Just a few years ago, I lost my mother to cervical cancer. It was totally unexpected and I was shocked, none to say the least! We had made all these plans for the future together – and then suddenly, BAM! – Cervical Cancer took her life. Looking back, the past 2.5 years has flown by so quickly, but the nightmares are still strong in me. I still remember that Monday morning back in January 2007 when the malay doctor in Marine Parade Polyclinic rushed us to KK Hospital to get my mother checked out. Unaware that it was cancer then, we initially went to the polyclinic because my mother felt slightly unwell. Two hours later, my world changed when the doctor in the hospital calmly looked to my mother and said the words I still hear in my sleep today. “I am sorry to tell you this, but it looks like your mother may have third or fourth stage cervical cancer. We’ll need to do further testing to confirm. Until we confirm though, don’t start grieving.”

Time stood still. Cancer. The word itself carried a potent emotional weight, which I felt like a presence in room with me. I didn’t know much about different types or stages, but third or fourth stage sounded ominous. Terrible.

We were speechless. My beloved Mother had been well all along till now. Or maybe all these times she wasn’t well… but we didn’t know. She didn’t know. She seemed healthy all this while, going through her busy hectic days in Singapore making a living. Never did we expect her to be checked into Ward 43 Bed 18 of the hospital for the next few months.

The next afternoon, the doctor came in with the results of her test, and the diagnosis.

“Stage four cervical cancer.” My heart sank even before the rest of the diagnosis was out of her mouth. “You have less than six months left to live.”

Neither Mother or I spoke, but inside I was screaming. Six months? Six months! Six months was nothing. It wasn’t enough time. I needed more time, wanted more time! Regrets I didn’t even know I had started to funnel through me in waves. All the things I wanted to do with her but hadn’t, the trips we talked about taking someday, my graduation. All of it came at me like a pile of bricks, stacking up on top of one another, tearing down the possibilities I had seen in the life that I had intended to build. My world seemed suddenly so heavy. Too heavy. We were devastated, lost and I channeled my all of my energy into finding a miracle cure for her.

I started researching non-stop about cervical cancer and chemotheraphy. The concept of cervical cancer was alien to me at that point and I was clueless about it. I found out  that the cervix is a structure that connects the uterus and vagina and learnt that cervical cancer was the second most common female cancer worldwide. Cervical Cancer also takes 1 precious life every 5 days in our very homeland Singapore. Commonly caused by HPV virus (Human Papillomavirus), cervical cancer is normally spread through sexual activity. Though our amazing body can resolve most HPV Virus attacks, the remaining viruses which remains potentially develops into cervical cancer. Cervical Cancer can happen to just about anyone. And the one thing to note about cervical cancer – unlike most cancers, it is NOT HEREDITARY. It may just happen to you or me… and the scariest thing is that it is practically symptomless at its’ early stages WHEN IT CAN BE TREATED.

Before that, I didn’t know much about cancer. Cancer seemed to be so foreign, something that happened only to people you hear of, a friend of a friend of a friend. Now, it chose to knock on my door and one of the most IMPORTANT LESSONS I’ve learned since then is that Prevention is indeed better than Cure.

While my mother was undergoing chemotheraphy, she encouraged me to do the 3 doses of injection which prevents cervical cancer. Did I do it? You bet I did. And of course my regular pap smears screenings is a MUST. In fact, my next screening takes place in two weeks’ time.

So why did I tell you my story? Cervical Cancer is very treatable in its’ early stages. Maybe to you right now, my reader, the idea of cancer is as alien as it was to me a few years ago. Don’t let it take the loss of a loved one to shake you up. Educate yourselves now and do what you can to protect yourself AND your loved ones.

I’ve had a lot of support from family and friends and I’m extremely grateful to them. God took my beloved Mother back to Him on Nov 14, 2007. She fought the battle for more than 10 months, living longer than the doctor’s prediction. During those precious months, we lived life to the fullest, fulfilling all of my mother’s last wishes. But a mother is always a mother, and a mother always fights to protect everyone around her. My Mother ensured that everyone around her was protected and that ignorance was not an excuse.

I Miss You Mother, I Miss Your Laughter and Your Care, I Miss Your Nagging and Your Love, I Miss Your Cooking and Your Smile.. I Miss You..We Miss You…

We all make excuses now, but when our loved ones are gone we realized that we all could have spent a much longer time with them. Don’t let something that can be preventive be obstructive..

So have you protected yourself?

Power Over Cervical Cancer is a campaign that aims to make Singapore the country with the lowest incidence of Cervical Cancer and they need your help to spread the word. Pledge your support for this cause and protect those you care about by telling them about Cervical Cancer. Together, we have POWER Over Cervical Cancer. Click the button below to begin!

[Original Blogpost here]