Opinion | Breast cancer blog: Radiation, afternoon tea and a new friend
I have a small but growing circle of new friends. Friends are important especially in rough times. I have nearly 1,000 on Facebook, 100 on Twitter, not to mention the dozens of friends whom I travel, swim and work with on both continents. But I have a new circle of friends of late – ladies who are fellow breast cancer conquerors.
We share a common language and the experience of being thrown on a similar roller-coaster ride.
The ladies come from all backgrounds, all ages, each with their own personal stories. Some newly minted survivors have just conquered chemo, radiation or both, while others are more seasoned and are five or 10 years out of the journey. Some have been very vocal about their experience, and have taken the new kids like myself under their wing.
Disease isn’t just that of body but also of mind. Right now I am happy, I try to help others and not focus on whether it will return
I’ve also sought out women here in Hong Kong and used treatment at a platform to connect. I rang up the social worker at the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation and said: “I’m scared of going to treatment alone. Are there any women who can come with me?”
Breast cancer has made me a lot more open to exposing myself in a good way.
The old me would not have been readily open to connecting with strangers. In the past I would have remained stoic and faked a smile in whatever situation I found myself in. The ego would have been at the forefront of things. But a new me is emerging as if from a cocoon. Outside daily treatments, I’ve made amazing friends, some are involved in the fight against breast cancer, others are survivors who are devoted to helping others.