Imagine having packed your bags, booked your flight tickets, paid your tuition fees. You are feeling excited just a week before embarking on a new adventure in the UK. All of a sudden, a doctor gives you the dreaded diagnosis, that you have breast cancer.
This was the story of Ireal Traisarnsri, who discovered that she had Stage 2 breast cancer at the young age of 27.
“I thought that I was too young to be diagnosed with cancer,” said Ireal. “I never thought that this would ever happen to me. No one in my family had cancer before. No one my age had cancer, only a cyst in their breast. So, I was shocked when I found out.”
A crushing turning point
It all began in 2011. When she learned the news, it was a moment when her dreams collapsed in front of her. Ireal recalled how she had held hands with her mother, while trying to listen to what her doctor was explaining about what she needed to do next, as a newly diagnosed patient.
“I remember having to concentrate so hard, but so many things were going on in my head, with my plans to study abroad, but I had to pull myself together. I knew that my mom was sad, so the only way for me was to stay strong,” she recalls.
In fact, Ireal’s initial dream was like many others; to become a successful artist, earn large sums of money and, most importantly, make herself and her family proud.
Having graduated from Silpakorn University with an Applied Arts degree, Ireal explains that she wanted to incorporate art and design into either her family business or her own. This was why she wanted to further her studies in the UK, but everything was cut short.
“I felt that the future that I had already planned, dreaming that I would be on the airplane flying to the UK to study, was over,” she says. “I was disappointed. It was unexpected and I felt that everything had fallen apart. But, if I think about my own life, I have to understand that my plans would have to be put on hold.”
Having cancer at a young age was already an ordeal, but her treatment was more of a struggle, as it began when Thailand experienced massive floods in 2011. As a result, Ireal’s treatment was beset by obstacles, as the hospital was also flooded.
Despite that, Ireal decided to turn things around. With her passion for art, she initiated the “Art for Cancer” fundraising project, to help other cancer patients in need.
Ireal started by selling her own artworks, and those from other artists who have donated to the cause. Proceeds have gone to Siriraj Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital, the National Cancer Institute and Chulalongkorn Hospital.
The project later evolved into a social enterprise, in which Ireal has organised activities for cancer patients, using art as a means of therapy. Other items were also launched for the cause, including the “healing art kit”, an art book which cancer patients and others can use to help observe and handle their emotions in a creative way.
A couple of years later, Ireal was able to complete her studies in Newcastle, UK, after her cancer treatment.
The fixed perception
Ireal’s cancer has now developed to Stage 4, which has spread to parts of her lungs, liver and her brain. Despite that, Ireal does not appear frail.
The Art for Cancer founder even joked that she gained weight after her diagnosis, a complete opposite of people’s perception of how cancer patients look.
“Thailand still has this perception that those with cancer must all look skinny and frail,” Ireal explains, adding that the portrayals in the media, be they donation campaigns or TV series, have led to a fixed perception of people with cancer. This has led to the hopeless belief that people will never survive cancer.
“Cancer patients are repeatedly portrayed in the media as desperately needy people, going through nausea after chemotherapy or having an extremely frail physique,” she says.
According to Thailand’s Department of Medical Science, over 140,000 new cancer patients are diagnosed each year. Breast cancer is the most common among Thai women, with 17,743 new patients recorded in 2023 alone.
Nevertheless, Ireal says that there’s still hope of recovery, thanks to new medical and technological advancements, which makes treating cancer a lot easier.
Despair is normal, but it’s how you deal with it that matters
Living with a potentially terminal illness for 13 years, the way Ireal defines the meaning of life, now at the age of 41, is completely different.
Now, her goal is simple - to live a meaningful life.
“My goal is to live every day normally, being able to eat and sleep without pain,” she says, adding that, if she hadn’t been diagnosed with cancer, she would never have realised that having a normal life is already “perfect” in itself.
“Honestly, when I was told that I have cancer, I realised that my life before I got cancer was amazing, but why didn’t I know that? Before, I might have been unhappy when I wanted a new MacBook, when I didn’t get to eat something, when I didn’t get to join a trip with my friends or experienced a break up. But, when I got cancer, all of those things were no longer a big deal.”
In life, you can’t always control what happens to you, but you can change the way you respond. As Ireal advises, feeling despair is normal, but people should not dwell on it and focus on what they can do in the moment.
“It’s not that I was never discouraged or disappointed but, whenever we had to encounter things we didn’t want to encounter, the most important part is the next step, which is the present moment. How we can get back up again or change the way we deal with the situation,” she explains.
Despite her struggles, Ireal says she is proud to know, as an ordinary person, that she has inspired and empowered many cancer patients to live a positive life.
“Sometimes, I feel delighted, knowing that what I’ve been doing is really helpful,” she says.
In fact, knowing that her story has become a source of hope for others still comes as a surprise to her. Among the moments when Ireal felt deeply touched was when she was told by one of the cancer patients that they would keep a photo of her on their phone screen, for whenever they needed encouragement.
“Some even told me that, when they had to undergo chemotherapy, they were scared and panicking, but when they thought of me, they felt calm and relaxed. I was like, wow, I’m quite influential, I have that power, even though I was not sitting with them or holding hands with them,” she said.
Nevertheless, the Art for Cancer founder says that she is quite satisfied with what she has been able to do to help others in need, especially those who have experienced the same ordeal. In other words, helping someone to have hope in life already means a lot to her.
“I never thought that I would reach this point in my life, because no one knew who I was. I’m not a celebrity or anyone famous. I’m just an ordinary person who wants to help other cancer patients, and that power resonates in others.”
By Nad Bunnag, Thai PBS World
