6 myths about breast cancer that this pink polo event in KL helped to bust
Hospital and horses joined forces like I’ve never seen before on one Wednesday in October, at an event witnessed by a community dressed in hues of pink.
This was in celebration of Pink October—Breast Cancer Awareness Month—hosted by Prince Court Medical Centre at Kuala Lumpur Polo Club (KLPC).
Guests, players, and even the gorgeous horses donned pink clothes and accessories, serving looks that my colleague described as “slay”.
It was a sight to behold, and behold I did as the event kicked off with a game of polo.
For those unfamiliar with the sport, a few quick fun facts:
- It’s one of the world’s oldest known team sports
- It’s been called “the sport of kings”
- Initially played by Persian nobility, it’s today played by high society globally
Prince Court Medical Centre and KLPC faced off in a friendly game, and though competition was fierce, KLPC ultimately emerged victorious.
Perhaps fiercer though were the stories from survivors of breast cancer, who took the stage and shared how they took back control of their lives.
From their stories, a few things were clear: We need lots more breast cancer awareness and education in Malaysia, and there are still many misconceptions floating around.
To tackle these, a few doctors stepped up to the stage as well. Here are some myths about breast cancer that they masterfully broke down.
Myth #1: Genetics are the main cause of breast cancer
Unfortunately, Dr. Harjit Kaur, Consultant Breast & Endocrine Surgeon at Prince Court Medical Centre, said that only 10% of breast cancer cases can be traced back to genetics.
Scarily, we still don’t know what causes the remaining 90% of cases, as many patients do live healthy lifestyles and have no family history of breast cancer.
Myth #2: Men don’t get breast cancer
While over one in 10 women account for new cancer diagnoses annually, men are part of the overall statistic too. It’s found that men make up about 1% of breast cancer diagnoses.
So, whether you’re a man who suspects you’re at risk of getting breast cancer or simply want to be on the safe side, here are some symptoms to look out for.
Myth #3: Only older women are at risk
Younger women can get breast cancer too. Dr. Harjit said that the average age of breast cancer patients these days are in their 30s or 40s.
This makes it all the more important that younger women go for health check-ups where early detection is possible. Getting a head start on health insurance would be good too, as it can help with one’s financial situation if they’re still young in their career.
Something to note as well is that younger women with breast cancer don’t face the same challenges as older women with the diagnosis. For example, treatment can affect fertility, and younger women under treatment can actually be pushed into menopause, according to Dr. Harjit.
Myth #4: A breast cancer diagnosis is a death sentence
Maybe it once was, but not anymore. With early screening and timely treatment, breast cancer is becoming more chronic than terminal, Dr. Harjit said. “More people are living with cancer than dying from it,” she summed up.
And speaking of treatment…
Myth #5: A mastectomy is the only way to prevent recurring breast cancer
Dr. Melissa Tan, Consultant Breast & Oncoplastic Surgeon at Prince Court Medical Centre set the record straight, saying that the removal of breasts don’t necessarily improve overall survival of a patient.
“Removing the whole breast is no better than the lump surgery that conserves breast tissue (lumpectomy),” she said.
“There are now technologies to remove larger lumps while conserving the remaining breast tissue, plus a lot more techniques.”
Local therapy (like targeted surgery), systemic therapy (like chemotherapy), and even novel treatments (those in the early part of clinical testing) are all options that can prevent breast cancer from coming back, without the removal of the entire breast.
Myth #6: Fighting breast cancer is a lonely journey
Experiencing a sense of isolation after a breast cancer diagnosis (or even successful treatment) is said to be common, and some of the survivors at the Pink Polo event said the same.
But it doesn’t actually have to be that way, because there are several strong communities out there full of survivors who have gone through similar trials.
Locally, we have Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA) and National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM), for example.
And from what I saw on the day of the event, these women’s tight bonds with one another aren’t to be messed with.
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At the start of the event, Ms Sumitra Selvaraj, Public Relations & Partnerships Manager of BCWA said something that stuck with me to the end:
This year has been record breaking for all the wrong reasons, because we’ve been detecting more and more cases.
But hold your horses.
This is not something that’s bad per se, because it means that more people are getting screened and tested, and as mentioned in point #4, early screening and treatment ensure that a diagnosis is no longer a death sentence.
Although Pink October may be over by the time this article is out, there’s no right or wrong time to educate oneself about all things breast cancer.
You may even be eligible to get free breast cancer screening through organisations like BCWA, so why not take this as a sign to schedule a screening sometime soon?
