Chan’s Journey
After a misdiagnosis of Thyroid cancer in July 2023 I was already on the back foot when it came to navigating the medical system. A week after being put into remission from Thyroid cancer, I found a lump under my arm. Once again I was dismissed by doctors and I had to push hard for further testing. After an excruciating week of Ultrasounds, Mammograms, MRI’s and PET scans, I was diagnosed with stage 3 HER2+ Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and began treatment 3 days later. I have undergone 6 rounds of aggressive chemotherapy and I am gearing up for a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction in 2 weeks time. It has been some of the hardest times of my life but I’m lucky to have such a solid community of people to wrap their arms around me and my little fam!
This or that…
Tea or Coffee?
I’m a tea gal first thing in the morning but I love an Almond cap in winter or an iced long black in summer.
Sunrise or Sunset?
Sunset with a glass of wine in hand
Book or Movie?
My short attention span makes books a tough job so I’d say movie
Singing or Dancing?
Singing haha! I love belting out a tune
Pizza or Pasta?
Pizza for sure!
Beach or Mountains?
I’m not a huge fan of sand but on the right day, with the right temperature and crystal clear water, I’d pick the beach haha!
Top 3…
gifts or lessons I received during my journey
I have been absolutely humbled by the support of my community. I have been lucky to live on the peninsula my whole life and have many friends and huge support networks. My local cafes doing fundraisers and collecting tips for me, the care packages from my local supermarkets, the constant love & hugs from people I walk past in the street. There’s been so many silver linings in such a horrible time.
The biggest lesson I learnt has definitely been to trust myself when it comes to my health and advocate for care when being pushed back against. Just because I’m young and healthy, doesn’t dismiss my signs and symptoms. I have also realised how little things matter in the grand scheme of things. There’s only a few things in this life that really matter and they became very clear when faced with my own mortality.
My passion, and mission is
After the last 2 years on a very personal journey with the beast, I have a deep passion for advocacy.
Especially for younger people whose symptoms are dismissed because of age. I am dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer and empowering those affected by it. My mission is to educate, support, and inspire by sharing vital information, encouraging early detection, and standing in solidarity with survivors and fighters.
Through community outreach and storytelling, I aim to break the silence, remove the stigma, and foster hope.