Chef Wan puts on a brave front after mum's cancer diagnosis


The celebrity chef shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram on Oct 1. Photo: Chef Wan/Instagram

Chef Wan has always offered an unfiltered look into his daily life with his mum Noraini Abdullah, or as he affectionately calls her, Cik Ani - whether in good times, dancing exuberantly with their relatives in their living room, or bad, sharing about the realities of caring for someone who has dementia.

On Oct 1, the celebrity chef took to Instagram with some heartbreaking update about Cik Ani, 88.

"I was at Gleneagles hospital yesterday to take my mother for her mammogram test (an X-ray of the breast) to detect and diagnose her breast cancer," the 62-year-old wrote.

"I was shocked that the doctor had discovered two huge lumps and they have spread to even her lymph nodes!"

Chef Wan shares it all began a few days ago when he helped to shower his mum.

"When I showered her daily, a few times when I rub the soap, she said 'be gentle as it's painful.' As days went by, I wanted to find out if that pain was actually the lump.

"So I asked my mother to lie down and with my three fingers, I tried to locate the lump. As I pushed my finger deeper, I began to feel this huge circle of hard tissue or meat."

Cik Ani will undergo more tests to determine whether the cancer has spread to other areas of her body.

The chef also spoke about the next steps of his mum's cancer journey: "Considering her age and the size of the tumour (is) so big, we can't have her do chemotheraphy or a surgery.

"To do biopsy (is) no point as well as it will be very painful for her and the tumour has already grown so big. What we can do is to give her medication to try and shrink the tumour."

Chef Wan says he was in distraught when he heard the news and he couldn't sleep all night, but is determined to put on a brave front.

"Although I am sad for my mother and my family, I really must be strong to accept this huge challenge and face it to the end.

"Most importantly, I will care and nurse my mother the best I can afford to do. Shower her with lots of love, comfort her till her last breath."

Morning..I was at Gleneagle hospital yesterday to take my mother for her Memmogram test ( its X ray of the breast) to detect and diagnose her breast Cancer. I was shocked that the Dr had discovered 2 huge lump and they have spread to even her Lymph Nodes! When i showered her daily a few times when i rub the soap she said be gentle as its painful. As days gone by i wanted to find out if that pain was actually the lump. So i asked my mother to lie down with my 3 fingers i try to locate the lump. As i pushes my finger deeper i begin to feel this huge circle of hard tissue or meat. I was so surprised. Although i am not a Dr but i read before alot of article on Breast Cancer as sometime i was invited for all this Cancer week Negara all over Malaysia to do a cooking demo and knew what it was. The next day inmediately i took my mother to see the Dr. My heart just sink hearing that as always u here this from your from all your friends, their mom, in the movie and now its mother turn. So the Dr want me to come back on Monday to have her CT Scan to see how much the cancer has spread to her other part of the body if it does happen. How ever the Dr did say it is very bad Chef Wan. Considering her age and the size of the tumor so big we cant have her do chemotheraphy or a surgery. To do biopsy no point as well as it will be very painful for her and the tumour has already grown so big. What we can do is to give her medication to try and shrink the tumour. Anyway this Monday after the CT scan...blood test which i will try to bring her tomorrow will help us to understand more. Although i am sad for my mother and my family but i really must be strong to accept this huge challenge and face it to the end. Most important i will care and nurse my mother the best i can afford to do. Shower her with lots of love, comfort till her last breath. May Allah give me the strength to face all this sad moment in my life. I am so thankful that Allah has blessed upon me to look after emak this long. She need to leave us eventually. In 2 weeks time she will be celebrating her 89 yrs birthday. Jika menurut chinese she already 90 yrs old. 9 bulan dlm perut tu. I didnt sleep all nite A post shared by chef wan (@_chefwan58) on Sep 30, 2020 at 6:06pm PDT

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