Life Stories - itsyourlife

In March 2017, Ai Ling learnt she developed cervical cancer from an infection she had never heard of. “It’s one thing being diagnosed with cancer, but another to learn that it was related to HPV.

I couldn’t help but wonder – how did I contract it? After all, my husband and I have been faithfully married for 16 years,” she explains.

Ai Ling had never heard of HPV before her diagnosis, and when she did, she had the misconception that one would only get the virus if they have had many sexual partners. In actuality, anyone who is sexually active can get HPV as it is transmittable by skin-to-skin contact.

“I didn’t understand what I felt and I don’t know how to describe the feeling. Thinking back, it was really five disastrous and scary months,” Ai Ling recounts. During her treatment, she suffered from total hair loss, loss of appetite, nausea, difficulties sleeping and forgetfulness.

Ai Ling also underwent daily routine radiotherapy treatments for over a month and a radical hysterectomy.

“Despite overcoming cancer, the fear of relapse is always at the back of my mind and I think I’m never going to be 100 percent happy. I continue to suffer regularly from side effects such as tummy upset, fatigue, forgetfulness, dizziness and other discomforts. On top of that, the treatment triggered an early menopause,” she says.

Today, Ai Ling is a cervical cancer survivor and champions HPV prevention for all women. “My message to women is to go for regular health screenings, and I highly encourage them to speak with their doctors to find out more about HPV and how it can be prevented because what I’ve been through is not worth it at all,” she says.

When it comes to health and wellness, Teri Choong has always been two steps ahead. She exercised regularly and was careful about treating her body well and made it a point to go for regular medical check-ups and health screenings.

In October 2005, Teri made an appointment with her gynaecologist when she had a sudden bout of excessive bleeding. Finding her history of irregular period cycles unsettling, her gynaecologist decided to send her for a biopsy of her cervix. Teri agreed, thinking that it was more of a routine check than anything else. A few days went by before the doctor dropped the devastating news – she had a tumorous growth and was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Terri’s treatment took more than six months and an additional year before she made a full recovery from cervical cancer. “I’m not going to lie,” Terri says. “Treatment was tough, it was painful, and I felt weak and sick all the time.”

But she would not give up the fight. “Pain is temporary, death is permanent. I refused to go down without a real fight,” Terri echoes. “I had two choices – I either make myself and others around me more miserable by being a real victim OR I fight it with every living cell and spirit I have left.”

Today, Terri champions for all women to speak to their doctors to find ways to reduce their risk of cervical cancer. “Regular screenings are as important as appropriate HPV vaccinations. In my case, it was a rare case that it went undetected, but PAP smears and early screenings are helpful and are so important,” she says.

“Women shouldn’t feel shy about finding out more about cervical cancer. Early screening and the appropriate HPV vaccination is so important. It may help save lives, and it may help to save yours and your loved ones as well.”