It therefore came as a shock when the seemingly fit and healthy Ms Wong discovered she had early stage liver cancer at the age of 29. Even more surprising was that she had not suffered any of the diseases that could lead to liver cancer.

People suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, a disease which results in abnormalities in the liver's ability to handle toxins and blood flow typically caused by heavy drinking, or viral hepatitis B or C were at a higher risk of liver cancer, Dr Wong said.

Eight years on, the mother of one recalled the discovery had been accidental. Although she had, at first, been satisfied when her family doctor attributed her occasional stabbing pains in her chest to the daily stresses of looking after a three-year-old toddler, she grew concerned when the pain became more intense, prompting her to go to the emergency room one summer evening to find the answer.

'Chest pain is actually not a symptom of liver cancer but I think in a strange way my body was sending out an alarm bell to tell me there was something wrong,' she said.

When the doctor found nothing abnormal following an ultrasound test on her heart, he suggested she have a CT (computed tomography) body scan just to be sure.

The scan revealed a shadow on the right side of her liver with further tests concluding that a five-centimetre tumour had developed on one side.

Early detection meant surgery to remove it was possible and there was no need for chemotherapy.

Liver cancer is notoriously difficult to treat as the illness rarely displays early stage symptoms. 'By the time people notice signs - pain and swelling in the stomach, swelling of the legs and jaundice (yellowness in the skin and eyes) - it is usually quite late,' Dr Wong said.

Dubbing herself the 'professional patient' because of the regularity with which she had frequented operating theatres, beginning with surgery on her knee as a teenager followed over the years by operations on her intestines and her throat, Ms Wong was not afraid of the surgery, but the gravity of cancer did rattle her.

'But I was able to accept the illness quite quickly. I thought because I can't change my diagnosis, I may as well deal with it in a more upbeat manner. So after crying for about 30 minutes with my husband, I got down to business and began preparing for my operation.'

In the days before the surgery, she applied the same organisational efficiency she implemented in the running of her home.

She arranged for her mother to look after her son, got her family to take care of all the well-wishers and bought healthy produce so she would have the proper ingredients to make Chinese soup after the surgery. 'I even dyed my hair and made sure I looked good for my surgery,' she said.

'Even though I was ill, I needed to be my own cheerleader and do what I could to make myself feel good,' she said.

Her optimistic nature undoubtedly helped her battle the cancer more effectively.

'People who are depressed put a lot of pressure on themselves and that can hinder them from recovering quickly and prompt the cancer's recurrence,' she said. Recovery was the most difficult phase, she said. It was an agonising period of waiting for the wound to heal, adjusting to a normal diet and overcoming the pain left by the surgery, which resulted in both body discomfort and insomnia and often left her in a bad mood.

It was after nine months that she was given a clean bill of health, but Ms Wong had to have mandatory regular check-ups with the doctor. Although not exactly the same as her old one, her liver has grown back to its original size.

Ms Wong said it was the family who often bore the most arduous task as carers. 'Despite the illness we, as cancer patients, are still fortunate because all the focus is on us and everybody tries to do everything in their power to accommodate us in every way possible,' she said.

'But it is much harder for the families. They are constantly thinking of ways to help you and are always monitoring your progress while coping with their own anxiety and worries.'

The illness provided a wake up call to Ms Wong who, until then, had been stubborn and often found it difficult to see situations from others' points of view. The cancer made her become more introspective. 'Cancer is a very fair illness. It can happen to the rich, children and babies, beautiful people and old and young alike,' she said. 'It robs you of your health, your money, youth and time with your family. But through it, I realised how lucky I was. I was humbled by the experience and that led me to learn to see things from a long-term perspective and put myself in the shoes of others.'

Ms Wong began participating in the Cancer Fund's activities after her recovery. 'Even though all the liver cancer survivors were much older than me and are mostly men, we all share a bond. We can understand each other without having to say too much.'

This is the fifth of a 10-part series on cancer, appearing every Monday