"We’re 20 women coming from different places and different living conditions, but we are bound together to fight against a common enemy, breast cancer."
Nguyen Thi Phuong
Nguyen Thi Phuong, 56, rented a small house on the Hanoi Highway in HCM City for her and some 20 other women to live while being treated for breast cancer.
Phuong shared that she was not married and had no children. She used to live alone after her parents died. And when doctors at the HCM City Oncology Hospital told her that she had breast cancer in late 2019, Phuong refused treatment.
"I was shocked and I felt lonely," she said. "I just wanted to die."
At that time she met Vo Thi My Duyen, 50, who was staying at the hospital for breast cancer treatment. Duyen reassured Phuong and introduced her to a group of women who shared the same disease. Due to financial difficulties, they could not afford rent and had to stay in the hospital's corridors while receiving treatment. Phuong found sympathy and love from the group and she decided to move in with them.
"During the time I underwent surgery and 16 radiotherapy sessions, I received good care and support from the group," Phuong said. "We relied on one another to overcome such hard times."
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the city in May 2021, patients were asked not to stay in the corridors. Phuong's group moved out and rented a room at a nearby guesthouse. However, the rent was too high for them. Phuong decided to sell her house and used part of the money to pay as a deposit for a rented house for the group, and the rest for her treatment.
"And now we have a better home to live together," she said. "We’re feeling happier and this is good for our treatment."
The women during a lunch together
Another woman in the group, Huynh Thi Le, 65, from the neighbouring province of Tien Giang said that she was lucky to be part of the group in her last days.
"We understand one another and share our daily work and care," Le said. "Those who have better health will take care of others. Those who have more money will contribute more to buy daily food. We’re willing to give all that we have. Some of us have part-time jobs like selling lottery tickets, doing deliveries or running drink stalls to earn more money for our treatment."
Le said that they sometimes feel really hopeful when someone recovers from the disease and leaves the house for their hometown.
"We’re still keeping in contact and they sometimes send us gifts to support us," she said. "But we’re sad that Phuong's health has recently worsened.
Phuong said that her condition was worsening and she knew that she did not have much time to live.
"Now I don't fear death," she said. "I don't have any time or a separate space to feel sad or lonely in this house. I always feel stronger living together with the group. And I hope that after I die, this house will continue to be a place for poor women who have this disease".