For many cancer survivors, beating the disease is only part of the journey. Living with hope afterwards often depends on the support they receive from family, friends and their community. At today’s Cancer Survivors Month celebration in Thimphu, survivors shared how that support helped them reclaim their lives. Her Royal Highness Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuck attended the celebration.
Lhamo Dukpa, a singer and actress, never imagined she would be diagnosed with lung cancer.
She was 52 when doctors delivered the news in Thailand in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Far from home and accompanied only by her daughter, she faced one of the most difficult moments of her life.
Today, six years later, Lhamo is in her fifth year as a cancer survivor.
She says she owes her recovery not only to treatment but also to the unwavering support of her family, friends and even strangers.
She said, “After cancer, I feel like a new person. When people in Bhutan learned about my diagnosis, I received an overwhelming amount of support, not only from my family and colleagues in the film industry, but also from many people I had never met. Their encouragement gave me the strength to keep going.”
Chimi Eden and Yeewong Lhamo were both diagnosed with leukaemia while still in their teens.
The treatment was long and difficult, but the encouragement they received kept them going.
Today, they say surviving cancer has changed how they see life.
Chimi Eden said, “During my treatment, even those who could not visit me in person kept encouraging me. They told me to stay focused on my treatment and that we would meet again when I recovered. The greatest support came from my parents, my family, and my relatives. Their encouragement gave me the strength to keep going.”
“My outlook on life has changed completely. Before, I always felt I had to be the best at everything. Now, I just want to live life to the fullest. I no longer feel the need to be the best. I just want to be myself,” added Yeewong Lhamo.
According to the World Health Organisation, cancer places physical, emotional and financial burdens on patients and their families, making strong support systems an essential part of recovery.
In Bhutan, the Ministry of Health recorded more than 1,230 new cancer cases between 2023 and 2025.
The Bhutan Cancer Society, which organised today’s event, has supported around 240 people over the past decade.
More than 100 of them are now cancer survivors, showing that with timely treatment and continued support, life after cancer is possible.
Singye Dema
Edited by Sangay Chezom
