Melisa Chew Hui Yuan obtained 10As in the 2018 SPM examinations despite being diagnosed with cancer. Bernama Photo
LANGKAWI: Her decision to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination a year later after being diagnosed with cancer in 2017 was well worth it when Melisa Chew Hui Yuan obtained 10As in the 2018 SPM result announced last month.
Former student of the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kelibang, Chew said she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in May 2017 and was advised by the doctor against sitting for the SPM exam in that year.
“I was diagnosed with stage one ovarian cancer in May 2017, and after undergoing surgery to remove the tumour I thought I would be able to continue schooling and sat for my SPM that year.
“But the doctor advised against resuming my study and to focus on chemotherapy treatment instead, to clear out cancerous cells that couldn’t be eliminated through surgery,” she said when met after the Langkawi Student Excellence Award 2018 here last night.
Chew was among 90 students in Langkawi who excelled in public examinations, namely, the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), the Form 3 Assessment (PT3), SPM and the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), feted at the special event.
Chew who underwent four cycles of chemotherapy treatment was grateful for her decision after obtaining 10As in the 2018 SPM.
“I still remember the words of the doctor who said that if I continued to sit for SPM then and delayed the chemotherapy treatment even for a few months, there’s a possibility that the cancer might return.
“The doctor has given me a very good advice and it really motivated me, as well as my parents and teachers who helped me achieve this excellent result,” said the youngest of four siblings. – Bernama