Life after cancer

SOMETIMES, it takes a big scare for us to view things differently.
For AirAsia route revenue manager Aliza Yussuff, 35, her scare came when she was diagnosed with lymphoma at age 29.
However, being diagnosed with cancer helped her discover what was really important, which was to do things that make her happy.

Speaking to her at RedQ, AirAsia’s headquarters near klia2, Aliza explained that she first joined AirAsia in 2008 but left in 2011 for a higher-paying job in another company.
“It was during that time (at the new company) that I was diagnosed with lymphoma,” she said. “I then took eight months off to seek treatment and then returned to work.”
Talking about her cancer diagnosis, Aliza said: “One day, I felt a lump near my neck. It was something that did not bother me because it was a small lump, and it wasn’t painful.
“I told my mum about it and she panicked. She called me every day to find out if I went to a doctor to get it checked.”
Annoyed with her mum’s nagging, she finally went to see a doctor who initially thought it was a swollen gland, and gave her a course of antibiotics.
After a week, she returned, but the lump was still there and she was referred to a general surgeon who suggested that she remove it and get a biopsy done.
Three days after the surgery, she returned to work, but got a call saying the doctor wanted to see her right away. She knew it wasn’t good news.
“I took a taxi to the hospital and it was the longest ride. I was scared and the word cancer played in my mind. But I also thought there was no point in being scared now because whatever it is, it is already in me.”
The doctor then told her she had stage two lymphoma.
Lymphoma or cancer of the lymph nodes and lymphatic system begins in infection-fighting cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes, which are found in the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and other parts of the body. The cancer will cause these lymphocytes to change and grow out of control.
Aliza then underwent eight cycles of chemotherapy. A later scan indicated that while the initial cancer area was dormant with no cancer cell activity, there was new cancer cell activity near her chest.
She admitted to feeling devastated about the news, but the doctor’s confidence in the treatment helped, and she underwent another course of chemotherapy.
She was finally declared cancer free in March this year.
“I am forever thankful to God that it wasn’t as bad as I expected. There were days when I couldn’t get out of bed, but that didn’t last long.”
Cancer seems to run in her father’s side of the family, Aliza shares.
“I had a cousin (the same age as me) who was diagnosed with lymphoma when she was about 19 or 20 years old and has since died.
“A couple of years back, another cousin was also diagnosed with lymphoma, but thanks to advances in cancer treatments, she is responding well to treatment and is now back at work.”
The hardest thing for her was facing the rest of the family, especially her widowed mother and eldest sister, who were badly affected by her condition.
In fact, she had to tell them not to cry in front of her.
She also contacted her old boss at AirAsia and asked if she could have her old job back, while being very open about her cancer. In September 2017, she rejoined the company.
She said: “I wanted to do something that I liked and I wanted to enjoy being at work. I think the work culture here was something I really treasure.”
She feels that you need to make comparisons before you realise what you really want.
At her previous workplace, she was a business analyst.
“It was a completely different industry, but it was not as exciting as revenue management.
“When you spend more than eight hours a day at work, it has to be in an environment or company that you enjoy.”
Aliza said that it also helped that in AirAsia, there is a support group within the company for employees who have been diagnosed with cancer.
One of those who offered her advice was the late Anaz Ahmad Tajuddin, AirAsia’s group COO who was himself battling cancer. He passed away in January this year.
AirAsia has a long-term cancer awareness programme, #AirAsiaMAKNA, which was established and driven by AirAsia’s Allstars – employees battling with cancer.
When asked about her plans for the future, Aliza said she wants to lead a healthier lifestyle, and hopes to take up a regular exercise regime soon.