Putting fears into words to help fight breast cancer

Being diagnosed with breast cancer gives rise to fears and feelings that touch on the most basic levels of what it is to be a woman and to be facing a disease that has the potential to prove fatal, says Eliza Fok Ho Yi-wah, who found that out the hard way. She is now trying to help other women facing those same challenges.

In the past year, the Breast Cancer Foundation chairwoman has talked to some 80 breast cancer survivors, and turned their experiences, together with her own, into a book. It has just been published, and tackles questions ranging from treatment methods to how men perceive women who have lost a breast.

Fok is the wife of Hutchison Whampoa managing director Canning Fok Kin-ning, who is billionaire Li Ka-shing's top aide. She was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2003 and made a full recovery after surgery and treatment.

"I thought I had already recovered and was settled within myself. I forced myself to forget about the ordeal," she said. But as time went on she realised she had unfinished business.

In 2010, she took on the job of chairwoman for the foundation because she felt the need to help other sufferers after being the recipient of such help during her own fight with cancer.

Two of those there for her were her predecessor Joanna Choi Leung Yuen-mei, who acted as a mentor during her sickness, and Dr Polly Cheung Suk-yee, the foundation's founder.