Lung cancer patient conquers Mount Kinabalu

In early 2021, 33-year-old Elden developed a nagging cough that was triggered when he spoke. Confused by the symptoms, the software engineer consulted a general practitioner (GP) who diagnosed it as a harmless cough.

When the cough persisted despite taking medication, Elden consulted the same GP several times, before an X-ray was recommended to get to the root of the issue. A shadow was found on his left lung and he was referred to hospital for further investigations including a biopsy.  

“This was in May 2021,” the father of one shared. “My firstborn child was about a year old then.” 

As his wife had to work and care for their baby, Elden went alone to receive the results of his lung biopsy test.

Hearing the words “stage three lung cancer” from the doctor did not come as a surprise to Elden. In the three weeks leading up to the appointment, he had prepared himself mentally and emotionally for the worst. 

“In fact, hearing the diagnosis was sort of a relief.  Although it was bad news, I no longer had anxiety about the unknown, I finally knew what was wrong.” 

Back home, Elden’s wife was distraught because of the diagnosis but the couple decided not to dwell on it and focused instead on next steps. Elden started cancer treatment immediately and underwent five cycles of chemotherapy and 28 cycles of radiation therapy over five months.  

He took a break from work to cope with the treatment and its side effects, and spent a lot of time in bed, resting, due to extreme fatigue. When he could, he would take slow walks around the park accompanied by his wife. To help the young family during this stressful period, his mother-in-law came from Malaysia to stay and help care for the couple’s young son. 

 

In October 2021, Elden completed treatment and scans showed that the tumour in his lung had shrunk significantly. 

However, one month later, the tumour had grown larger than its original size, and there were signs that the cancer had spread to the lining in his left lung. 

“It was devastating, but we continued to cling to hope and kept fighting,” Elden said of his cancer progression in late 2021.

“In a strange way, cancer made our marriage stronger as we encourage each other and put our wedding vows into 

practice.”

Elden was put on a new course of treatment – targeted therapy – to tackle the cancer. It was effective and he started getting better. As he slowly regained physical strength and his mood improved, he started thinking about dreams he would like to fulfill. Recalling an inspirational story of a late-stage lung cancer patient who climbed Mount Everest, Elden decided he wanted to embark on a climbing expedition. For the next one month, he trained to improve his physical fitness. 

 

“I thought to myself: ‘I grew up in Sabah and it’d be a shame if I did not attempt to conquer the famous mountain there in my lifetime.’”

In June 2022, Elden embarked on a grueling 19-hour ascent and descent from Mount Kinabalu. His brother and wife, who had also trained for the expedition, accompanied him to fulfil his dream. 

 

(Credit: Elden Yee)

Through the rough terrain and challenging altitude, Elden persevered. The trio had planned to reach the peak but made the decision stop 30 metres shy of Mount Kinabalu’s summit when Elden felt that he had reached his physical limit.

 

“Even with all the preparation climbing that mountain was no easy task,” Elden recounted.

“It was an amazing experience and though we didn’t reach the pinnacle, I’m so glad I achieved my wish.” 

Elden is now on oral medication for his cancer and a scan in June 2022 showed that the cancer that had spread to the lining of his left lung is absent. He is living a normal active life and has returned to work this year. With his success from Mount Kinabalu, he is now planning a four-day hike to the summit of another mountain – Mount Rinjani in Indonesia!