Former actress Jamie Yeo has revealed her personal battle with breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In an emotional Instagram post, she shared her journey as a breast cancer survivor and the importance of early detection and awareness.
Found a lump that turned out to be cancerous
Yeo disclosed that two years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer after discovering a lump during a self-examination. Fortunately, her tumor was in its early stages and less aggressive. She underwent a lumpectomy and received radiation therapy, along with an ongoing regimen of medication.
Despite her medical treatments, she continued with her daily life, even working on a video shoot just three days after her surgery and delivering jewelry orders to clients shortly after. However, her life was forever changed.
The period of uncertainty that followed her diagnosis prompted deep soul-searching and brought on a range of emotions, including fear, resilience, hope, gratitude, and positivity.
She spoke of the surreal feeling following her “positive prognosis,” with mixed emotions of guilt, as she realized that not everyone she had met in her journey had been as fortunate.
The experience drove her to live her life with renewed purpose, striving for a cleaner, simpler, kinder, and better existence. Ultimately, it led her to make the life-changing decision to move and start fresh.
Raising awareness
Reflecting on her journey, Yeo expressed gratitude for the shock of her diagnosis, as it helped her gain perspective on what truly matters in life. She considers it a privilege to now be able to speak on behalf of other breast cancer survivors and raise awareness about the importance of early detection, which she credits with saving her life.
In her effort to raise awareness, Jamie Yeo encourages others to watch an important conversation on @medicalchannelasia’s YouTube channel with Lay Teng Kwa. They discuss their own experiences as survivors and emphasize the critical role awareness plays in increasing the chances of early detection, ultimately saving lives.
Jamie Yeo’s personal journey serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the need for continued vigilance and education to combat this disease.
Jamie Yeo’s Instagram Post
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I’m all in. Finally ready to share that (and talk about it – link in bio)…I am a Breast Cancer survivor.
Two years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I found a lump during a self examination. Long story short, I was extremely blessed that it was an early-stage, less aggressive tumour. A lumpectomy and radiation therapy, and an ongoing regiment of pills was enough. On the surface, life continued “as normal” – all day video shoot three days after surgery, packing/delivering @lulajjewelry orders to clients a day after. But nothing was normal anymore.
The period of not knowing prompted a lot of soul-searching. Heart numbing and indescribable fear, with bouts of faith, resilience, hope, gratitude, and positivity. The period after the surgery with my “positive prognosis” was surreal, guilty even – friends, acquiantances, the other patients I’d met were not so lucky. The only option was to live life fully, with gratitude, and a fierce motivation to change – to live cleaner, simpler, kinder, better. It was in this period that we decided to move. To start afresh.
With the benefit of distance and time, it sounds odd to say, but I’m grateful for the shock. It made me realise what matters. I’m glad I now have the privilege of speaking to and for other survivors. Head to @medicalchannelasia’s YouTube channel (link in bio), to hear an important conversation with @layteng.kwa , as we discuss our experiences, and the importance of raising awareness to increase the chances of early detection (which, as I’m testament, can save lives).