Walking Against the Light / By Lau King Lung, Ho Kwok Hei, Weng Lin, Tsang Hei Yin

**Old Age, Sickness, Death—A Distant Concern?** **Facing Cancer, Youth Is Not an "Asset"** **Public Perception Severely Lags** **Young Patients Remain Invisible to Society** **How to Mend a Disrupted Life?** **Cancer is the Second Leading Cause of Death for Hong Kong Adolescents and Young Adults** **Incidence of Early-Onset Cancers Soars by 40% in 30 Years** **As They Seek Answers to Life, Can Society Offer a Better Response?** **"What? I was planning to have kids, not cancer!"** **"I never thought I'd be in the same ward as the elderly lady next to me at such a young age!"** **"There's no way a thirty-something should be hiding at home!"** **"People without cancer can roughly estimate their endpoint and then plan their lives, but I don't know."** Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) cancer patients, this demographic situated between pediatric and older adult cancer patients, have long been overlooked by society. How do they find hope amidst despair? How do they face long-term physical and psychological challenges? These questions inspired four medical students to embark on a journey of listening to and documenting the life stories of patients their own age. This book gathers the true stories of twelve Hong Kong adolescents and young adults who have battled cancer, along with a comparative case study of a survivor from the United States. It offers an in-depth portrayal of their life journeys from diagnosis and treatment to recovery. Their stories are not just about fighting the disease, but also about confronting the lingering fear of recurrence, societal prejudice, and the multifaceted challenges of reshaping their life plans after recovery. Through the real experiences of AYA patients, this book aims to raise public awareness of early-onset cancers, call for attention to their unique medical and psychological needs, and empower patients to find new life in adversity. These stories allow us to see the plight of young cancer patients, thereby fostering a more supportive societal environment. Full Title: Walking Against the Light: The Portraits of Young Cancer Patients in Hong Kong Authors: Lau King Lung, Ho Kwok Hei, Weng Lin, Tsang Hei Yin ISBN: 978-988-237-382-2 Binding: Paperback Language: Traditional Chinese Pages: 240 Dimensions: 216 x 140 mm **About the Authors** **Lau King Lung, Ho Kwok Hei, Weng Lin, Tsang Hei Yin** Medical students at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, brought together by their care for others. Outside of their studies, all four are passionate about community service, engaging in outreach both overseas in countries like Cambodia and locally. Through these experiences, they gradually came to understand the profound physical and emotional burdens carried by patients. Witnessing the solitary figures of young cancer patients amidst the vibrant energy of their peers, the four decided to use their writing to document the true stories of patients their own age. Without sensationalizing tragedy or forcing inspiration, they present the struggles and courage of young patients in treatment and daily life from the dual perspectives of medical students and listeners, hoping that no life burdened by the journey forward will ever be alone again. **About the Illustrator** **Chow Sze Yuet** Medical student at the University of Hong Kong **Endorsements** These true stories remind us that with medical advancements, cancer treatment should adopt a newer, more comprehensive approach, addressing both the physical and psychological needs of patients. —**Dr. Leung Chi Hung** GBM, GBS, OBE, JP, President of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society This book offers the public a glimpse into the inner world of adolescent cancer patients, serving as a crucial prelude to cancer care reform. Penned by future doctors themselves, depicting the stories of young cancer patients, this is undoubtedly the most moving of beginnings. —**Mr. Chan Tsz Fung**, Founder and Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Childhood Cancer Foundation Their stories allow us to see the immense pressure and confusion young cancer patients face when forced to pause their studies or nascent careers, or when re-entering social circles after recovery. Through their life experiences, this book will bring profound encouragement and inspiration to readers. —**Professor Chiu Wai-yin**, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong This book uses many practical cases to illustrate that numerous cancers now have effective treatments and are no longer considered terminal. My sincere gratitude to the medical students who wrote this wonderful book for doing something so meaningful for patients, helping them overcome the psychological fear of a terminal illness and bravely continue on their life paths. —**Professor Li Cheuk-fai** GBM, GBS, JP, Director of the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology, The University of Hong Kong