Fashion for Cancer x Shentonista — After the Storm

Could you share a little bit about yourself?
Hello! I’m Nurhana, I just turned 42. I work as a civil servant, and I’m married with three kids. I was diagnosed with stage 2, triple-negative breast cancer eight years ago, when I was 33. I was actually at my fittest back then.

When you first received your diagnosis, what went through your mind?
Back then, I was a single mom with two young children, aged two and nine. So the first thing that came to mind was actually my kids—they were my main concern. I was worried about whether I’d still be around to watch them grow and see all their milestones. Even though I was the one diagnosed with breast cancer, and I should have focused on taking care of myself, my concern was entirely about taking care of my kids.

You mentioned that you went through most of that experience on your own. Could you share more about that?
While I had people around me—my family members and close friends—nobody truly understood what I went through emotionally and mentally during that period. There were many moments where I had to be strong and act tough for my kids, and for my parents as well, who are elderly and live with me.

When you were going through it alone, what helped keep your spirits up daily?
I took small, small achievements that the kids had as happy moments. Thank God that I’m still here to watch them go to school—oh, my daughter completed Primary 6, and then her ‘O’ levels. All these small achievements kept me going. It was actually my kids who were my strong pillars.

When your children look back at how you handled this chapter, what values do you hope they learn from you?
One thing I see in my daughter, especially, is resilience. There are times when she feels down, but she says that I’m her role model. In spite of all I went through, I still got back on my feet, and I always made sure I came back stronger than before. Maybe not physically, but mentally and emotionally, I’m much more stable.

How did you take that painful experience and transform it into a stronger purpose for yourself?
When I was diagnosed, no one else around me had been through what I was going through. It was a very lonely journey because I had no one to speak to, to share my worries and troubles—like, what the outcome would be if I went through chemo, or what I could anticipate from it. During that phase, I realised that if I had someone who could journey with me, it would help a lot.

Which is why I’m stepping forward to share my story—to tell others that it’s okay. Being diagnosed with an illness or with cancer doesn’t end there; it’s how you bounce back from it. Sometimes when you’re out and about, people can’t tell you’re actually sick unless you tell them; they just see you as a normal human being living your daily life. I really wish that by stepping up and sharing my story, I could be around for them as well.

What would you say to someone—especially another woman—facing a similar diagnosis alone right now?
This journey is overwhelming. It’s like a roller coaster ride where there are times you feel ups and downs, but one thing I wish to tell them is to never give up hope. The moment you give up hope, you won’t have the desire and determination to push through. It is only with hope that you can get back on your feet to fight whatever disease comes at you.

Please take the time to look after yourself, because as women, we often put others ahead of us. We put our families, our work, and the people that we love ahead of ourselves. It is completely okay for us to care about ourselves, to do our checks, and to ensure that we are in good condition and good health. Good health is everything; with that, we can focus on other things around us. Taking the time to care about ourselves is not selfish.

What have you been doing lately to keep busy and bring yourself joy?
I still enjoy spending time with my kids! I love to take them out, and I’ve been keeping busy with canvas paintings—something I picked up after I was diagnosed. Once in a while, I’ll take the paint out and get my kids to join in with me. It’s a mess, but it’s a good mess because they’re also off screen time! Fitness-wise, I’m also keeping myself busy with trying to lose weight.

Through this journey, I realised that friends do come and go when you are sick. But there was someone who stayed with me through this whole period, and he is now my husband. We even got a miracle baby, and he’s in Primary 1 now! I find that after every thunderstorm, there will be a bright future ahead.

This is a feature for Fashion for Cancer 2026, spotlighting 7 cancer survivors and warriors. Founded by Ong Bee Yan, Fashion for Cancer is a charity fashion show aimed at raising funds for cancer research and financial aid. Tickets to the FFC2026 Fashion Show may be sold out, but you can still support the cancer community by donating to the NCCS Cancer Fund here.