OncoCare
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At 36 years old, Konstanze looks back on a journey she never imagined she would have to face. At just 31 years old, Konstanze was living the life she had always dreamed of. She was healthy, happy, and preparing to welcome her first child. Pregnancy brought her immense joy and anticipation, until everything changed at 20 weeks. A routine check-up revealed she had adrenal cancer, a rare and aggressive disease that few expectant mothers ever imagine facing.
Under the care of Dr Thomas Soh, Senior Medical Oncologist at OncoCare Cancer Centre, she began her treatment journey while carrying her baby. Throughout this time, Konstanze found strength in the love of her family and the support of her community. Her children became her motivation to keep going, reminding her every day of the life she was fighting for. Though there were moments of fear, she refused to let cancer define her story.
What is Adrenal Cancer?
Adrenal cancer starts in the adrenal glands, two small organs that sit on top of the kidneys. These glands may be small, but they are crucial because they produce hormones that regulate functions such as metabolism, blood pressure, and the body's response to stress.
The challenge with adrenal cancer is that it often develops quietly, without clear symptoms. This means it is usually found only after it has already advanced. For Konstanze, who was in the middle of her pregnancy, the diagnosis was not only shocking but especially difficult to bear during what should have been one of her happiest moments.
Her son was born prematurely, and while most new mothers long for uninterrupted bonding time with their newborns, Konstanze was thrust into a different reality. She was not only a new mother, but she was also a cancer patient.
Not long after giving birth, she underwent surgery to remove the tumour from her adrenal gland. But just a few months later, the cancer came back. The treatments that followed left her body weak.
“It was very hard,” she recalls. “I wanted to take care of my baby, but I was so weak and tired. I couldn’t even move the way I wished I could.”
There were days when even the simplest tasks felt impossible. She often lay in bed with her body heavy and unresponsive. The physical toll of treatment meant she could not care for her baby the way she longed to. It was an emotional weight that sometimes felt just as heavy as the illness itself.
In the darkest moments, when exhaustion overwhelmed her, it was her family who anchored her. Her husband became her unwavering supporter, and the sight of her newborn gave her a reason to keep fighting.
“You can reach dark places in your head and think it’s not worth fighting for yourself,” she admits. “But I had a baby who needed me, and a husband who didn’t want to live without me. I had no choice, I had to do the treatment.”
“If it were just me, I don’t know if I would have had the strength. But I had them, and that gave me a reason to keep going,” she shares.
Her journey became more than just a medical battle. It was a fight for the chance to be present, to be with her family, and to embrace life beyond illness.
Determined to get well, Konstanze braced herself for one of the toughest journeys of her life. She underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy, each one draining her energy but fueling her determination. When the cancer spread to her kidney, surgery became unavoidable. Towards the end, her kidney had to be removed as it was affected by a tumour. After that came immunotherapy, which was another step on the long path toward healing.
The emotional strain of being apart from her baby and the constant fear of the unknown were the challenges for Ms Konstanze. But through it all, she held on to hope, believing that her fight would give her child the gift of a mother’s love.
Today, Konstanze lives her life with newfound intention. Every moment with her son feels like a gift from his first laugh to his first steps, milestones she once feared she might not be well enough to witness. She cherishes the ordinary days as much as the extraordinary ones, knowing that survival has given her the chance to be fully present.
“What kept me going during the treatment was when my child reached milestones like starting to walk and later going to school,” she reflects.
Her journey is a reminder that resilience often grows from love, and that even in the most difficult battles, the will to be there for the people we cherish can become the strongest medicine of all.
Konstanze’s story is not just about illness, but about finding strength in motherhood and learning to treasure every moment.
Her ordeal reshaped her outlook on life. “Time with your baby is precious. That’s what truly matters,” she emphasizes.
Her advice to others facing cancer is heartfelt and practical:
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Our heartfelt thanks to Konstanze for generously sharing her journey with us.
Your courage and openness are deeply inspiring, offering hope and strength to others facing similar challenges. We are honoured to share your story.
— With appreciation, The OncoCare Team
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Watch Konstanze's video here.
If you’re a patient who feels ready to share your experience, we would be honored to hear from you. Your story could bring comfort and hope to others who need it. To reach out, please email us at media@oncocare.sg.
