In January 2021, she underwent a mastectomy and deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap surgery, a type of breast reconstruction that uses skin, fat, and blood vessels from the lower abdomen to reconstruct the breast.
She also underwent several weeks of radiation therapy and eight cycles of oral chemotherapy.
What doctors can say about Kate's cancer based on Kate's video
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The side effects of the treatment affected Lim both physically and mentally. She felt “thrown out” from her successful life and when she hit her rock bottom she did not recognize herself and struggled with her own identity.
Having spent a lot of time and money on beauty treatments and always presenting herself a certain way, she said she was distraught when her hair and eyelashes fell out after chemotherapy.
Lim says that during this difficult period, she began to re-evaluate her lifestyle and habits, and began to look inward to see which aspects of her life needed work.
“I decided to make changes in my life, not only to improve my situation, but also to minimize the risk that the cancer would come back,” she says.
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“I looked at my habits and created a plan to achieve each goal.”
I now have a new sense of purpose
As she worked to transform her diet, she made a conscious decision to focus on macronutrients and limit her intake of foods that were unhealthy or made her feel sluggish and bloated.
These include foods containing gluten, dairy products, processed snacks such as cookies and potato chips, and convenience foods such as pizza.
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Stress warning signs, how stress can cause illness, and what to do
“Once you start feeling stressed, it's important to deal with it. Many of us don't really realize the effects of stress on our mental and physical health until it's well established,” she says. .
Lim also changed her perspective on exercise. Instead of thinking of it as a way to lose weight or just get through the morning, she started appreciating it as a way to make herself feel strong, energized, and powerful. Ta.
She ditched the “no pain, no gain” mentality and started taking a more balanced approach to her workouts, not doing too much or too much.
After completing chemotherapy and feeling well enough to exercise, Lim worked with a personal trainer to regain her strength and confidence. She walked every day and eventually started running short distances, then long distances.
She also worked on core strength by doing push-ups and weightlifting to tone and strengthen her muscles, something she had never done before.
As the months went by, she began to notice that exercising improved her mood and concentration, and soon she was looking forward to weightlifting, running, and walking lunges.
She now works out multiple times a day and even takes part in fitness vacations. She says connecting with her body in this way makes her happy.
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Lim's cancer has been in remission since 2021. That same year, she founded Strong Bold Grateful, a resource platform for cancer patients.
Lim is determined not to get cancer again. For now, she is enjoying her journey of self-discovery, enjoying discovering her strengths, and continues to do whatever she can to achieve and maintain her true health. .
“I now have a new sense of purpose. I am on a new mission to make positive changes in my lifestyle, change the way I think, and enjoy life,” she added.
