Returning to school after a brain tumour diagnosis at eight

A cheery Aifa holds her certificate of completion on the day of her last proton therapy session. (Credit: Mdm Aisyah)

In December 2024, when she returned home after a holiday overseas, seven-year-old Aifa Yusrah Binte Muhammad Aidil started experiencing headaches, double vision, vomiting and fatigue. Her mother, Mdm Siti Nuraisyah Binti Abdullah, 36, thought it might be a viral infection and took her to see a general practitioner. 

However, a month later, when Aifa’s symptoms got worse, Mdm Aisyah took her to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).

Diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of brain tumour

Aifa was diagnosed with pineoblastoma — a rare and aggressive brain tumour that required immediate treatment, including chemotherapy, surgery and proton therapy. (Credit: Mdm Aisyah)

An MRI scan found a 6cm tumour and build-up of fluid in Aifa's brain. She had surgery to drain the fluid, and a sample of the tumour was sent for biopsy. The biopsy results showed that Aifa had pineoblastoma — a rare and aggressive type of brain tumour. The double vision, headaches and nausea she had experienced were caused by the tumour pressing against vital nerves in the brain. Aifa’s parents were devastated by the diagnosis. "We felt like our world had collapsed," recalled Mdm Aisyah. However, both parents knew they had to stay strong for Aifa, and their elder daughter, Auni Yushayrah, who was then 8 years old. 

Aifa needed to begin treatment promptly as pineoblastoma can grow and spread quickly. Her parents decided to put school on hold for a year so that Aifa could focus on treatment and recovery. Mdm Aisyah also decided to take a break from work to care for Aifa during this period. Aifa underwent two sessions of chemotherapy to shrink the tumour before surgery, and had side effects such as a diminished appetite and lethargy. In February 2025, she underwent an eight-hour operation to remove the tumour. 

Finding strength from family and community

As Aifa's immunity was weakened after surgery and during treatment, she had to stay in hospital for more than two months to recover and undergo chemotherapy. 

Aifa shares a close bond with her elder sister Auni, and found it hard to be apart from her during her hospital stay. (Credit: Mdm Aisyah)

For Aifa, the hardest part of her journey was being away from her sister, Auni who she is very close too. So that they wouldn’t miss each other too much, they would have regular video calls, write cards, and fold origami birds to keep their spirits up.

To make sure Aifa didn’t feel lonely, Mdm Aisyah would care for her during the day at KKH, while her father would stay with her at night. During this time, Mdm Aisyah’s mother supported them by looking after Auni and cooking the family’s meals.

Aifa and her family at Hair for Hope 2025, where her father shaved his head in support of children with cancer. (Credit: Mdm Aisyah)

The family also found encouragement from a community that had been a part of their lives even before Aifa's diagnosis. A Hair for Hope supporter for seven years, Aifa's father participated in the July 2025 event and shaved his hair to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer with the whole family cheering him on. For Aifa, who was attending for the first time, seeing the community come together to support children with cancer reminded her that she was not alone.

Fighting cancer with proton therapy

To prevent the tumour from recurring, proton therapy was recommended by Aifa’s radiation oncologist at the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS). Proton therapy is an advanced type of radiation therapy that uses protons to target tumours more precisely, potentially reducing damage to nearby healthy tissues and organs and causing less treatment-related side effects, an important consideration for a young child whose body and brain are still developing.

To prevent the tumour from recurring, Aifa underwent proton therapy - a treatment that precisely targets cancer cells while minimising radiation exposure. (Credit: Mdm Aisyah)

From late March to early May 2025, Aifa received 30 sessions of proton therapy at the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre at NCCS. Aifa's proton therapy treatment was carried out in two phases. In the first phase, which targeted the spine, no immobilisation mask was required but general anaesthesia was needed as each session lasted about one and a half hours. 

In the second phase, an immobilisation mask was made to keep Aifa's head in the correct position to ensure the accuracy of treatment. For Aifa, putting on the mask felt frightening. Before starting treatment, the proton therapy team, together with child life specialists from the Children's Cancer Foundation (CCF), got to know Aifa and chatted with her about her favourite shows and characters to put her at ease. She also found comfort in hugging her favourite dolls and listening to songs from My Little Pony and Gabby's Dollhouse during treatment. When she got comfortable enough, Aifa was able to complete the second phase of her treatment without general anaesthesia. 

Aifa brought her favourite dolls and listened to songs during the proton therapy sessions to feel at ease. (Credit: Mdm Aisyah)

Aifa experienced minimal side effects from proton therapy, which included fatigue and dry, peeling skin around her neck and back. From June to September 2025, she underwent four sessions of chemotherapy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.

Back to school and making new friends

After completing treatment, Aifa was eager to get back to school. From November 2025 to January 2026, Aifa attended the CCF’s Place for Academic Learning and Support (PALS) which provides an infection-controlled environment, holistic curriculum and personalised academic coaching for children with cancer. 

In early February this year, nine-year-old Aifa returned to primary school. After a year away, she was nervous about restarting Primary 2 with a new group of classmates, but her teachers and friends welcomed her back warmly and made sure she never felt left out. During Physical Education (PE), one of her favourite classes, her teacher ensures she is part of the class by giving Aifa the responsibility of keeping score or packing sports equipment when the activity is too strenuous for her.

Aifa has gradually settled back into her school routine. She still gets tired easily and sometimes needs to take short naps between lessons or take schoolwork home to finish it. 

Pursuing a new hobby and dreams

Mdm Aisyah, who has returned to work, is grateful for the support from family, friends and the healthcare team. She wants other parents facing a similar journey to know that they are not alone and encourages them to reach out for help and support when they need it.

Aifa's cancer is now in remission. She continues to attend regular medical follow-ups and undergoes an MRI scan every three months to monitor her condition. 

After completing her treatment, Aifa picked up a new hobby – piano! (Credit: Mdm Aisyah)

Outside of school, Aifa loves drawing, painting, and eating pizza. After completing treatment, she started taking piano lessons, something she really enjoys. When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, she smiles and says, “I want to be a florist or work with animals!”