Tan made the statement while sharing her personal experiences and motivating cancer survivors at a dissemination and counseling of information on cancer and tumors in Jakarta on Tuesday (November 5), according to her office's statement cited here on Wednesday.
"I belong to a family whose members are cancer survivors. My mother and aunt have been facing cancer. From this experience, I have learned about how vital the support from families and communities for cancer survivors' health and mentality is," Tan remarked.
The deputy emphasized that relatives should become the main source of strength for cancer survivors.
"Those newly diagnosed with cancer tend to experience emotional and mental distress. Therefore, the support from their families is very decisive to the success of their treatment," she emphasized.
Tan, who once served as chairperson of the Indonesian Cancer Foundation (YKI) of Jakarta, observed that newly diagnosed cancer survivors are inclined to suffer a mental breakdown, rendering them hesitant to share their health conditions with others, including families.
"Cancer may strike a person out of the blue. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, he or she tends to not have the courage to speak up, ultimately lowering their will to live," she stated.
Hence, she noted that cancer survivors need a supportive community that provides reliable information and assures them that they are not alone.
Furthermore, the deputy minister drew attention to the importance of both women and men preventing cancers through early detection.
"Cancer early detection is crucial. We can contribute to this cause by spreading information on the importance of cancer prevention and early detection," she concluded.
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Translator: Anita P, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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