Mr. Lester Ng was in his early 30s, solely focused on climbing the corporate ladder. He had received a promotion oversees and was working long hours every day. After experiencing stomach pains initially passed off as minor gastric irritation, he was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. To better understand the cause of his cancer, he underwent genetic testing and found he carried the faulty BRCA2 gene, usually associated with breast cancer. According to Assistant Professor Chiang Jianbang, men with the faulty gene have an increased risk of developing cancers including male breast cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma and pancreatic cancer.

After completing treatment, Mr. Ng returned to work where he experienced bad brain fog. The symptoms eventually subsided, and he is now balancing work full time with a masters degree program. 

"I think what has changed is that I’m a bit more accepting that there is only so much I can do. Ultimately, work is just one part of life. The people around you are important."

Read more of Mr. Ng's story here.