Salamiah Hassan’s journey through cancer is proof that strength begins in the mind
Her cancer journey began with a small lump under her armpit that grew to the size of a golf ball.
NUR ADNIN MAHALIM
When she first found the lump, it felt like the end. Decades later, at 74, she is still standing strong and that proof that courage, grit and the power of the mind can carry you further than fear ever could.
At the Nivea Moments of Care campaign launch, stories were not just shared but they were lived, raw and unfiltered.
One of the most powerful came from Salamiah Hassan, a breast cancer survivor who has carried her fight with quiet strength for 34 years.
“I had breast cancer in my early 40s and now I’m 74. That’s 34 years of survivorship.
“I’m a private person. I didn’t tell my siblings or my children at first. I couldn’t bear people crying in front of me.
“It brought me down. I went for chemo alone, threw up alone, went to the toilet alone, until my daughter found out. She noticed my hair loss. Now I’m sharing my story because I’m better,” she said with a calm smile.
Her cancer journey began with a small lump under her armpit that grew to the size of a golf ball.
“My arm felt numb, I had fevers and felt tired every evening. I went online and searched ‘signs of cancer.’
“I realised something was seriously wrong and went to the doctor. It was stage one. I’m lucky to be here now, talking. I’ve lost many friends to cancer, but I’ve stayed positive,” she shared.
Facing the “Big C” head-on
For Salamiah, bravery is not optional. It is essential.
“When you’re faced with something serious, you can’t run from it. You have to meet it head-on.
“Here’s my view and you shouldn’t be afraid. If you have to face something in this world, you face it. If you have to go, you go.
But you don’t go without fighting. Courage is important in life. If you love your loved ones, never give up. Just go for it,” she said firmly.
Her advice is as much about mindset as medicine.
“I want to talk about how to fight this ‘big C. It’s not just about the medication. It's also your mind. You have to be strong. You have to fight,” she said.
She also addressed that when you visit friends who have cancer, you encourage them: ‘You can fight this. You can do it.’
“The mind is powerful. Your mind controls your body. If you say you can do it, you can,” she advised.
Even at her lowest, Salamiah found the willpower to carry on.
“Even when I was sick, I performed. Even with a fever, I sang. Because your mind controls your body. Trust me,” she said.
A message beyond skincare
Her hope is that platforms like Nivea Moments of Care will keep pushing women to prioritise their health.
“I hope Nivea will help my friends out there who aren’t well. We have to encourage them to go for their medical check-ups at least once a year.
“Don’t be afraid to go for your mammogram or Pap smear. I pray that one day we’ll have a true cure for cancer, so everyone can be healthy and this disease can disappear,” she stated.
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