Love Yourself, Live Resiliently
By Xiang-Ling Chu
On September 23, 2016 I underwent stage-I breast-cancer surgery at Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center—a date that opened an entirely new chapter for me. Every follow-up visit since then has become more than a medical appointment; it is a chance to rediscover life and practice gratitude.
A Fresh Perspective on Living
Writer Shu-Jun Peng once observed, “The world hangs by a single thread, and that thread is the soul,” and added, “Everyone lives twice: first for others, then for oneself.” After my diagnosis I finally understood the meaning of loving myself. Today’s clinic visit confirmed good wound healing and a favorable pathology report. Although a tiny focus of micro-invasion was present, neither the specimen margins nor the lymph nodes contained cancer cells, so the stage remains I. Immunohistochemistry showed the tumor is estrogen- and progesterone-receptor positive; therefore Dr. Chii-Ming Chen recommended adjuvant radiotherapy followed by tamoxifen. I will see the radiation team next Saturday.
This outcome delights me. Roughly ten to twenty percent of breast-cancer patients need a second operation if residual tumor is found; thanks to meticulous surgical planning, my breast was preserved and no additional surgery is necessary.
Everyday Lessons in Care
After asking about dietary restrictions, I learned that “eating lightly” is the guiding rule—night-market snacks are out. The dietitian reminded me I am not “sitting the month” post-partum and do not need tonics or supplements. I even asked whether collagen tablets might counteract the dry skin some women experience on hormonal therapy; the nurse laughed and said, “Save your money. Food works better than pills.” Her advice echoed the golden principle: eat real food, not “food products.”
I also wondered whether the week-old plastic dressing should be changed. “Leave it,” the nurse replied. “Shower as usual and pat dry; if the beauty tape peels off, simply apply a fresh one.” Radiation will flatten the scar further, an unexpected bonus.
Respect Above All
What I cherish most at this hospital is the respect staff give each person. Patients are treated not as fragile figures but as dignified individuals with choices. If dizziness does not forbid it, nurses encourage early ambulation. Physicians explain conditions in plain language; nurses counsel firmly yet gently, asking, “On a scale of one to ten, how is the pain right now?” Such moments teach that setbacks are inevitable, but resilience reveals the beauty of being alive.
Before leaving I pictured Dr. Chen’s steady smile. My own job often feels stressful, yet standing in his shoes I see even greater pressure. Whether in morning clinic, the operating room, or afternoon rounds, he never rushes or frowns. He balances textbook knowledge with human understanding and told me calmly, “The wound looks fine. Surgical care ends here. No ointments, no dressings, just let nature heal.”
Life, too, returns to its most natural state when we stop burdening it with unnecessary angst, desire, or resentment. That insight is today’s lesson, and a crucial one. From this point of living for myself, I will step boldly into every new day.