SEREMBAN - Four years ago, she defeated the cancer. Since then, she has been thankful to everyday life until the cancer got her again.

The single mum, Qiu Si Feng promised that for the sake of her two children, she would fight until the end!

47-year-old Qiu found that she had stage three colon cancer in 2006. She successfully defeated the illness following to the administration of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She cherished every single day of the four years after her recovery especially the time spent with her children.

She went for her subsequent consultation and annual check-up at Tunku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban, but, was informed by the doctor on 29 July this year that cancer cells were found again in her blood.

The bad news shocked her but she said she would face the reality courageously and was ready to fight the cancer again as she hoped to see her children grow up and establish their own families.

Not reconciled to cancer

Qiu is currently waiting for the scanning result and will know exactly where the cancer cells are on 26 August.

When talking about her illness, Qiu did not grumbled about her ill fate and those around her could feel her great courage in facing the difficulties.

The strong-willed mother of two was trying very hard to contain her tears during an interview with Sin Chew Daily. She stressed repeatedly that she would not be reconciled to her illness and believed she would overcome it again.

She admitted that after she was told of her illness four years ago, she and her children received a cold shoulder from other people, but she strived to put up with the hardships then.

Always be with mom

Qiu’s 16-year-old son, Gao Yong Sheng told Sin Chew Daily that he was very much worried about the health of his mother. However he chose to face the reality and said he would always be by his mother's side in her battle against the cancer.

He added that he had thought of getting a job to reduce the burden of his mother, but his mother hoped he could concentrate on his studies and prevented him from going to work.

Gao's father was killed in an accident while plucking stinky beans 13 years ago when he and his elder sister were only three and five years old respectively.

Qiu: Every day is a day of thanksgiving

Qiu admitted that she would not be contented if she could not live to see her children grow up and set up their own families in the future.

Her daughter graduated from Form Five last year and has started working to support the family as Qiu could not afford to finance her further studies. Qiu lost her job four years ago and has been depending on RM200 from the welfare department each month to mete out living. Her son is now in Form Four.

Thankful for the generous donations she has received from the public over the past four years, Qiu she has been spending the money very prudently.

She said she was thankful for every single day she is alive and all she hopes now is to see that her children could have a peaceful life. She promised she would repay the society by taking up voluntary works is she recovered from her illness.

A fund-raising event

Nilai municipal councillor Chong Wei Xing and members of Seremban Da Di Singing Training Fans Club visited Qiu on 14 August after learning of the bad news. They decided to organise a karaoke contest to raise funds for her.

One of the members, Li Chang Er said the fans club was originally set up to help those in need people through organising singing contests.

She encouraged all cancer patients including Qiu to live joyfully and battle their illnesses with their willpower, adding that all outsiders could do was to offer them some moral and material assistance.