Dr. Anne Tan Kendrick, a 62-year-old radiologist in Singapore, discovered she had advanced ovarian cancer after performing a self-administered ultrasound in November 2018. She saw large tumors on her pelvis.
"My world fell apart," she said. She immediately knew her life would change.
Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer because its symptoms-bloating, constipation, leg achiness-are vague and easily dismissed. Stage 3 was confirmed via blood test and further scans.
Dr. Tan underwent a seven-hour surgery removing 11 affected body parts, including her uterus, ovaries, lymph nodes, part of her diaphragm, and 30 cm of colon. Chemotherapy followed, leading to hair loss, nerve damage, and severe infections.
"How does one explain the feeling of knowing you might die before you expect to?" she said.
Eight years later, Dr. Tan has no recurrence. She returned to work in 2020 and, in 2021, took up ballroom and Latin dance to combat osteoporosis caused by cancer treatment. She now competes internationally and has won all her age-category competitions.
She will compete at the Blackpool Dance Festival in the UK from May 17-19, 2026.
"Life is so fragile," she said. "If you think too much about that, you won’t even think about getting out there and living your life."
About 20% of ovarian cancers are linked to inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Starting December 2026, Singapore will subsidize genetic testing for high-risk individuals.