Winning the battle with Wei Leng

One morning in February 2014, I woke up to an ordinary day until I received a phone call from my former classmate, Wei Leng.

A toast to Good Health with friends who came to dine
with Wei Leng [Left] (They brought food too!)

She felt pain on her breast and asked if I could accompany her to consult the doctor.

This was the start of an extraordinary journey with Wei Leng who valiantly fought the battle with breast cancer, in an emotional rollercoaster complete with all the side-effects from eight cycles of chemotherapy, followed by oral medication for the past five years.

It was like yesterday when Wei Leng and I walked into the consulting room and the nurses started with measuring Wei Leng’s weight and other essential info to start her file for the surgeon.

With her permission, I took photographs at every stage of the procedures to chart the journey for her. Everything was happening to her in a rush and she valued the visuals to let her reflect upon what had in fact, gone on.

In hospital for surgery on 4 March 2014,
Wei Leng [Left] with her sister, Wei Choo

Also with her permission, I’m sharing her story to encourage others who may be going through a similar experience, to let them know that the journey ahead may be long, but with perseverance, courage and support from family and friends, half the battle is already won.

I can still remember what the surgeon said during the first consultation.

While he was sympathetic towards the patient, he shared hard facts about the frequent occurrence of breast cancer in women. He also shared that both his mother and sister were affected by this dreaded disease.

As he studied Wei Leng’s x-rays, the surgeon was reassuring and confident as he explained the modern approach in breast surgery where the damaged tissue would be surgically removed while every effort would be made to preserve the breast.

Wei Leng about to eat her dinner, lovingly
prepared by her sister. [Potatoes were
optional for this meal.]

The surgeon then fixed a date for her surgery and referred Wei Leng to the oncologist who would advise on the chemotherapy treatments and a date to start treatments, once her wounds were healed. This would be later, about four weeks post-surgery.

Based on her condition, the oncologist explained that the prescribed chemotherapy would comprise a cocktail of four drugs and proposed to administer this in eight cycles of treatments.

As all this information began to sink in, it was indeed an overwhelming prospect to consider when she knew what was about to happen to her.

Among the practical things to consider post-surgery, was the need of a helper at home. Through a reliable contact, a nurse was engaged to stay-in and help Wei Leng clean and dress her wound.

Wei Leng also shared all this with her older sister, based in Singapore, and on the morning scheduled for her surgery on 4 March 2014, her sister was with her in the hospital.

The nurse, who would double-up as her live-in helper, joined us at the hospital and started her duties on that day of her surgery.

A we-fie in the car with Wei Leng and nurse

I recall having a serious talk with Wei Leng about her nourishment because patients often have a loss of appetite or were just “difficult” (read: fussy or manja) with eating their meals properly.

I assured her that I would be by her side to encourage her every step of the way, but I would not waste my time and energy persuading her to eat. It was her body and she had to do this (eat properly!) for herself.

Using a simple analogy to explain chemotherapy, I told her that the chemo drugs would “kill” both her bad cells as well as the good cells.

To “fight that battle” inside her body and achieve a better opportunity at success in this major battle, I advised her to eat well to build up her good cells.

Her sister shared my view and knowing that Wei Leng would not be up to doing any cooking, she cooked nourishing meals, packed them in meal portions – and delivered to Wei Leng regularly – so that the food could be warmed up to eat.

The (failed!) attempts with a needle to
create a port for her treatment!

In the weeks after her surgery, Wei Leng’s wound healed nicely – that’s what the surgeon announced – when we went back to the hospital for her reviews.

Her case was then passed to the oncologist who kindly answered the questions Wei Leng had, from possible side effects to the supplements she could continue to take.

After consulting the oncologist, a date was then arranged for the first chemotherapy treatment.

Wei Leng and I can never forget the experience when the nurses tried to “find” her fine veins to create a port for the chemo treatment.

I watched as the first nurse came in and punctured Wei Leng with a needle to search for a suitable vein, but this effort was in vain.

Then the next nurse came in and when she tried – and failed – she had the audacity to ask the patient, “Sakit tak?”

When asked such a tactless question, Wei Leng was stunned into silence.

The nurse [Center] captured a we-fie of us wearing beanies!

Observing this just riled me up because the patient was already miserable and at their mercy and after failed attempts with a needle, the nurse cannot ask a patient if it was painful or not!

Of course, it was painful! Any flesh would feel pain from a needle!

Later Wei Leng and I agreed that this was the most traumatic part of the treatment.

We also agreed that if any nurse should ever again ask her, “Sakit tak?” Wei Leng would take the needle and use it on the nurse to ask her the same question, “Sakit tak?” and hear her reply!

Wei Leng ate proper meals to build up her
strength to deal with the chemo treatments

We made light of the situation and laughed it off – mainly to encourage Wei Leng – because she still had more treatments to go.

We also informed the oncologist who was sympathetic and apologetic about the situation. Thankfully, the nurse assigned to the task in the next treatments, was skilled with her needle and managed to create a port quite painlessly.

I observed that Wei Leng remained calm and courageous even though she was traumatized by her bad experience with the needle.

