Venny’s Story: Finding Peace Through Interventional Therapy

A Life Interrupted

Before I turned 54, my life had been calm and full of blessings. I met my husband when we were young — he says it was love at first sight — and three years later we married. He never once forgot my birthday, even after all these years together. We raised two children, a son and a daughter, both of whom grew up respectful and hardworking, and both went abroad to continue their studies. Looking back, I had every reason to feel content.

Then, in May 2011, everything changed. I noticed two lumps, each about 2.5 centimeters, on both of my breasts. Medical tests confirmed my worst fear: breast cancer. The diagnosis terrified me — my own mother had passed away from the same disease, and in my mind, breast cancer meant a death sentence. My husband held me and reminded me that this was simply a test God had given us to face together.

Because my mother’s cancer had spread rapidly after her operation, I was too afraid to undergo surgery myself. Instead, I chose a more conservative path at first, combining it with another form of cancer treatment. Even so, I refused to let the illness steal my joy. While undergoing treatment, I still dressed up and celebrated at my son’s wedding — cancer would not take that moment away from me.

When the Storm Grew Stronger

By May 2013, my condition had shifted. The lump on my right breast had disappeared on its own, but the one on my left side had grown dramatically — to roughly 10 by 10 centimeters, taking on a dark purple, dome-like shape. A swollen lymph node, about 2 by 3 centimeters, had also formed under my left arm. Desperate for relief, I even tried an unconventional remedy: applying more than ten leeches to draw blood from the tumor. It sounds unpleasant, I know, but strangely it did bring me some comfort.

At that point, I finally accepted that surgery was necessary. Wanting the safest possible option, I decided to seek treatment overseas. As it happened, a close friend of mine was already scheduled for a follow-up visit at Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou, and she invited me to come along. I have always believed it was God who led me there. On 6 May 2015, tests showed my CEA level at 1129.14 ng/ml and CA153 at 53.1 U/ml.

The hospital’s multidisciplinary team (MDT) recommended surgery followed by interventional therapy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. A few days later, surgeons performed an excision of the cancerous tissue in my left breast. Afterward, I learned my diagnosis: infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the left breast, stage IIIB — a middle-stage cancer.

Rebuilding My Life

During the operation, doctors removed both the tumor and the surrounding invaded tissue. I then began interventional therapy, paired with mild intravenous chemotherapy. Slowly, my hair began to fall out until eventually I had none left. Knowing how much I valued my appearance, my husband bought me five different wigs, which became my companions for almost half a year. By December 2013, my treatment was finally complete, and not long after, my hair grew back thick enough that I no longer needed them.

• Diagnosed with bilateral breast lumps in May 2011
• Left breast tumor grew to 10x10cm with axillary lymph node involvement by 2013
• Underwent surgical excision plus interventional therapy and chemotherapy at Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou
• Completed treatment by December 2013, with hair regrowth soon after
• Follow-up in May 2015 confirmed no signs of recurrence

Three years on, my hair has grown back beautifully. At the end of May 2015, my husband and I returned for a check-up, and the results showed everything was stable — no signs of the cancer returning. I have since welcomed two grandsons into the world and truly started a new chapter of life. I try to eat a clean, balanced diet and keep up a habit of running. Every Saturday, I make time to have dinner, chat, or watch a movie with my friends — small joys I no longer take for granted.

Sharing Hope With Others

I believe God protected me and helped me overcome this illness, and that belief is why I now feel called to share my experience with others fighting cancer. I regularly attend cancer symposiums, where I openly show my scar and the changes to my body, sometimes even joking with other women about how to fit a prosthetic insert into a bra so it looks natural. In April 2015, I was honored with the “Anticancer Star” award by the ASEAN Academic Committee of Minimally Invasive Therapy, recognizing my optimism and my efforts to support fellow patients.

We need to be patient and optimistic. Don’t give up, and don’t forget to pray. We do our part, and God will help us the rest of the way.