Styled in Strength: How Cancer Survivor Sarah Nami Ahn Reclaimed Her Life After Two Tumours

Looking at Sarah Nami Ahn’s Instagram profile, with its vibrant feed of colourful ensembles and fierce, inimitable style, no one would ever guess what she has endured. Behind the fun images of a 46-year-old Singapore-based fashionista and mother of two with more than 12,000 followers lies the story of a cancer survivor who has survived two cancer diagnoses, and undergone brain and spine tumour surgeries.

“The chronic head pains were and are difficult to live with. At first I was in denial. This can’t be my new normal,” she recalls.

“Nami”, as she is better known, was first diagnosed with brain tumour at the National University Hospital shortly after moving to Singapore in 2018 — just a day after she slipped and fell in her bathroom.

Cancer survivor Sarah Nami Ahn brings her signature bold style to Instagram, where fashion becomes a celebration of resilience.

“I went from the ER to the ward, had a brain MRI the next morning, and was then wheeled back to my room where about ten doctors were gathered around a computer screen showing my scan,” she recalls.

“At first I was like, awesome! Check out my beautiful brain. But as the video showed slices of my brain from top to bottom, I noticed something strange at the bottom. It looked asymmetrical.”

That “something” turned out to be a golf ball–sized tumour in her left cerebellum — a grade 3 atypical meningioma.

“What shocked me was that two years earlier, I’d had a brain MRI that was completely clear,” she adds. “So how did it grow so big, so fast?”

An emergency surgery followed the very next day.

“It only took three hours and was very successful,” says Nami. “The only side effect was some weakness in my left arm and leg. I’m incredibly grateful I had surgery done here in Singapore, where their neurosurgical techniques are so advanced.”

Sarah was diagnosed with brain cancer after a scan showed a golf ball sized tumour in her brain

Recovery seemed smooth until years later, a new kind of pain began to surface.

"In 2023, I started getting this persistent back pain that wouldn’t go away,” Nami shares.

Tests revealed another devastating blow: a tumour growing along her spine.

"The theory is that a bit from the brain tumour might have fallen down my spine seven years ago and started growing,” she explains. “Back then, we didn’t think to look at the rest of the body. But I believe in divine timing — I was meant to go through this journey.”

Nami underwent 66 sessions of radiation therapy in total, a grueling process that left her exhausted and weakened. She lived through years of relentless, chronic pain — pain so consuming that she once considered ending her life. 

Desperate, she turned to every option she could find —  rounds of pain clinics, steroid injections and 36 Botox shots across her face and head to alleviate the pain, and eventually, a dizzying carousel of alternative and spiritual therapies. Nothing seemed to work for long.

But what could have broken her instead transformed her.

Sarah after her surgery in December 2018.

Today, Nami calls herself a “spiritual scientist”, a title that reflects both her academic past as a PhD holder in neuroscience from UCLA and her present devotion to pranic healing, meditation, yoga, and biohacking rituals like daily 20-minute ice baths at 8°C.

“I still walk a bit unsteady, I swim, I ride a stationary bike… but I can’t run yet. So I’m working hard to run. I miss the freedom of my body as it runs,” she says.

Alongside her husband, Professor Dean Ho, co-founder of longevity clinic Eternami, and their two children, Nami embodies a new definition of wellness: one that is equal parts survival and surrender, grit and grace. 

Our editor caught up with her recently:

How did you react when you faced serious health challenges in 2018 and again in 2023?

I think my ambitious, driven mind has always pushed me to heal, to get stronger… not just for myself but for my family. I can’t really explain this inner drive that’s always been with me.

In 2018, I managed to go to (my daughter) Emmeline’s preschool Christmas party after being home one week after brain tumour surgery. I’ll admit it, it wasn’t easy. But seeing her look for her parents and being relieved to see us… this reaction is everything. We’re always here for our kids.

2023 spine tumor surgery was physically a bit more difficult. My mindset was to channel “Rocky Balboa’s” energy or “Bruce Lee” after his spine was injured and paralysed from a fight. I also made a ridiculous but ambitious pact with myself that I’d finish “Iron Man” by 50. I want to earn that tattoo.

Sarah, her husband Dean Ho and their two children in 2016, before life took an unexpected turn with her cancer diagnosis.

Did you ever feel discouraged during recovery, and if so, what helped you push through those moments?

There were moments when I felt so discouraged that I made plans to end my life. The chronic headaches were — and still are — incredibly difficult to live with. At the beginning, I was in denial. I kept thinking, this cannot be my new normal.

