She reads extensively on her condition, pays attention to her diet and follows her doctor's instructions.
Like many cancer patients, she was initially bombarded with information about cancer from many people.
Some spoke of the side effects, while others offered advice on alternative or natural treatments, but Selvi was determined to take the route advised by her doctors.
"I knew that each person's experience with cancer and cancer treatment would be different and no matter what people said, I had to handle it from my perspective."
These days, Selvi keeps busy doing the things she loves — chess training, yoga, religious classes and being with her family.
Like most cancer patients, she has good days and bad ones, but she's determined to come out of this journey as a stronger person.
"I feel like I'm reborn. I am aware of myself every single moment. My role in this battle is to stay positive and focus on regaining my health."
Niicos Liu, a mother of three, approaches her breast cancer diagnosis in much the same way as Selvi.
Like Selvi, the beauty and wellness consultant has lost her hair and now dons a head scarf.
Hair loss is a traumatic experience for any woman, but more so for someone like Liu who works in the beauty industry, but she chooses not to dwell on that.
With her family and children in
Melaka, the single mum, who lives in the Klang Valley, is bravely facing her cancer journey herself, but thanks to the support of a friend and fellow cancer survivor, she has found courage and hope amid this uncertain battle.
Soon after her diagnosis and treatment, Liu started the practice of having "conversations" with herself.
She does this every morning and night and it has become a way for her to digest, and cope with the new experiences she has to face every day.
"I talk to my inner self and it gives me courage, hope and strength to do the things I need to do to get better," she says.
Malah Manikam's face lights up as she recalls the happy chatter and lively antics of the schoolchildren she used to ferry around when she was a school van driver.
It was a job she thoroughly enjoyed for more than 20 years until her first cancer diagnosis in 2021, when she was told she had early stage breast cancer.
Malah bravely faced up to that challenge and recovered, but was dealt another blow when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer this year and is currently undergoing treatment.
"The second cancer diagnosis was a terrible blow. It hit me really hard and I couldn't accept it. I thought of my 32-year-old mentally handicapped daughter. What would happen to her without me?"
Malah doesn't deny that she's facing an extremely hard time and uncertainty and doubts fill her mind, but the possibility of her daughter not having her around, makes Malah push through treatment.
"When you have someone depending on you, you can't think about giving up. You persevere, no matter how painful or discomforting because there's someone waiting for you at home."
Cancer treatment is not just a physically challenging journey but also an emotional one too, says family medicine specialist Dr Zahrina Azian Zohadie.
Dr Zahrina, a cancer survivor herself and a member of the KanWork Cancer Society, adds that there should be better support for patients to cope with the psychological impact of cancer. We can't just approach the disease in terms of treatment only.
"We must manage not just the disease, but the mental impact too," she says.
SUPPORT
COLUMBIA Asia Hospital — Bukit Rimau recently announced a new partnership with the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA) through a memorandum of understanding.
This collaboration is aimed at providing emotional and moral support to
cancer patients at the hospital's cancer centre. Volunteers, who are themselves cancer survivors, will connect with patients to offer support and share their experiences.
This collaborative effort is set to continue for three years, with volunteers conducting one-on-one support sessions tailored to meet the needs of each patient.
Volunteers from KanWork Cancer Society will also be actively participating in this initiative.