SINGAPORE — Ms Vivian Tan used to be a competitive straight-A student and Mr Benjamin Lim was an avid cyclist holding down a packing job in the logistics sector.
All of these changed when they were found to have a brain tumour, which dramatically changed how they had envisioned their life would be.
Both in their 20s, Ms Tan and Mr Lim have endured painful and lingering side effects from their illness but soldier on to try and live a meaningful life, not forgetting to support others in need whenever they can.
For people under the age of 30 in Singapore, brain and central nervous system cancers are the third most common cancers affecting males and the sixth most common cancers affecting females, figures from the Singapore Cancer Registry show.
However, brain tumours can occur at any age.
Ms Tan, 21, and Mr Lim, 27, were among the patients, survivors and families who were at the Brainy Car Rally held recently on July 31.
Both were helping out at the charity drive hosted by Brain Tumour Society Singapore, which supports individuals and families affected by brain tumours.
The event returned after a four-year hiatus and offered brain tumour patients joyrides in Lamborghini cars. It also featured an experiential station simulating brain surgery and a talk by medical experts, among other activities.
In interviews with TODAY after the charity event, Ms Tan and Mr Lim talked about their experiences battling the devastating disease and how they are coping now.
RECURRING HEADACHES, FREQUENT FALLS
Ten years ago, Ms Tan was only 11 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. It was a year before she was supposed to take her Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
The tumour was located near the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland that controls growth and development, and the functioning of hormones.
Ms Tan’s early symptoms were recurring headaches and frequent falls.
A routine eye check in school uncovered some vision problems, which an optometrist initially thought were due to strabismus (crossed eyes). However, her mother felt something was amiss and insisted on further tests, which eventually uncovered a brain tumour.
Ms Tan recalled her parents being very stressed by the diagnosis and her younger siblings were just aged three and seven then.
She herself started realising the extent of the suffering she would have to endure after the gruelling treatments of chemotherapy and radiotherapy began.
“There was a period when I got so afraid of going to the hospital because every time I was there, it meant that I had to go for treatments. I recall vomiting everything I ate due to the side effects. It was a painful process.”
BEATING THE BLUES, FEELING ALONE
After her treatment, Ms Tan jumped back into her studies and insisted on taking her PSLE. “I didn’t want to be left behind by my peers,” she explained.
Her body, though, could not keep up with her determination. Other than getting fatigued more easily, her reading speed, concentration levels and memory were affected, which made it difficult for her to cope with school work.
For example, she needed double time to read and study the same material. She also continued to get on-and-off headaches.
“When a teacher started a lesson, I’d listen and write down notes but there would be missing chunks in my notes because I would forget what she had said.
“My reading speed and lethargy have gotten better but I still have those missing chunks in my notes (now in university),” Ms Tan said.
Brain cancer alters these 2 young adults’ lives, including the way they eat, speak and read & Latest News Update
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