Unity in Care: When the Caregiver Needs Care Too
Every Merdeka, we celebrate the strength that comes from standing together.
Across Malaysia, our communities may look different, speak different languages and live thousands of kilometres apart. Yet, the spirit of independence reminds us that we are stronger when we look out for one another, especially when someone is facing a difficult journey.
In Tawau, Anita Jamaluddin, Community Navigator at the Pink Ribbon Centre (PRC), Hospital Tawau, sees this spirit every day.
Anita, in front of Hospital Tawau, supporting women through their breast cancer journey with care, guidance and compassion.
Many of the women she supports are housewives. Their lives revolve around their families, caring for their children, looking after elderly parents and keeping their households running.
So when breast cancer enters their lives, their first question is often not, “What will happen to me?”
It is:
“Who will take care of my family?”
The women who put everyone else first
For many of Anita’s patients, caring for others has always come naturally.
A breast cancer diagnosis can suddenly make them question how their families will cope if they need to step away from their usual responsibilities.
“Who will take care of my children? Who will look after my elderly parents? Who will manage the household while I’m receiving treatment?”
These worries can come before they even think about their own health.
That is why Anita believes that sometimes, the first step in supporting a patient is simply listening.
Not judging.
Not rushing.
Just listening.
Anita with the Head of Department (HOD) of General Surgery and PRC Medical Team at Pink Ribbon Centre, working together to support women with accessible and compassionate breast cancer care.
Before a woman can make decisions about her treatment, she may first need someone to understand the concerns weighing on her heart.
“Sometimes, having someone who takes the time to listen, provide reassurance, and help them find practical solutions gives them the confidence to move forward with treatment,” Anita explains.
For these women, that support can be the difference between feeling overwhelmed and finding the courage to take the next step.
Bridging the distance to care
In Sabah, accessing cancer care can come with its own challenges.
Some women have to travel long distances. Others may struggle to find the information they need or understand what is expected of them throughout treatment.
This is where Anita steps in.
“As a Community Navigator, my role is to bridge the gap between patients and the healthcare system.”
She helps coordinate appointments, explains the treatment process in a way patients can understand, connects them with available support services and remains a consistent point of contact throughout their journey.
Her role may not remove every obstacle, but it can make the road ahead feel less daunting.
Because sometimes, knowing who to call, what to ask or where to turn can give a woman the confidence to keep going.
“I want every patient to know that someone is walking beside her and helping her navigate the path ahead.”
Where you live should never define the care you receive
Malaysia’s diversity stretches from one end of the country to another.
Our communities may be separated by distance, shaped by different cultures and connected by different traditions. But Anita believes that one thing should remain constant:
Where a woman lives should never determine the quality of support she receives.
That belief connects Anita with Community Navigators across Malaysia.
Their shared mission is to empower women with knowledge, guide them through treatment and remind them that they are never alone.
Together, they are helping build a stronger support system for women, one that reaches beyond hospital walls and into the communities where women live, work and care for their families.
Anita with the surgical team during a breast screening programme at Kampung Pasir Putih, Tawau, bringing breast cancer awareness and early detection closer to the community.
“You don’t have to carry this burden alone.”
For Anita, one of the most important messages she can give a woman facing breast cancer is also one of the simplest:
Speak up.
If something is preventing you from starting or continuing treatment, tell someone.
It could be financial worries.
It could be transportation.
It could be childcare.
It could be family responsibilities.
Or it could simply be fear.
“Please don’t keep them to yourself. Share them with your navigator,” Anita says.
She knows that not every problem can be solved immediately. But asking for help creates the possibility of finding a way forward.
“We may not be able to solve every problem immediately, but we will do our best to connect you with the right support and resources.”
For women who have spent years putting everyone else first, asking for help can itself be an act of courage.
And Anita wants them to know that they deserve that support.
“You don’t have to carry this burden alone. We will walk alongside you, every step of the way, throughout your breast cancer journey.”
A shared commitment to care
This Merdeka, as we celebrate the courage and unity that continue to shape Malaysia, we also honour the women who face breast cancer with extraordinary strength and the people who quietly walk beside them.
We honour the Community Outreach team, whose dedication brings care, guidance and support closer to the communities that need it.
We honour the nurses and Community Navigators who listen when patients are afraid, help when the path feels uncertain and stand beside women when they need courage to take the next step.
And we honour the Pink Ribbon Centre and Cancer Research Malaysia (CRMY) for continuing to champion equitable and compassionate breast cancer support, ensuring that women are not left to navigate their journey alone.
This work would not be possible without the generosity and trust of CRMY’s donors, sponsors, partners, supporters and well-wishers. Their continued commitment helps sustain the work of the Community Outreach team and enables support to reach women and families across Malaysia.
Because care does not end at the hospital door.
It continues in every conversation, every helping hand and every person who chooses to walk alongside someone in need.
This Merdeka, we celebrate that spirit of togetherness, the courage to ask for help, the strength to offer it, and the belief that no woman should have to face breast cancer alone.