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Grappling with breast cancer, chemotherapy and treatment in a foreign country, Ms Marcella Pesce found unexpected strength in her loved ones — and herself.

AN AVID SPORTSWOMAN AND TRIATHLETE WITH A PACKED SOCIAL CALENDAR, Ms Marcella Pesce, 53, never imagined she would one day find herself bedridden, enduring the relentless fatigue brought on by chemotherapy for breast cancer. “The impact was mental, not physical, because I didn’t have a life anymore,” she shared. “I felt like a prisoner. I am an active person, but I was asking myself, am I really me?”

Her diary entries from that period offer a glimpse into her emotional struggle: “Everything is still. Life outside the room arrives muffled, distant, while your body initially tries to fight, but then can only surrender. I watch it go by lying on the bed, incapable of any movement. I wish to collapse into comforting sleep, but even that is not granted.”

A Shocking Diagnosis

In 2019, Marcella relocated to Singapore with her husband and their four sons. Adjusting quickly, she formed a warm circle of friends who helped the family navigate a new city and culture. Life was busy and fulfilling — until August 2023, when a mammogram revealed ominous results.

Despite receiving a clear scan earlier that May, she returned for another check-up after noticing bumpy nodules during a self-examination. That same day, an oncologist delivered shocking news: three breast lesions — two small and one large — were detected and necessitated a biopsy.

The gravity of the situation became clear when the doctor urged her to receive her biopsy results as soon as possible to schedule further scans and tests. Marcella, who was set to fly to Italy for a 10-day visit, reluctantly agreed. She had initially hoped to wait until she returned to Singbreakingapore to hear the news.

“I arrived in Italy at 6am on a Wednesday. When I turned my phone back on, the email with my breast cancer diagnosis arrived,” said Marcella. “This was probably the worst moment in my life. I started crying at the airport and called my husband, who was in Tokyo for work. It was very difficult — my first reaction was I just wanted to go home to my family in Singapore.”

Compassionate Care and Tough Decisions

Breaking the news to her third and fourth sons, aged eight and 13, was one of the most difficult moments. Her two older sons were studying abroad, so she and her husband sat down with the younger boys to explain the situation. “The first thing my 13-year-old said was 'People die from cancer,” she recounted, tearing up at the memory. “I reassured him, 'Mummy will not die.'”

Though she felt guilty about the emotional toll her diagnosis had on her sons, a friend offered a comforting perspective: “Despite the tragedy of the situation, I was giving my children a gift. I was showing them that a serious illness can be part of life, and with courage and determination, it can be overcome,” Marcella shared.

In December 2023, Marcella underwent a full mastectomy, as the lesions were not located near each other and partial removal wouldn't suffice. It was also during this time that a sentinel node biopsy revealed that one of her lymph nodes had been compromised by cancer cells. This meant her cancer was Stage 2, not Stage 1 as initially diagnosed. As a result, her treatment plan now required preventive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and her breast reconstruction would have to be postponed.

Pragmatic by nature, Marcella remained determined. She insisted on following through with a long-planned family holiday to New Zealand with all four of her sons after the surgery. Upon her return, she would then complete the recommended eight cycles of chemotherapy in four months instead of six, followed by 15 days of radiotherapy.

“It was January 2024. I told the doctor I don't have the time to do six months of chemotherapy because, in summer, I want to bring my kids back to Italy for a visit. From a medical point of view, the shorter time is better, but it can be tough on the patient,” Marcella said.

After the first two rounds, the side effects accumulated and became overwhelming. “Starting from the third round onwards, I had only three days in two weeks when I could get up for around two minutes — otherwise, I was lying in bed,” she said.

Support From Loved Ones

Marcella's husband and friends took turns accompanying her during chemotherapy sessions, ensuring she was never alone.

Her husband, whom she affectionately calls her “guardian angel,” was her greatest pillar of strength throughout the cancer journey. “He was my shoulder to cry on during the darkest periods, my eyes when I didn't have the strength to look at my body after the operation, my ears when my clouded mind prevented me from understanding everything the doctors said, and my nurse when he gave me white blood cell injections,” she said.

To lift her spirits, he brought home an unexpected companion: Paco, a Maltipoo puppy who became her source of comfort on the toughest days. “Paco and I spent so much time together during my chemo that today, he is my shadow everywhere I go,” she said with a smile.

When Marcella's self-image was deeply shaken by the physical changes from her mastectomy and chemotherapy — losing her hair and shaving it off entirely — a friend from India introduced her to meditation. This practice shifted her perspective, encouraging her to express gratitude for her body's resilience. “I learnt to love my body for what it is. I thanked it every day for not developing chemotherapy intolerance, for not catching influenza or infections despite my decimated white blood cells, and for enduring suffering.”

She and her husband also sought guidance from a PCC counsellor, who provided valuable mental health support to both patient and caregiver during the difficult period.

Upon completing her treatment — a milestone she marked with a joyful beach party surrounded by friends and family — Marcella was eager to reclaim her active lifestyle. She participated in a triathlon in Batam last year alongside her husband.

Marcella's experience with cancer has also inspired her to give back. She has fundraised for the Breast Cancer Foundation and applied to join PCC's volunteer programme. Her motivation stems from witnessing many breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy alone, without the family and friends she was fortunate to have by her side.

Reflecting on her cancer journey, Marcella has found the answer to a question that lingered during the toughest days of her post-surgery chemotherapy: “Am I still myself? Yes. The light inside me has never gone out, and it continues to shine. I may be away from my country and my family members in Italy, but I found a lot of love around me and never felt alone.”

“Despite the tragedy of the situation, I was giving my children a gift. I was showing them that a serious illness can be part of life, and with courage and determination, it can be overcome.”