Rebecca Oh Helps Young Cancer Patients After Her Own Cancer Journey

Rebecca Oh was about to have an embryo implanted when her doctor found a small polyp in her uterus. It was removed for a biopsy.

A nurse called her to come to the clinic urgently. Oh and her husband thought something was wrong with the embryos. But she had Stage One endometrial cancer.

Oh said, 'Cancer came like a wrecking ball.' She was 32 then. 'We went from comfortable to chaos.'

Oh's doctors suggested fertility-sparing treatment to control the cancer and preserve her chance of pregnancy.

Oh had two years of medication, scans, and procedures. She had side effects like sleeplessness and gained 25kg. She kept working, first full-time, then part-time.

Doctors told her the treatment was not working. She needed a radical hysterectomy to remove her uterus, cervix, and surrounding tissues.

Oh felt devastated and relieved. The treatment was taking a heavy toll, so part of her felt relieved it would end.

The surgery meant she could not get pregnant. It was a painful reality.

During surgery, doctors found the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. Oh had Stage 3C1 endometrial cancer and needed more treatment.

Oh said, 'The news that it spread hit me harder than the diagnosis.' It felt like the lowest point.

Oh had weekly treatments with nausea, constipation, and fatigue. Radiation was very hard, but finishing it made her feel like a champion.

Oh finished active treatment in 2023 and targeted therapy in 2025. She still experiences severe cancer-related fatigue.

To manage her fatigue, Oh plans her schedule carefully and prioritizes sleep and nutrition. She also walks and meditates.

The most unexpected strain of Oh's treatment was not the treatment itself.

Oh said, 'During treatment, life was structured. After treatment, you're on your own.' There is no guidebook for what comes next.

Oh managed not only her cancer but also everyone else's feelings about it. Her family and friends did not understand.

Oh's younger brother became a pillar of stability for her and her parents.

Oh was proud of her brother, who even wrote a long text to her husband to take care of her.

Oh told everyone else she was okay because she did not want to traumatize them.

During chemotherapy, Oh found comfort in watering her plants. It was her one steady commitment.

No matter how tired she was, Oh got up to water her plants.

Oh said, 'I'm glad my plants stayed alive. It was the only consistent thing in my life then.'

Cancer is often seen as an older person's disease. But for younger adults, a diagnosis can be very disrupting.

Oh found that cancer support groups in Singapore were designed for older patients.

Oh was often mistaken for a volunteer or facilitator. Other patients asked her how she got cancer so young.

Conversations were more about advice than connection. Oh was the only one willing to discuss intimacy.

Oh said, 'I was there for my own processing, not to have people explain my situation.'

Oh found comfort in a US-based Facebook group for young women with endometrial cancer.

The group was like a bible for Oh. She joined their Zoom calls at 4am.

Oh started Strong Olive to help younger cancer patients. She saw a gap in support for this community.

Oh said, 'With a dad as an entrepreneur, I couldn't sit back when I saw a gap.'

Oh started Strong Olive in 2023 with an Instagram account. She spent 2024 trying to convince hospitals and charities to support her.

Oh's funding applications were rejected because the patient group was too small.

The Singapore Cancer Registry reported 4,995 cancer diagnoses among those under 40 between 2019 and 2023.

Oh said, 'Cancer in younger patients is not smaller-scale cancer.'

When you're younger and diagnosed, you have many years ahead and a higher risk of a second cancer.

The fear of relapse is a big concern for younger patients. Body image is also a concern.

One community member cried while packing away her old wardrobe after weight gain from treatment.

Career questions are also a concern. A member returned to work to find her peers promoted and her project handed to someone else.

Other fears include not being able to work or date after treatment.

Oh kept making her case until someone paid attention. 365 Cancer Prevention Society agreed to collaborate.

Strong Olive was launched on March 12, 2026, as a dedicated initiative for cancer patients aged 18 to 45.

365 Cancer Prevention Society provides operational infrastructure for Strong Olive. Oh works full-time at Strong Olive.

Oh named the initiative after the olive tree, which grows slowly and bears fruit in harsh conditions.

The community has more than 160 members. Oh left out the word 'cancer' from the name so members could wear branded merchandise in public.

The initiative provides 'strong olive guides' and services like home visits, counselling, and a rehabilitation programme.

Oh has learned that there are two kinds of younger cancer patients: those who are ready for help and those who are not.

Oh hopes to expand Strong Olive's reach to include caregivers, family members, and employers.

The message Oh carries is the one she wishes someone had told her in 2020.

Oh said, 'Your story didn't end – it just took an unexpected turn. You can still live meaningfully beyond the diagnosis.'

CNA Women is a section on CNA Lifestyle that informs, empowers, and inspires the modern woman.

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