M'sian ex-politician invited elderly woman with breast cancer to stay with her so she could take care of her

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Marina Ibrahim, the former DAP assemblyman who is now a special officer for the Sultan Ibrahim Johor Foundation, shared a touching story to encourage cancer patients to seek prompt medical attention for cancer.

Marina told the story of a woman she had met in 2023 when Marina was working as a community coordinator in Renggam, Johor.

The woman, whom Marina called "Auntie", told her that she had a lump on her breast but that she had treated it.

That treatment was applying leaves on the aforementioned lump. Marina brought her to the hospital, and got her a scan.

While Auntie said she was unafraid of death, Marina feared that she would need some help during the recovery process, since she was living alone.

After a quick consultation with her mother, Marina invited Auntie to stay with her.

The results on Sep. 3 confirmed that Auntie had breast cancer, and would require a mastectomy.

Auntie would stay with them till the day of her mastectomy on Sep 11.

And while Auntie remained calm throughout, Marina recalled her holding her hand tightly that day.

Auntie was someone who did not want to impose on others, and often told Marina "sorry, I'm troubling you again".

That wasn't the end of her helping out the elderly woman though.

The recovery process would be just as important for Auntie. To aid this, Marina's mother would cook all three meals for her.

Marina, despite her busy work in politics, would check up on the fluid in Auntie's drainage tube and record the measurements as laid out by the doctor.

That help wasn't just limited to purely medical areas, Marina took Auntie for walks and made sure she regained back some of her arm mobility, which would have been affected by the surgery.

"I made her go out walking every day and do her rehabilitation exercises. A month later, at her follow-up appointment, the doctor said she was recovering very well."

Marina said what Auntie's biggest worry was rarely the cancer itself, but the feeling of burdening others.

Marina was adamant on having her out and about though, her reasoning being that she wanted Auntie to understand that having cancer didn't mean her life had to stop.

"Don't let cancer defeat you."

Till today, Auntie is living strongly.

Marina said she was glad to have helped her take the first step, and noted that "what's truly terrifying isn't the illness itself — it's missing the window for treatment."