Life often throws unexpected curveballs, and we’re taught to keep a stiff upper lip when they come. But when Masjuwita binti Haji Abdul Hamid was diagnosed with angiosarcoma of the breast in 2006 – a rare and aggressive cancer, the first recorded case in Brunei – she was livid.
For the then 39-year-old, the news was nothing short of shattering. Mere seconds after hearing the diagnosis, her mind raced – not with fears of a life cut short, but with anguish for those she might leave behind. The thought of her husband and children navigating a world without her was unbearable.
Recalling that life-altering moment, Masjuwita remembers the deafening silence that filled the room as the doctor delivered the news. She was stunned into speechlessness.
“Not a word came out of my mouth as my husband, Nadzri, approached me. It seemed that the doctor had told him earlier. He held my hand tightly and calmed me down.”
Of course, after the calm came the panic – the racing thoughts of what-ifs, how-comes, and how-longs. The weight of it all was overwhelming, her legs growing weak, on the verge of collapse. But her husband, her pillar of support, stood by her, keeping her safe.
“I was going to die, I was going to die! Memories of the past came flashing back. Sweet moments with my husband and our two beloved sons filled my mind. Tears started flowing down my cheeks.
“I asked, ‘God, why so soon? Why? I haven’t spent enough time with my husband and children. Why only 14 years with Asyraf? Why only 10 years with Isyraf?’”
It was a bitter pill to swallow. As Masjuwita explained, the mere mention of ‘cancer’ at the time was still surrounded by tragedy, a taboo subject within the community. Cancer was the last word anyone wanted to hear.
“When I was told and my diagnosis was confirmed, it felt like a death sentence. The feeling of giving up was there. However, I strengthened my heart and spirit, refusing to allow thoughts that would continuously disturb my mind and emotions. I would not give up.”
From the depths of hopelessness and shock, Masjuwita found her fighting spirit.
Determined, she made a promise to herself, to never surrender to the disease – if not for her own sake, then for her children’s. She would fight.
“My children need me. I don’t have time to give up. I believe in the destiny that Allah the Almighty has determined, and my faith in Him has never wavered. Every test that comes is a sign of His love, not to weaken me, but to strengthen my soul and confidence. I know that behind this pain, there is wisdom that only Allah the Almighty knows.”
Her treatment did not require chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However, she underwent two surgeries: a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. A lumpectomy involves the removal of the lump or tumour along with some surrounding breast tissue, while a mastectomy is the removal of part or all of the breast.
To date, Masjuwita has been in complete remission for 19 years.
Throughout her treatment, Masjuwita explained that despite the difficult hand she had been dealt, she faced it with the heart of a lioness. Her children served as a constant reminder to remain a fighter.
“I believe that as long as I breathe, as long as my heart beats, I will continue to fight. Not just for myself, but for my children who are the strength and light of my life. Allah the Almighty never abandons His servants, and I am confident in His miracles. I leave everything to Him because He is the best Planner and the best Guardian.”
Having come out the other side of this ordeal, Masjuwita wants other women to be hypervigilant about their well-being, as cancer – being a non-communicable disease – does not pick and choose its victims.
“No matter what your social status, we are all still vulnerable. We can still be affected by things beyond our control.”
For Jormasnizah @ Hamizah binti Jormasiew, the discovery of her illness began in 2016, when she noticed a lump on her neck. In February 2017, she was diagnosed with stage 2 lymphoma.
Recalling the first visible symptoms, she shared how, toward the end of 2016, she developed a persistent cough that lingered for over a month. At the same time, the lump on her neck continued to grow. Despite multiple visits to local hospitals for thyroid checks, no clear answers emerged.
Determined to seek a second opinion, she travelled to a neighbouring country the following year. By then, her condition had worsened – she had lost her voice, her neck was severely swollen, and half of her face had begun to slump.
“The specialist from Kuala Lumpur, who happened to be in Miri by coincidence, managed to detect lymphoma from my thyroid. I then went to RIPAS Hospital for treatment.”
In the days following the news, she found herself crying every night, feeling as though life was slipping through her fingers – that death lurked at every corner.
On top of that, she was bombarded with negativity surrounding her diagnosis, which weighed her down even further. Yet, instead of succumbing to resentment toward the disease that had fractured her world, she chose a different path: to understand it in order to survive it.
“I thought to myself, I must find my way to fight this cancer. And to kill the cancer, I need to understand the disease.”
Behind this strength were her children, still studying at the time. Instead of dwelling on what she might leave behind, she shifted her perspective, turning fear into motivation. She refused to surrender to the night – instead, she chose to fight for the dawn, and for every day that followed.
“I don’t want to leave them when they are so young. I want to see my children grow up and build their own careers. I want to be there to see them stand on their own feet. That’s my prayer every day and the words I tell myself to keep fighting.”
While medical treatment played a crucial role in her battle, Jormasnizah shared that it was the strength of her heart and faith that carried her through the darkest times.
Jormasnizah has been cancer-free since 2019, though she remained under observation for at least five years to ensure there was no relapse. Reflecting on her journey as a survivor, she shared that the biggest challenge was enduring chemotherapy, which left her feeling weak and utterly exhausted.
Offering advice to others, she urged women to advocate for themselves and never hesitate to ask questions.
“We need to ask as many questions as possible to the doctor,” she encouraged.
At the same time, she cautioned those facing similar battles to be discerning about the advice they receive. Not all guidance will be helpful – some may only serve to slow progress, weighed down by negativity.
“I started to embrace positivity, to strengthen my heart and mind to fight this cancer – I tried, I prayed, and I recited zikir. The rest, I surrendered to the will of Allah the Almighty.” – James Kon
