JOHOR BARU: Anna Tay questioned everything about her lifestyle and decisions when she was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer five years ago.
This initial phase of the 40-year-old former insurance agent's struggle was tough as she went through constant bouts of questioning how she could have contracted cancer.
After a few years of seeking answers and finding people who understood her struggle, she chose to have a positive attitude by setting up her own cancer patient support group, which now has 82 members.
"I went through a phase of constant questioning. New cancer patients often ask themselves 'why me?' They would embark on a change in diet such as eating only home-cooked meals or going vegetarian.
"I went through that when I was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012, and the worrying got the better of me.
"I searched for a support group that can provide emotional solace and strength. I could not find any," said Tay.
That was when Tay's client introduced her to Steven Shum, who is general manager of property developer Tanah Sutera Development Sdn Bhd.
Shum encouraged her to follow her dream of setting up her own support group for cancer patients, and the idea gave her a sense of hope.
"I started the Icare Cancer Support Association in one of the shophouses at Jalan Sutera Merah 3 in Taman Sutera here three years ago.
"Shum offered the association a chance to rent the place at a token sum. And after that, many others came forward to help with electrical wiring and the installation of air-conditioning units," she said.
The association conducts visits to homes of cancer patients, regardless of their race or whether they are members or not.
"In fact, most of the patients whose homes we visit are not our members," Tay said.
While relating her own experience of taking care of her 81-year-old mother, Tay said she reached out to cancer patients who had many familial responsibilities or were single and did not have family members as a support system, such as her.
"I, too, am single and I am taking care of my mother, so I know how hard it is to cope with the disease if you are alone," Tay said.
A member of the association, Lunar Tan, 38, suffers from skin cancer said she helped to teach families on how they could take better care of their family members with cancer.
"Sometimes, a family member or caretaker may not understand how their actions can hurt the feelings of the patients.
"A family member may be truly concerned when they say, 'if you don't eat you are going to die!'
"However, saying this may hurt the patient, and we must understand they could be suffering from a loss of appetite due to their illness, and it was not their choice to refrain from eating," said Tan.
Tan, a mother of three was diagnosed with cancer eight months ago.
She has undergone 30 radiotherapy sessions to date.
The Icare Cancer Support Association is one 18 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating from a row of shophouses in Taman Sutera here under a Charity Hub initiative by Tana Sutera Development Sdn Bhd.
Other organisations operating from the same premises are Pusat Kebajikan Kalvari Johor Baru, Madrasah Orphanage and School, Ark Care Centre, Hope Rehab Centre for Problem Gambling and Sinda Old Folk's Home.
Tanah Sutera Development assistant general manager Daniel Tan said the idea for having a charity hub was the company's way of giving back to the society.
"It is one way of helping the underprivileged in the community. Annual programmes such a Harmony Run to raise funds for charity groups that will be held on Sept 16 this year are in line with Tanah Sutera Development's constant focus to engage in charity work," he said.