Th e HEALTH | APRIL, 2019
28
WOMEN:
Cancer
picked
on the
wrong
lady!
What’s the secret to
happiness during cancer?
Linda Boyle knows it
F
OR most people, a cancer diagnosis is a
defi nite downer. But would it be possible to
feel happiness and joy while going through
cancer? And if so, what’s the secret? Beauti-
ful 89-year old Linda Boyle stared down
cancer with courage and faith, fi lls us in with
her story.
“My duel with cancer began three years ago. i
didn’t even know till i started experiencing irregular
heartbeats. i went into the hospital for a medical
checkup. During the fi rst CT scan, they suspected me of
tuberculosis. i was surprised, at my age – tuberculosis?
Th ey wheeled me in again for another CT scan and
Prof Dr imran Zainal Abidin, the Senior Consultant
Cardiologist and expert in interventional Cardiology
at Universiti Malaya’s Specialist Centre looked at me
sadly.”
“He told me that i had stage four lung cancer. i
just stood there and kept quiet. He then proceeded to
inform me that i only had three to six months left to
live. Of course, that news threw me into shock. What
would i do in that limited time? i went home, rang my
children who have now settled overseas and the news of
my lung cancer threw everyone into distress. Th ey fl ew
down to see me and i think they had quite a surprise
seeing me running around, looking very much alive,”
laughs Linda.
“i think they expected to see me lying in my bed, tired
but i was just as alive as ever. Th ey even joked around
saying the doctor was probably bluffi ng or switched
medical reports. i didn’t worry about the cancer, instead
i took my family around and even indulged in durian!”
“My fi rst cancer marker was 378 and recessed to
around 100 after medications. Unfortunately it made
a U-turn and skyrocketed again. Prof Dr Liam Chong
Kin, who specialises in respiratory medicine from
Universiti Malaya then took my blood test and sent it
to Hong Kong. Th ere were news that there was a drug
from AstraZeneca which tested well. Unfortunately, it
wasn’t available in Singapore and Malaysia yet during
that time.”
She was one of the benefactors of the new Astra-
Zeneca placement and investment into the Malaysian
medical sector.
“Th ey made arrangements and tests for me to try
the drug out. Lo and behold, my cancer m arker went
down! A normal person’s cancer mark-up is 2.8. Mine
came down to 5.8!”
“i am very blessed. A lot of people mention i don’t
look like a lady who’s turning 90 next year!” she grins.
she chose happiness
Th e secret to beating cancer?
“i’m a very positive person. i did my best not to let
it aff ect me – maybe it’s my age but i believe a person’s
destiny lies in our Lord’s hands. even with cancer, i
make it a point to live life to the fullest. no matter who
you are or your title, you will have to face death one
day – best to make the most of it!”
Well, you heard her! Count your blessings and be
positive. — Th e Health
My duel with cancer
began three years
ago. i didn’t even
know till i started
experiencing
irregular heartbeats.
i went into the
hospital for a
medical checkup.
During the fi rst Ct
scan, they suspected
me of tuberculosis. i
was surprised, at my
age – tuberculosis?”
89-year Linda Boyle is a fi rm believer in living one’s life to the fullest.
Mazwin wins the
Mazwin Mohd Radli, HER2-positive
breast cancer survivor who won
against cancer after two years of
struggle and hardship.
MAZWIN Mohd Radli is a HER2-positive breast
cancer survivor. She was treated and came out on top
during the second stage of her cancer. She works as
a nurse in a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur.
This month of March is her fourth year as a cancer
survivor, as she has been cancer free since 2015.
When the mother of three was diagnosed with breast
cancer, her youngest was only two years old. It was
a tremendously diffi cult journey as she had to watch
over her children while having to attend her therapy
sessions.
negligence was her mistake
Despite being an employee of a hospital, she admits
to not performing regular screenings as she was
supposed to every month. She only discovered her
fi rst cancer symptoms by chance, when she felt a
lump on her breast. It was fairly obvious as it was big.
Her noticing the lump was before she went to bed
one night, which she described as the longest night of
her life as she waited the following day to come and get