S'porean doctor, 54, who beat ovarian cancer 3 years ago, dies from pneumonia in 1 week

A family doctor had successfully beaten ovarian cancer after she was diagnosed with it three years ago.

However, she suddenly contracted pneumonia in early October this year, and succumbed to the illness one week later on Oct. 17.

Sudden pneumonia diagnosis

Emily Pwee, 54, developed a fever and cough on Oct. 10, her husband, 54-year-old Jimmy Teo, told Shin Min Daily News.

Teo, a doctor at the National University Hospital, had initially thought it was just a common flu and observed her at home, but her condition eventually got worse.

They found out during the checkup that Pwee had contracted pneumonia, resulting in her hospitalisation.

Four days later, she unexpectedly passed away.

Her obituary indicated that besides Teo, Pwee also left behind three children.

Easygoing, devoted mother & doctor

A graduate of the National University of Ireland's Faculty of Medicine, Pwee was a senior doctor of family medicine at Raffles Medical Group with more than 25 years of practice, according to her page on the group's website.

Speaking at her wake, Teo said that despite her high levels of education, Pwee was an easy-going, low-profile woman who was both a devoted mother and a responsible doctor.

"She was down-to earth, gentle, and never raised her voice even when she was angry," he said of his late wife.

Colleagues were seen in tears as they paid their respect, Shin Min noted.

Teo and Pwee met as students in Ireland in 1992, and got married in Singapore six years after graduation.

Pwee also accompanied Teo to the U.S. for further studies in 2000, where their first two children were born, Teo recalled.

"After we had children, her life was focused entirely on them. She even returned to Singapore with them a year in advance to arrange their schooling matters."

Previous cancer diagnosis

Teo shared that Pwee had previously been diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years ago, but successfully beat it, relying on her strong will.

Upon her diagnosis, the couple began to travel together whenever Teo went on business trips abroad, with the intention of creating memories.

"You never know which would come first, tomorrow or an accident, so you need to cherish the times you have with your family," Teo said.

Only then, if something untoward happened, there would not be too many regrets.

Top images via Shin Min Daily News & Raffles Medical Group