I was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer in December 2013 at the age of 35. A series of unrelated incidents led me to the discovery of my condition. In mid-2013, I suffered from 2 months of blocked hearing in my right ear. Subsequently, I had my enlarged adenoid and tonsils removed and had other procedures done to help alleviate my sleep apnea issue. One month after my surgery, I felt an indescribable pain in my right jaw. The pain was so crippling that I could not eat, talk or sleep properly. An X-ray showed that I have an extraordinarily long styloid process bone which had probably been in contact with a raw nerve, thus resulting in the pain. I did a MRI scan subsequently and thus discovered the tumour. Salivary Gland cancer is very rare. The tumour is usually found on the side of the face near the jaw. However, mine was located in the middle of my neck. I went through 2 long and difficult surgeries to remove the tumour which resulted in a 20 cm scar running from the side of my face to right below my chin. After 33 sessions of radiotherapy, I experienced a total loss of my taste sense, developed more than 10 ulcers in my mouth and throat, a drastic reduction in saliva production and a ruptured eardrum. All these side-effects made eating and sleeping very unbearable. I lost 16 kg in 3 months. There was a period of time when I was afraid to fall asleep as I would get woken up with a very dry and painful mouth. At one point, I was so weak that I had difficulties climbing a flight of stairs. I almost fainted on several occasions while carrying my younger daughter. What kept me going on strong is my young family. I have a loving husband who was there for me every step of the way. He would drive me to the hospital and back over 33 mornings before going to work. He took care of me emotionally and physically and even put up with my bad temper when I was suffering from the side-sffects of the treatment. I have 2 young daughters, aged 5 and 9. I can not envision them living a life without me. I know that I have to stay positive and keep my spirits up to fight the battle and keep cancer at bay if I want to be there for my family for many more years to come. I was blessed with many wonderful friends who showered me with lots of love and concern throughout my cancer journey. My dear cousin, Xuemei, was the dietician who was assigned to look after me during my treatment. My friends, Carol, Gin and Patricia, would appear at my home to bring me nutritious home-cooked food or power food that would help with my condition. Many of my friends came over to visit me to show their love and support in one way or another. The outpouring of love from my family and friends really overwhelmed me and made me realise how blessed I am. I used to get easily affected by what people say or do to me. I often get angry and consumed by stress easily but I am a changed person now. Cancer has not just made me a stronger person, emotionally and physically. It has turned me into a better person. My advice to fellow cancer survivors and patients: Staying positive is the best medicine in combating cancer. Living a stress-free and healthy lifestyle will enable us to build a stronger body to fight what's ahead of us.