Doctor who survived childhood leukemia now treats cancer patients

Dr Jason Chng of Singapore General Hospital is now a resident physician after battling high-risk leukemia at age seven.

In 2011, as a teenager, he told his mother he wanted to become a doctor, a dream she initially feared due to the profession’s demands. He was diagnosed with leukemia after experiencing easy bruising and chest discomfort, receiving a grim 50 percent chance of survival.

Dr Chng underwent chemotherapy, bone marrow tests, and surgeries, recalling the discomfort of treatments like intrathecal injections and a Port-a-Cath device. His mother, Teo Wei Wei, described the emotional toll on the family, including feelings of guilt and worry that her own lifestyle may have contributed to his illness. Despite the arduous treatment, Dr Chng maintained his curiosity and interest in science, aided by support from organizations like the Children's Cancer Foundation and Make-A-Wish Singapore.

He returned to school in Primary 3, where classmates supported his reintegration, and continued his studies, eventually interning at the National University Hospital with the doctor who had treated him as a child. Now, as an anatomical pathologist, Dr Chng analyzes tissues to aid in cancer diagnoses, drawing on his personal experience to better understand and empathize with his patients and their families. He and his wife are now parents, and he hopes to inspire others facing similar battles.