'It’s all for the women': This nurse has cared for breast cancer patients for 25 years and started a support group

She tells CNA Women what it’s like caring for breast cancer patients, how she started the TTSH breast cancer support group and why being a breast care nurse is her calling.

Starting her nursing career at TTSH as a 20-year-old in 1979, Patmavathy always felt passionate about helping others. “The learning changed my life,” she said. “Because I’m a woman, and the breasts are very closely related to being a woman, I felt a lot for the patients – it went beyond clinical care.”After her attachment, Patmavathy was determined to bring what she had learnt back to TTSH, which, at that time, did not have a breast care department.

“It’s a relief to know that breast care has improved so much, and more patients can receive proper treatment.” It’s important to allow patients to release their frustrations and grief over what they’re going through, she added.“But after a few appointments – and after she told me she had refused to get a mastectomy – she revealed that it was because her husband had threatened to leave her if she removed her breasts, even if the cancer spread.”

Two years after TTSH formed its breast care speciality, Patmavathy realised that breast cancer care went beyond medical treatment. She had also noticed that breast cancer patients didn’t know who to turn to for company. “But more people joined, and some of the survivors who joined became trained counsellors under the Breast Cancer Foundation – this helped the patients a lot.”Eventually, the support group started organising activities so that members could interact with one another.

Some survivors and patients have left, some are still inside, and some have even passed – but all of them have made a special mark and made at least one woman less lonely.

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