Also Read: How this Malaysian SME overcame financial hurdles to grow their business with this 1 solution
All Images Credit: Vulcan Post
“Not a level that we can afford to sustain”: Singapore’s SPH Media lays off 34 tech workers
On November 4, SPH Media announced that they are laying off 34 employees amid a restructuring of the company’s technology division.
This layoff affects 10% of tech workers across various teams and ranks.
The Straits Time reported that Loh Yuh Yiing, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Kaythaya Maw, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), announced in an email broadcast to staff at 9:25AM that different functions in the technology division are being streamlined, resulting in job redundancies.
Note that The Straits Time is published by SPH Media.
Speaking to the media, the company said the decision was made after careful consideration.
SPH Media also added that the company was “committed to supporting the affected employees and providing them with comprehensive severance packages that adhere to tripartite guidelines, career coaching, job placement assistance, as well as counselling support to help ease their transition”, The Straits Time stated.
Hiring was “urgent and aggressive”
SPH Media was formed in 2021 as a company limited by guarantee after the former Singapore Press Holdings was restructured and delisted.
According to the COO and CTO, SPH Media had to “urgently and aggressively” hire tech staff following this restructuring in December 2021.
The Edge Singapore reported them saying, “This ramp-up was needed to catalyse and power the earlier phase of transformation. But we recognise that it is not a level that we can afford to sustain beyond 2024.”
Expenditure on technology currently makes up nearly 20% of SPH’s annual costs. Payroll-related expenditure accounted for nearly two-thirds of this.
Like other media companies globally, SPH Media has had to grapple with persistent decline in revenue and the growing cost of keeping up with fast-changing audience demands in digital media.
Given the situation, the company first attempted to tighten non-payroll expenditures. While these efforts helped to bring down the overall expenditure partially, adjustments to manpower could not be avoided.
As such, job redundancies were considered as a last resort.
The Edge Singapore reported that they had previously contacted SPH Media on October 28 for comment about the rumoured layoffs. At the time, SPH Media responded that there has been “no such exercise” since the start of 2024.
Now announcing the layoff, the COO and CTO described the layoff as a difficult decision, but shared that the cuts together with the restructuring will bring the technology division to a more sustainable steady-state.
SPH Media’s email also states that there are currently no plans for “further exercises of this nature”, though “regular review and resource optimisation” would continue to be necessary.
“Going forward, our focus will be to steady the ship as we transit towards a more sustainable level of tech operations and expenditure,” it added.
Also Read: Singapore’s Love, Bonito lays off 29 roles, including 14 locally
Featured Image Credit: SPH Media
This M’sian couple turned their niche hobby into a themed cafe with beautiful aquariums
Walking into Mizuniwa Aquascape Cafe feels like stepping into an aquarium gallery but with a delicious twist.
Imagine sipping on your favourite cup of coffee or indulging in a slice of cake, but instead of staring at your phone screen or rushing through your thoughts, you get to enjoy beautiful tetra fish and other species swimming gracefully around you, creating a relaxing underwater landscape.
This is exactly the experience Charlotte Siow and Stephan Fernandez have curated.
If you’ve ever felt the need to disconnect from the daily grind, this one-of-a-kind cafe offers something more than your average cosy coffee spot, allowing one to sip and snack while being captivated by these living works of art.
This passion project-turned-business melds with Charlotte and Stephan’s vision of creating a place to unwind, recharge, and reconnect with nature.
From side hustle to soothing cafe haven
Charlotte, a former senior finance manager at CBRE Malaysia, and Stephan, an IT consultant specialising in Microsoft Dynamics, both led busy corporate lives. However, the onset of the pandemic brought unexpected challenges.
Stephan faced a 50% pay cut, which placed immense mental and financial strain on the couple. Seeking a mental escape, they stumbled upon aquascaping through YouTube and were instantly captivated. What began as a relaxing hobby soon grew into a passion.
As their interest deepened, Stephan and Charlotte discovered that finding quality aquascaping equipment locally was difficult. They began sourcing and selling equipment themselves, eventually becoming the Malaysian distributors for Week Aqua, a popular brand for lighting in aquascaping.
This side business, Sscapers Aquatics, became a saving grace during tough times, providing them with a steady stream of income and an unexpected foray into entrepreneurship.
While their aquascaping business grew, Stephan’s long-held dream was to open a steakhouse. Since his 20s, he had imagined running a restaurant, but the financial risks were daunting.
With both of them being passionate foodies, the idea of launching a food-related business always lingered in the back of their minds. However, rather than jumping straight into a full-blown restaurant, the couple decided to fuse their love for food and aquascaping, creating something entirely new.
