Through coordinated care across paediatrics and orthopaedics, NUH doctors have supported Sara Kueh through her cancer diagnoses — helping her rebuild, recover, and continue pursuing her passions.
Subscribe and ensure you don't miss the next issue!
Every step, every turn, and every groove that 17-year-old Sara Grace Kueh makes on the dance floor tells a story of resilience.
Since infancy, Sara has confronted cancer four times, including rare tumours of the soft tissue, bone and lung. Through it all, she has drawn incredible strength from dance — and from the multidisciplinary care teams at the National University Hospital (NUH) who have supported her through each stage of recovery.
Sara’s battle with cancer began when she was just a year old, after her mother noticed a lump near her nose. She was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare but aggressive soft tissue cancer, and underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, a relapse soon followed, this time in her lymph nodes, which meant going through treatment all over again. By the age of three, Sara had endured multiple operations and 48 rounds of radiotherapy.
The intensive treatments saved her life but left lasting effects on her growth, bones and thyroid function. For more than a decade, she has been under the care of Dr Frances Yeap, Consultant, Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat — National University Children's Medical Institute (KTP-NUCMI)1, NUH. Dr Yeap closely monitored her heart, bone health and hormone levels. “With long-term survivors, we always need to be on the lookout for secondary cancers and recurrences, especially those who have received radiation, while managing the late effects of therapy,” Dr Yeap explains. “These late effects from cancer treatment can occur at various stages and affect a growing child’s development both physically and psychosocially.”
In 2023, Sara developed osteosarcoma in her right shoulder blade — a secondary cancer resulting from the radiotherapy she underwent. Working with a team of surgeons, Adjunct Professor Mark Edward Puhaindran, Senior Consultant, Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, and Chairman, Medical Board, NUH, removed the tumour along with four centimetres of her collarbone, while preserving vital blood vessels and nerves.
Less than a year later, a routine scan revealed a metastatic tumour in her lung. Fortunately, the tumour was very small and could be removed by a minimally invasive keyhole procedure. Dr Lee Yang Yang, Consultant, Department of Paediatric Surgery, KTP-NUCMI, NUH, says that the surgery helped Sara experience far less pain and a quicker recovery. “The procedure took one and a half hours, and the length of her stay at the hospital was four days, compared with a week if the procedure were done via conventional open surgery,” adds Dr Lee. “We always strive to balance effective treatment with quality of life. For Sara, that meant giving her the best chance of resuming the activities that matter most to her.”
Alongside surgery and follow-up care, Sara has had to cope with the emotional weight of illness and the visible effects of treatment. Bullying in secondary school left her self-conscious, but she found a safe space in dance, which gave her confidence and focus. “Dance was and is a big part of my life. It helped in my recovery journey. It was something to look forward to every day because it keeps my mind off (my illness). In dance, I am not thinking about anything except counting steps,” she says.
Her sister Isabelle Joy Kueh, a staff nurse with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NUH, says her little sister has always been an inspiration. “Watching Sara grow up and seeing how far she has come became emotional for me. It is a true testament to her strength and spirit. If you think about what she has been through, it is remarkable,” she says.
For her care team, Sara’s sheer resilience is something to be proud of. “As a paediatric oncology doctor, we do not just aim to treat the cancer, but to bring the child back to the level they were at before the sickness,” says Dr Lee. “Sara epitomises this to the fullest extent and inspires me for what her indomitable spirit can achieve.”
1 KTP-NUCMI is part of the National University Centre for Women and Children (NUWoC), a national university specialist centre that aims to empower women, children and their families to lead healthier lives
Like this article? Simply subscribe to make sure you don't miss the next issue of EnvisioningHealth!
