THROUGH THE LENS OF CANCER PATIENTS

Surviving cancer is a daunting endeavour. However, for the underprivileged cancer patients surviving life itself is already a challenge; merely getting by from one day to another. The daily struggles of the underprivileged cancer patients remain obscure for many people. For MAKNA, it is something that we hope to change.

In 2022, we organised the MAKNA Continuous Education (MCE) Homestay at Tawau, Sabah. The programme offered an opportunity for us to experience life from their perspective and feel what it is like to be in their shoes. During the stay also, we got to build a stronger rapport with cancer patients including their families to provide moral support and encouragement to continue the fight against the Big C.

Living conditions play an important role in the cancer patients’ recovery. For our patients, the houses that they live in are oftentimes small and sometimes dilapidated. Nevertheless, it is home for them. An effort to ease their burden, we tried our best to improve their living conditions by making necessary changes such as repairing the wooden floors, fixing the water pipe or making a whole new staircase.

More importantly, the whole experience was an eye-opener, reminding us the reason why we give our all everyday to serve the community here at MAKNA. With everyone’s support, we shall continue creating a meaningful impact in the lives of canceraffected individuals across Malaysia.