Malaysian Cancer Survivors Find Hope in Monthly Support Group

When Kim Ang receives a "good morning" message now, she doesn't feel annoyed anymore. The 70-year-old lymphoma survivor sees each greeting as a reminder that waking up is something to celebrate.

She's one of 40 members who gather monthly at St. Ignatius Church in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, for a cancer support group that's been meeting since 2016. They come from parishes across the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, some driving over an hour, to share experiences that few others truly understand.

Percey Chiew started the group after her own long battle with breast cancer, which began in 1994 and included multiple surgeries over the years. She knew from experience that facing cancer required more than medical treatment—it needed connection, prayer, and people who really got it.

"The more we share, the lighter the burden becomes," said Chiew, now 68. "In choosing to see Christ in one another, we begin to see hope where there was despair."

The conversations cover everything from treatment side effects to the small frustrations only survivors understand. Francis Khoo lost his voice box to throat cancer but shared through his wife that meditation and prayer helped him find peace despite his frustration. Ann Poon is facing cancer for the second time but says she feels strong and grateful to be alive.

Caroline Joseph drives from Seremban to attend meetings, even though it's more than an hour away. When ovarian cancer struck at 43, she questioned why this was happening to her. Then she remembered Christ's crucifixion and began asking God for strength instead of answers.

Sunny's Take

The group has become more than monthly meetings. Members stay connected through phone calls, home visits, and an active messaging group where they check on each other between gatherings. When some become too ill to attend, others like founding member Stella Voon visit them at home.

The Family Life Ministry supports the group with practical help too. Coordinator Leonard Lim attends meetings to understand members' needs and even arranged transportation for a pilgrimage to the Church of St. Jude. The ministry also distributes vitamin supplements to support members' health.

Pauline Ng, 79, recently completed treatment for thyroid cancer, her second cancer diagnosis after surviving uterine cancer decades earlier. She credits her faith with helping her face each challenge. "Faith helps me face these challenges," she said simply.

Chiew lost her own husband to colon cancer in 2017 but continues leading the group, believing parish communities can provide understanding and spiritual guidance when people need it most. She even wrote a book about her experience called "My Journey with Breast Cancer Continues."

The group occasionally hosts speakers on illness and caregiving, including Jesuit priest Larry Tan, himself a cancer survivor, who spoke about spiritual struggles during treatment. But mostly, they gather to pray, laugh at themselves, and face their battles together instead of alone.