Stage II Breast Cancer: Emma's Patient Story

What happened, in summary

Emma, 48, is from Singapore and was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer after pain in her breast and armpit pushed her to seek medical attention. The diagnosis was shocking and brought sadness, fear, nervousness, worry, and a sense of emptiness. She sought a second opinion at a private clinic because she wanted a more experienced doctor and wanted to understand additional options. Emma also prepared for treatment by improving her nutrition and exercising more regularly. Her recommended plan included mastectomy, lymphadenectomy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy, and she followed through with that plan. Deciding on treatment made her anxious and scared, but active treatment was eventually completed. She remained on hormone therapy afterward and also used massage as an alternative supportive approach. Side effects included hair loss, lymphedema, nausea, and vomiting. Emma managed them with prescribed medication and better nutrition. Cancer also changed her lifestyle: she exercised more, ate healthier meals daily, and spent more intentional time with loved ones. As of 2019, she was done with active treatment but still on hormone therapy. She remained hopeful about traveling for work, signing up for a marathon, spending more time with her parents, and staying healthy with her family.