They’re under 45, fit, and thriving in their careers—until cancer turns their worlds upside down. Eugene Lim, a 44-year-old entrepreneur and marathon runner, brushed off his dark brown urine as dehydration. For two years, the symptoms came and went, with no red flags from doctors. Then, in 2024, his urine turned bright red. A CT scan finally revealed Stage 4 Urothelial Cancer (kidney)—a shock given his healthy lifestyle.
38 year-old Joseph Nair, a freelance photographer, ignored a lump in his armpit until it grew to the size of a tennis ball. Diagnosed with Stage 4 Follicular Lymphoma, he faces an uncertain future. Lee Hwee Ling, 34, developed severe stomach pain on her 30th birthday, leading to a rare appendiceal cancer diagnosis—usually seen in women over 50. The timing was cruel; she was just a month away from her wedding. Suddenly, everything she’d planned for her future was in question.
WATCH MORE Fighting Cancer – On The Red Dot
Part 2:
Part 3:
00:00 Introduction
00:19 Hwee Ling celebrates her 4th year fighting cancer
01:42 Hwee Ling faints at her wedding
02:56 Hwee Ling’s appendiceal cancer
04:31 Joseph’s previous busy life as a photojournalist
06:27 Eugene’s busy life as a marketing director
08:26 Eugene’s marathon running and symptoms
09:40 Joseph finds a lump in his armpit and diagnosis
12:43 Baking goodies for doctors and nurses
13:28 Mum’s reaction to Hwee Ling’s diagnosis
14:19 Hwee Ling’s aspirations for the future
14:49 Hwee Ling ‘s various treatments
16:10 Joseph’s diagnosis of follicular lymphoma
17:15 Joseph’s bad allergy and subsequent hospitalisations
18:15 Joseph’s breakup and loneliness
19:03 Eugene and Sofie’s relationship
20:30 Eugene’s diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma
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About On The Red Dot: CNA’s weekly programme documents the stories of ordinary Singaporeans and celebrates their resilience, identity and sense of belonging.
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