We may have heard the horror stories about the side effects of chemo but thankfully, the advancement of modern medicine had led to less stress for patients.

I was glad that Wei Leng had few side effects and what she experienced was nothing she could not cope with.

As expected, the patient would experience a loss of appetite, but Wei Leng was consciously eating well to build up her resistance to the toxic levels of drugs in her body.

Wei Leng with her name spelled out in Lego bricks!

While she was going through chemo treatments, I rallied around her to keep her spirits up and encourage her on. I also shared about Wei Leng’s journey with my church family and they joined me in prayer for her.

I rounded up our former schoolmates who lived in Johor Baru to spend time with Wei Leng, to let her talk about her condition and in so doing, helped her deal with the situation more realistically.

In fact, a schoolmate who lived in KL, even made the trip to JB specifically to spend time with Wei Leng.

Then it started to happen after her second chemo treatment.

Our stay-cation was courtesy of Ms Thila [2nd from Right]
of Legoland Malaysia Resort

Wei Leng keeps her hair short but when she woke up one morning to see bunches of her hair left on the pillowcase, it was still shocking!

Her hair was dropping rapidly and because the patches left on her scalp was rather unsightly, she decided to shave it all off.

I remember the oncologist had advised that the patient should avoid going out to public places in order to minimize infection because her body was weak.

Wei Leng was an active person, always out and about to do errands, and to be confined at home for a long period of time, was taking a toll on her.

She mentioned that she felt like going out… and I got the hint that she was ready to go out…maybe for a drive and a meal…

So tired after walking more than 10,000 steps!

Meanwhile, I had bought two knitted beanies – one for her and one for me – for Wei Leng to keep her bare scalp warm and for me to wear when we go out so that she would not feel like the odd one. Two wearing beanies was better than one!

It was a lovely treat for her when we went out for a meal, both of us wearing beanies so that if anyone looked or stared, it was at both of us and not just at her.

Another side effect that Wei Leng started to experience was a strange numbness in her fingertips and toes.

She did not have much feeling in her toes, so she had to be extra careful while walking, lest she tripped and fell, and it clearly meant that she could not drive herself yet.

And because her fingertips were not sensitive, she had difficulty holding onto items. Accidents happened when a spoon or a cup slipped out of her hand and crashed to the table or floor.

An overnight stay in Legoland Hotel too!

This phenomenon frightened her but when the doctor explained that this side effect should gradually taper off, Wei Leng learnt to cope with it.

Meanwhile, to keep Wei Leng “entertained” and preoccupied during the day, I put her in touch with my brother and sisters to play “Words with Friends,” a word game played on the smartphone.

When I dropped in to see her, she would sometimes tell me that she was stumped by the challenge to form a word or sometimes she would be thrilled to announce that she had beaten my sister at a game (because my sister is rather good at this game!)

Very often, I would eat meals with Wei Leng to encourage her to finish her food and she always did (to prove how good she is!) while I too had to finish my portion.

After breakfast at Bricks restaurant

On the days for her chemo treatments, Wei Leng would pack a snack to eat. Sometimes she might think of something she desired to eat, and I would head out to buy it for her.

During the hours of treatments, I would usually sit in a corner of the room to read and pray. Every now and then, the oncologist or nurse might come to check on the patient, but I would be within sight and calling distance.

After Wei Leng had braved seven cycles of chemo treatments and was counting down the days when the final treatment would be done, I told her that I had a travel plan to the UK to attend my nephew’s wedding, and would not be able to accompany her.

Then Wei Leng informed her sister, who came to be with her for that final treatment.

While she did not have to undergo radiotherapy, Wei Leng had a prescription of oral medicine which she had to take daily for the next five years.

Looks like Wei Leng was still hungry!?

Over the next few years, Wei Leng kept up a healthy regime of exercise and diet, along with her oral medicine. Her hair grew back and was kept short while her general health continued to improve.

In September 2019, Wei Leng finally finished her five years of oral medication and it called for a celebration!

As I was with her since Day One of her journey, Wei Leng asked me to accompany her for the appointment with the oncologist to ascertain her health condition after completing the oral medication.

On October 22, after a series of blood tests, x-rays and scans, the oncologist gave Wei Leng a clean bill of health with nothing to be concerned about. The advice was to continue with the prescribed supplements and to return for a review in six months.

Look at that giant spider on the bathroom wall!

Now Wei Leng had never been to Legoland but she had read my reviews on the parks’ attractions.

When I was blessed with a stay-cation at Legoland Hotel, complete with combo tickets to the three parks – Legoland Malaysia theme-park, Waterpark and SeaLife Malaysia – hosted by Legoland Malaysia Resort, I invited Wei Leng along.

Together with Florence, Wei Leng and I walked more than 10,000 steps on the first day of our stay and (as can be seen from the photos), Wei Leng had a most memorable time. 

Our park experience was indeed, a wonderful opportunity to celebrate life!

I give all glory to Lord God Almighty for His mercies and goodness upon Wei Leng as she journeys on in His sovereign will.