How one woman danced through breast cancer
towards living again
She may have done this many times before but her heart was
beating wildly nonetheless. The other women in her troupe, also waiting, were
in a similar state.
It is funny how something so simple could cause so much
trepidation for one who battled and overcame a disease as sinister as cancer.
In fact, all of the women about to perform had in one way or
another defeated this menace.
Emboldened by their passion for life, the women braced
themselves for the cue. Seconds passed and then it came.
The music undulated in the air like streams of water. It was
enchanting, alluring and almost haunting. Traditional music has that effect.
The sound of the kompang, seruling, gamelan and rebab evoke something
spiritual. And it was to the tunes of these instruments that these women danced
with such grace and charisma.
Koo Soo Ming’s heart brimmed with inexpressible joy. She was
certain the other cancer survivors dancing alongside felt the same way. After
all, this was the very reason Koo had mooted the formation of this cultural
dance group.
“I wanted to use dance and music as a form of therapy … to
inject a feel-good factor among survivors. The amazing thing is that when they
dance, they are happy and smiling,” pointed out Koo.
But more than just therapy, Koo wanted the group to be a beacon
of hope to others.
“The idea was for people to see us and go: ‘If these cancer
survivors can do that, I can do it also. If they can bounce back, so can I.’ I
wanted people to realise that a cancer diagnosis is not the end of the world.”
Koo, 55, is a freelance translator who survived her stage 2
breast cancer.
It was by staying positive and optimistic that this mother of
two made it through the ordeal of discovering she had cancer and then surviving
the treatment.
There’s no denying Koo had her bouts of depression and
melancholy when the doctor broke the news to her in 2005. Her husband Robert
Ooi, 56, was by her side throughout the ordeal.
“It was a big shock for me and my husband. We had no idea what
cancer was all about. It was totally a new thing. I felt like I was thrown into
a dark world. Both of us felt lost,” Koo recounted.
Koo married Robert in 1986, and the couple have two grown-up
sons, Joshua, 27 and Justin, 23.
The family was flung into trying times soon after the diagnosis.
Koo grimly recalled the harrowing hours following her first session of
chemotherapy.
“The most difficult and challenging part was the first cycle. It
was so unbearable that I thought I was going to die.
“It felt like knives were walking all over my body. I vomited so
much that I had to sleep next to the toilet bowl!” she expressed.
It was in the midst of this inexpressible pain that Koo noticed
the darkness that had fallen over her home. She sensed the morale and spirit of
her husband and children were crushed, though they tried to put on a strong
front.
“I realised all the moaning and groaning was the worst thing I
could do to my family. The whole house was down.
“So, on the third day after my first session of chemo, I was
feeling better and I took a shower and sat in the hall. When my husband
returned after work, he was shocked to see me up and well, because he’d gotten
used to seeing me lying down and miserable.
“My family was happy then on. I promised that I would not pull
them down again. From the second chemo session, I tried to stay positive
throughout… it was laughter throughout,” Koo said.
Of course, her husband and two sons complemented her
inner strength with their optimism and positivism. They were her pillar of
strength. Faith kept her strong too. “I believe every-thing happens for a
reason. I believe that every obstacle you go through is part and parcel of
life.”
But for Koo, who underwent a mastectomy in 2005, the support
group played a crucial role.
“I attended the support group meetings at the National Cancer
Society Malaysia and met other breast cancer survivors. Only then did I realise
that there were so many other women affected by this,” Koo said.
It was during one of these meetings that Koo had an ‘Aha!’ moment.
“There were many ladies in the meeting and we liked to move
whenever we listen to music. I realised that I could do something about this.
I’ve always had a passion for dance but because of work and familial
responsibilities, I was not able to pursue it.
“Now I was suddenly able to. So, I formed our cultural dance
group and I wanted it to be more than just moving your body to the music. I
wanted something more organised, articulate and aesthetic,” Koo explained.
Called Pink
Citra Tari, the group, formed in 2009, is only a small outfit
(there are five members) but it occasionally performs traditional Malay and
Bollywood dance at fundraisers and charity events. The group even performs at
the National Cancer Society Malaysia’s Relay
For Life, a 16-hour yearly event that celebrates cancer survivors
and those who had departed.
Staying positive throughout and occupying herself with work and
the cultural dance group, Koo has been able to find her inner strength.
“Emotionally, I feel stronger and I think that if I can go
through cancer, I can go through anything.
“Actually, any woman can still look good after cancer. You just
have to remain positive.
“I’m a much happier person now and life is more meaningful
because I can do something I never had the chance to do before,” she added.
Koo has also become much more conscious about her diet and in
turn her family’s diet too. She has even started regular exercises to stay fit.
“If you are going to stay in the house, do nothing and just
think about the cancer, your life will be depressing and you will find that
there is no meaning in life.”
So pack up your troubles, put a smile on your face and do what
you can to lift your spirits. For Koo, that means dancing her cares away!
If you are interested in joining the Pink Citra
Tari dance outfit or finding out more about it, call Koo Soo Ming at 019-228
8377.
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