“We didn’t want to be just another aquascape shop,” Stephan explained. “We wanted to reach a wider audience, not just hobbyists.”
Thus, Mizuniwa was born, a space where customers could enjoy delicious food and drinks while being surrounded by calming aquascapes.
And fun fact, the name Mizuniwa is Japanese for “water garden”.
A healing space for the mind and soul
Drawing from their own experiences, they knew firsthand the healing effects of watching fish swim gracefully among vibrant underwater plants.
Speaking to Vulcan Post, they said, “Every day, we’d enjoy our coffee in front of our aquascapes at home, and it really became a calming, mentally stimulating part of our day.”
This connection with nature became the backbone of Mizuniwa’s design. Each aquascape tank is carefully positioned to create a relaxing atmosphere, whether the cafe is bustling or quiet.
Stephan and Charlotte hope their cafe can serve as a retreat from the fast-paced world of corporate life, offering customers a unique place to unwind, work, or simply take a mental break.
“Guests can choose tables facing the aquariums for a serene view, group and family tables for those working or gathering together, or more secluded spots that provide privacy for couples or students looking for a quiet corner to study,” shared the founders.
Aquascapes, in general, have an uncanny ability to bring a sense of calm and peace. The careful balance of light, water, and greenery gives the cafe an atmosphere that’s serene yet full of life.
It’s a therapeutic hobby that they want to share with more people, especially in today’s hyperconnected world. And the interest certainly seems to be there.
While remote working there, I saw a couple bring their children for the first time and it was heartwarming to see the kids’ excitement as they watched and even fed the fish. The founders even took time to share educational moments with them.
Other patrons popped in for a takeaway drink or settled in with brewed teas, enjoying the calming aquascapes.
Menu that’s easy to maintain
The pair took a strategic approach when crafting their menu, knowing that maintaining the aquascapes would come with additional costs.
As a result, the cafe started with a curated selection of desserts and drinks.
“Our menu is also designed so that one ingredient can be used in multiple different items; for example, our strawberry compote, which is made in-house, is used in at least three items (Strawberry Matcha Latte, Soda, Tiramisu),” they noted.
Their signature drink, the Strawberry Matcha Latte, and creative ‘tirumisu’ flavours like Kaya Butter and Strawberry Matcha are just a few examples of their commitment to fresh, high-quality offerings. Trying the desserts and drinks ourselves, we liked how they still felt indulgent even though they weren’t very sweet at all.
Initially, the cafe focused solely on drinks and desserts—dishes the duo could handle themselves while learning the ropes of the F&B business.
They have since expanded their menu, introducing donburi dishes (beef, salmon, and spicy chicken) to appeal to a broader audience.
Overcoming challenges with passion and patience
Running a business is never easy, and Mizuniwa is no exception. One major challenge the couple faces is balancing the cafe’s dual nature as both an eatery and an aquascaping gallery.
On one hand, the tanks require daily maintenance to stay pristine, and on the other, they must manage food preparation and service. Without any additional staff, Charlotte and Stephan juggle these tasks themselves, with Stephan handling most of the tank upkeep.
Stephan shared that they spent around RM150,000 in total for the setting up of all the tanks in his cafe, with each costing around RM15,000 to RM18,000. The aquarium tanks range from 4 feet to 6 feet long.
They’ve also had to ensure the cafe is safe for all visitors, especially families with children. “We took extra care to make sure the tanks are stable and they won’t shatter even if someone runs into them,” Stephan noted.
Despite the challenges, the duo’s passion and dedication keep them going. “The F&B side is definitely more challenging for us,” they admitted, “But we’re learning every day. It’s all about understanding customer preferences and avoiding wastage.”
Looking ahead, the founders have ambitious plans for Mizuniwa. They envision expanding the business, possibly to other states, and introducing workshops and events focused on aquascaping and mental wellness.
“We want to show people how aquascaping can be a therapeutic hobby, especially for mental health,” Stephan said.
They’re also considering offering a maintenance subscription for private customers, helping them keep their own tanks in top condition while supplementing the cafe’s revenue.
Ultimately, Mizuniwa Aquascape Cafe is more than just a place to eat—it’s a tranquil escape. For aquascaping hobbyists, it’s a place to appreciate the art without the hassle of maintenance. For foodies, it’s a unique spot to enjoy fresh, quality treats. And for everyone else, it’s a sanctuary of calm amidst the daily chaos of life.
- You can learn more about Mizuniwa Aquascape Cafe here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Also Read: How this Malaysian SME overcame financial hurdles to grow their business with this 1 solution
Featured Image Credit: Mizuniwa Aquascape Cafe
