Breast cancer survivor pays it forward by helping others

MALAYSIANSKINI | Kim Lim, a breast cancer survivor and current president of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia, is determined not to give in despite facing substantial challenges in recent times.

During the pandemic years, Lim lost her job as a general manager in a retail company and was also diagnosed with breast cancer.

The 42-year-old first came to know of BCWA from her doctor, who told her that someone from the association would be visiting her after her operation.

After the operation to remove the cancerous tumour, she met Mei Quin, a breast cancer survivor and BCWA volunteer.

“She explained to me who she is, a long-time survivor, and she is from BCWA. I had never met a breast cancer survivor before this,” recalled Lim.

As she found much-needed support while going through her treatments, she contacted the then-president of BCWA, Ranjit Kaur, and enquired about coming on board as a volunteer.

“So I registered myself as part of the patient support team. We went through a three-day training programme, which is under Reach to Recover International. Once you pass the programme and get certified, you can become a patient volunteer, where we go to the hospital to visit patients after their surgery or before their chemotherapy.

“So we work closely with the doctors at different hospitals around Malaysia that need our support, visiting the patients, encouraging them, and letting them know that they can survive breast cancer,” explained Lim.

A nightmare amid the pandemic

When the Covid-19 lockdowns first started, Lim noticed some swelling near her right breast, just under her armpit.

Her regular doctor’s clinic was closed during the early days of the pandemic, so she went to the emergency section of a private hospital.

Upon examining her, the doctor there offered to remove a tumour he detected.

Lim instead asked for medication to reduce the swelling and the doctor gave her enough for five days. When the swelling subsided, it was apparent that there was a tumour, which Lim described as hard as bone.

When her regular doctor was allowed to open, he told her to seek a specialist after she was examined.

After a series of tests and examinations including a lymph node dissection, it was discovered that not only did she have cancer, but it had also spread.

Being diagnosed with stage-three cancer was a terrifying experience.

After the operation to remove the tumour, her oncologist explained that she had to go through 16 rounds of chemotherapy and then 20 rounds of radiotherapy.

Recalling the days when she first underwent chemotherapy, Lim said, “The first one, the second one was fine. I couldn’t feel the side effects yet. It was after the third one that I started feeling the side effects and my hair started falling.”

Almost giving up

Then tragedy struck when her brother, who had a pre-existing heart condition, passed away right after she received her third chemotherapy treatment.

“That hit me hard. I did not know what to do. I could not even manage his funeral. Thankfully, my aunts and uncle helped me,” said Lim, who added that she has an elderly mother to take care of and a 10-year-old nephew as her brother was a single father.

“It is not the best combination of everything together. So when the fourth chemo came, honestly I wanted to give up,” Lim said.

When she shared this with her partner at that time, he said she needed to face the reality of her situation.

“He told me, it’s okay to feel down, it’s okay to cry, you can feel negative all you want but for only three days. He was a bit harsh to me but I guess that helped me a lot.

“So, every time I feel down, that I don’t want to fight, I tell myself ‘three days maximum’ and then start over again.”

Despite what she was going through, Lim’s positive disposition led doctors to bring her to other wards to see other patients whom she would encourage to continue with their treatments.

However, chemotherapy was no picnic, especially the 12th to 16th round. After that, radiotherapy was a breeze in comparison. All in all, she underwent seven months of treatment.

Her cancer is currently in remission but she has to monitor it closely.

She is back in the corporate world working in a talent management company now. 

Breast Cancer Awareness month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual event celebrated globally.

Lim said that BCWA encourages the public and the corporate sector to talk about breast cancer awareness every day.

The organisation has lots of activities and outreach programmes planned for the month, including breast examinations.

The group works with local partners such as government hospitals in the areas where they are conducting their outreach programmes.

BCWA employs a team of seven in-house nurses and matrons who follow volunteers on trips to connect with women and help conduct examinations.

However, Lim pointed out that it is difficult to get women who developed suspicious lumps to seek treatment.

She said many even give volunteers fake numbers and addresses and refuse further treatment.

The next time these women are seen, their condition has deteriorated to such an extent that not much can be done to help them.

“Once we help conduct breast examination, our medics will contact the patients diligently to get them to go for a mammogram. But, after the mammogram, honestly, there’s nothing much we can do,” said Lim, citing limited manpower as one of the reasons.

Looking for miracle cures

However, getting women, especially those from rural areas, to seek treatment is nearly impossible. Lim herself was in denial about her cancer despite being an educated woman.

She said that it was human nature to want an easier remedy to their problems.

“No one wants a doctor to remove parts of their body as in the case of operations such as a mastectomy and lumpectomy.

“For women who live in rural areas, going to the hospital for chemotherapy is like a death sentence because in the shows they watch, once you undergo chemotherapy, you die,” said Lim.

She said people also like to believe in miracles and she had a friend who opted for other types of treatment, even though she was advised to follow conventional medical treatment.

“Once they come back to the conventional medical treatment, it is already too late. We find the patient is already at an advanced stage.”

She said most of the patients she encountered were reluctant to seek treatment because they have so many things to take care of, even though the operation itself may not be as big a hindrance as it used to be due to advancements in reconstructive surgery.

“I would ask if they have their family or friends’ support. If they have a support team, plan things with them. Human beings have an ego. They don’t want to share, they don’t want to open their mouths. I would tell them to be open with their support team.

“They will be someone to help you in this journey like BCWA. If they ever want to talk, there is no right or wrong.

“They can contact us at any time. They need an outlet that understands what they are going through. We are there to listen, and to share experiences. There is no judgment,” Lim stressed.

Cost of treatment

Lim said the cost of treatment is one of the biggest issues that those who are diagnosed with cancer face. To make things worse, they may also risk losing their jobs.

“If they don’t have medical insurance, they have to go to government hospitals that have a long waiting list instead of a private one which is much quicker. On the East Coast, there is a lack of hospitals as well as a shortage of surgeons and oncologists,” she explained.

She said that Malaysians are fortunate that we have a dual healthcare system but there is a lack of specialists.

Lim then advised Malaysians to get regular check-ups as there are more treatment options if the cancer is detected early.

“If you find anything suspicious please take action.”

Life after cancer diagnosis

Lim describes herself as a workaholic both before and after her cancer diagnosis.

“I don’t think I have changed much. Once I finished my treatment, I could not sit still. Before my treatment, I was doing my master's degree. Right after my treatment, I completed my master’s and I went back to work. I have changed jobs twice already. 

“My perspective towards life has changed. I try to pay it forward. What I try to do is contribute more to society,” said Lim.

She is also the sole breadwinner and caregiver for her family, her mum and nephew. Essentially, her life has evolved.

“It was tough in the beginning. I needed to get into the workforce to get an income and I did that. So Monday to Friday I would go to work. Come home and spend time with the family. 

“Then I go through messages from my NGO. We will hold meetings at night or over the weekend. This completes me,” said Lim.

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