#HEALTH: Life saving knowledge from mother to daughter

New Straits Times

15-07-2025

FOR 59 year old Lee Yoke Woon, the first sign of trouble felt no different from a urinary tract infection.
She had abdominal pain, but it didn't seem alarming. However, in June 2020, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
"It was shocking because I had always been healthy," recalls Lee.
Her diagnosis shook her family, especially her daughter, but it also brought them closer and led to positive lifestyle changes.
"My husband and daughter started to eat healthier and became more aware of early symptoms. My husband made a special effort to cook nutritious meals and keep me emotionally stable."
Lee credits her family, friends, and church members for helping her through the difficult journey. It was both challenging and emotional, but also meaningful.
For Lee, surviving ovarian cancer gave her more than just a second chance - it set her on a mission to protect her daughter through knowledge and conversation.
"As a mother, my instinct has always been to protect my child. When I was diagnosed, it was devastating to see how shocked my daughter was. No one expected cancer to hit our family."
That moment led to important changes - paying closer attention to their health, and more importantly, to speak up and go for a check-up if something feels off.
For women, a quick visit to the gynaecologist can make all the difference and for Lee, these conversations are no longer optional. They are life-saving.
"As mothers, we teach our daughters how to walk, how to study, and how to be kind. But we must also teach them to understand their bodies, recognise warning signs, and prioritise their health. That is one of the most important lessons I can pass down."
Lee is well aware that if she had waited, her story might have ended very differently.
This shared responsibility from mother to daughter can help break the silence around ovarian cancer because a single conversation can be life-saving, says Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) consultant gynaecologist Dr Tan Teck Sin.
The National Cancer Registry Report 2017-2021, indicates that ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among Malaysian women with 1 in 147 women at risk. More than half of all cases (54.4 per cent) are diagnosed at stages 3 and 4 when the disease has already spread and treatment becomes more complex.
Dr Tan believes that knowledge and awareness are powerful tools in changing these statistics, especially for mothers who pass on this life-saving information to their daughters.
While anyone can develop ovarian cancer, certain factors increase the risk.
Age, subfertility or having no children, a family history of ovarian or breast cancer, and specific gene mutations like the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes linked to a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer all contribute, explains Dr Tan.
Other less significant risks include early menstruation, late menopause, and conditions like endometriosis.
About 25 per cent of certain common types of ovarian cancer have a hereditary basis, making it vital for women with a family history to consider genetic testing.
Dr Tan says that younger women today, especially the Gen Z, are increasingly choosing the DINK (Double Income, No Kids) lifestyle.
While that is a personal choice, it is important to know that having children can offer significant protection against ovarian and uterine cancers, he says.
This makes conversations about reproductive health even more important between mothers and daughters, he adds.
Currently, there is no reliable universal screening method for ovarian cancer. Tools like the transvaginal ultrasound and the serum CA-125 tumour marker (a blood test that measures a protein sometimes elevated in ovarian cancer) are helpful but not foolproof.
These tests can lead to false positives, resulting in unnecessary surgeries, cautions Dr Tan. This makes awareness all the more important.
"We must teach women to listen to their bodies and act early, even if symptoms seem trivial. A mother who understands these signs can protect herself and educate her daughter. That's a legacy more powerful than anything material."
Treatment for ovarian cancer often involves surgery and chemotherapy. While surgery remains the mainstay of treatment, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has gained attention in recent years.
For younger women diagnosed in early stages, there is room for fertility-preserving approaches.
"We have to consider fertility-sparing surgery, or cryopreservation (freezing) of eggs or ovarian tissue before treatment. Unfortunately, facilities for cryopreservation are still limited in Malaysia," says Dr Tan.
A multidisciplinary approach remains crucial as ovarian cancer is complex and requires input from oncologists, palliative physicians, radiologists, fertility specialists, and supportive staff like oncology nurses and physiotherapists. This team effort ensures the best outcome and quality of life for patients.