Just 25, and she has beaten cancer twice

Cancer survivor Jia Rui is an avid anime fan who enjoys cosplaying (Credit: Sim Jia Rui) 

Soft-spoken Ms Sim Jia Rui cuts a reserved figure but mention her passions, anime or food, and her eyes light up as she excitedly talks about anime festivals, dressing up as her favourite characters or trying out new cafés with friends. It is hard to imagine that just a few years ago, the young, vibrant 25-year-old spent months confined at home recovering from cancer treatment.        

Too young to have cancer

Aged 18 and busy with school and life, cancer was the last thing on Jia Rui's mind (Credit: Sim Jia Rui) 

In July 2019, then 18-year-old Jia Rui began experiencing a persistent fever, cough, chest pain and rashes. She thought it was a stubborn flu at first, but when the symptoms did not go away, she visited a polyclinic and was referred to a hospital for further investigations. A PET scan and biopsy confirmed she had lymphoma.

The diagnosis came as a rude shock. Jia Rui was in her final year at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College East and never imagined she would be diagnosed with cancer.

"I thought I was too young to have cancer! I was also upset that I would not be able to complete my studies and graduate with my friends.”

Unlike her peers, who were busy with school and could make plans for their lives after graduation, Jia Rui had to put her studies on hold. Instead of school, she spent time navigating hospital visits, scans, cancer treatments and an uncertain future.

She underwent six cycles of chemotherapy and 30 sessions of radiation therapy at the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and experienced side effects such as nausea, insomnia, hair loss and fatigue.

Having to face cancer not once but twice

In December 2019, Jia Rui completed treatment, and her cancer was in remission. She returned to school and resumed the activities she loved, including singing in the school choir.

Barely a year later, in July 2020, she once again had persistent fever. Scans and a biopsy revealed another tumour in her left chest, and showed that the cancer had spread to the liver. The lymph nodes in her neck had also become swollen, causing her voice to be hoarse due to the pressure on her voice box.

The effect on her voice was hard for Jia Rui to deal with as it meant she had to give up her place in an overseas choir competition. She was devastated.  

"Sometimes, it still makes me sad that I can no longer sing the way I used to," she admitted.

A new hope: CAR T-Cell Therapy

After her relapse, Jia Rui underwent four cycles of chemotherapy, but scans showed that the cancer was not responding well to treatment. Her oncologist shared that she could enrol in a CAR T-cell therapy clinical trial — a form of immunotherapy that modifies a patient's own immune cells to recognise and attack cancer cells.

Hopeful that this new treatment would work, Jia Rui and her family decided she should try it. In January 2021, Jia Rui underwent a procedure to collect T cells from her body, which took a few hours. A few days later, she underwent an infusion of the CAR T-cell therapy, which took 30 minutes under general anaesthesia.

After the infusion, Jia Rui stayed at home and avoided sun exposure for 100 days as her immunity was weakened. During this period, her father cooked nutritious meals for her to aid recovery, but at times her appetite was so poor that she could only manage a few mouthfuls.

Her mother and younger sister kept her company to lift her spirits and watched TV shows together. Her friends visited and they would watch movies, play video games or call to check on her, sharing updates on what was happening in school.

To pass the time, Jia Rui watched anime, played mobile games and sold customised anime figurines. She even picked up conversational Japanese and Korean from watching TV shows!

After the CAR T-cell infusion, the cancer cells decreased significantly. In February 2021, her cancer went into remission.

Life after cancer

Jia Rui, a part-time barista at Changi Business Park, was recently promoted to a leadership role where she trains junior staff. (Credit: Sim Jia Rui) 

Jia Rui graduated from ITE College East in 2022 and now works part-time as a barista at Changi Business Park, where she was recently promoted to a leadership role that includes training junior staff. In April 2026, she started volunteering as a peer-support counsellor at her former secondary school. She shares her cancer journey with the students and demonstrates coffee-making techniques to those interested in pursuing a career in the food and beverage industry.

Although she looks well physically, Jia Rui still feels fatigue due to fluctuating blood counts – a long-term side effect of the CAR T-cell therapy. She also needs regular medication and injections to boost her red blood cell levels, which sometimes cause nausea and dizziness. It was initially difficult for her boyfriend to understand this but over time, the couple has learned to adjust and now spend more time at home watching movies or gaming instead of going on long outings. Jia Rui has also learned to listen to her body and pace herself. When she has the energy, Jia Rui enjoys attending anime festivals, cosplaying, café hopping, swimming and travelling with her family to Malaysia.

Jia Rui on a family trip to Penang after completing treatment in 2021 (Credit: Sim Jia Rui) 

Jia Rui wants to share her story to encourage others facing similar challenges. For her, survivorship is not just about being cancer-free, but about reclaiming life and finding joy in simple moments like having a good meal with friends and family or watching her favourite anime and dramas.