I tried almost everything I could find in Singapore — trauma release exercises (TRE), craniosacral therapy, bio-resonance, Rolfing, acupuncture, dry needling, among others. I was searching for something, anything, that might help.

Eventually, I found energy healing and trained as a certified Pranic Healer here in Singapore. Further study into the relationship between emotion, stress and the body, including work inspired by Dr Joe Dispenza’s research, shifted how I understood pain.

Today, I see energy not as something mystical, but as a way of understanding how thoughts, emotions and physiology interact. It has become a framework I use to manage my own health and to support others in theirs.

What was the most challenging part of regaining mobility after your spinal tumour?

Physically, my goal was simply to walk again. The surgery left me with a weakened right leg — I couldn’t lift it at all. I was wheelchair-bound at first, then progressed to using a walker at home. I skipped the cane stage and eventually managed to walk on my own, though it felt more like waddling like a penguin.

The nerve pain was equally difficult to overcome. Sudden bolts of electrical pain would shoot down my right leg without warning, sharp enough to make my entire body flinch and jerk involuntarily.

Emotionally, there were many moments of self-pity — quiet “pity parties of one” where I allowed myself to feel the weight of it all. The intrusive thoughts were often worst when I was physically exhausted, especially during periods of severe insomnia.

Over time, however, the presence of optimistic, generous-spirited friends made a real difference. Regular social interaction helped shift my mindset and keep me grounded. Gradually, the emotional intensity softened. I no longer break down over the daily headaches — well, almost never.

Which of these has been the most effective for your recovery, and why?

Energy healing because there’s just so much we don’t know that our minds are capable of. I started seeing people clearly after learning energy healing. I found people with huge egos to be exhausting and don't have the same vibrations as I do. It’s very exhausting to continuously use my own energy to be around someone who believes that they’re always right or always complaining.

Sarah and her husband at the 2023 Tatler Ball, just two days post-operation, after receiving her neurosurgeon’s permission to leave the hospital for the evening.

What wellness therapies are you now practicing?

I had made a personal vow: if I recovered, I would no longer live in anger, guilt, or worry about others’ opinions.

Today, my recovery focuses on managing my thoughts and energy — through meditation, emotional regulation as well as breathwork. I meditate daily, practise yoga, do ice plunges and therapeutic Yamuna Ball Rolling exercises and prioritise positive social interactions, which I believe support both mental and physical healing.

One day, I hope to create a space — a “spiritual buffet” — where people can explore different healing modalities and discover what resonates most with them.

What does your current ice bath routine look like? I take a daily 20-minute ice bath at 8°C to reduce inflammation and chronic pain. Beyond the pain relief, the cold numbs my body and puts me in a calm and meditative state and gives me mental clarity.

What’s your “happy place”? During radiation treatment for a brain tumour, coping mentally was often harder than the physical discomfort. Lying immobilised with my face pressed against a cold metal table, I learned to redirect my attention inward.

My “happy place” became something surprisingly ordinary: mentally planning outfits I might wear in different situations. 

I use a similar mental strategy during cold plunges. At first, the cold demands complete presence, but after three minutes, the body adapts and discomfort fades. During this time, I will silently recite a prayer. Sometimes, my mind will drift off back to outfit styling.

During difficult moments, Sarah turns to imagining various outfits as a form of mental escape.

How do you track progress or measure results from these practices? I used to obsess over all the modalities I’ve tried and wrote it down on my phone. Now I don’t feel the need to anymore becauseI know everything happens for a good reason. There are no accidents, everything is precisely where it’s supposed to be.

I did try monitoring the effects of intermittent fasting last year by wearing a CGM (continuous glucose monitor). I also wear an Apple Watch, mostly to monitor my sleep and motivate healthier sleep habits.

Your husband, Dean Ho, co-founded the longevity clinic Eternami. Have you directly contributed to Eternami in any way? I was his very first client. Dean and I have been together for 25 years. He is my best friend and my strongest advocate. I’m incredibly proud of the work he’s doing in the wellness space and the impact it’s already having.

I’ve shared parts of my journey with other patients while waiting for appointments, and even a brief mention of his work often sparks immediate interest. People are eager to seek his perspective and expertise.

What he’s building is centred on helping people live not just longer, but better — focusing on healthspan, not merely lifespan.

What’s one Eternami service or approach that has personally made a difference in your health?

A two-minute scan on the InBody 770 provided a detailed breakdown of my body composition, highlighting areas I could optimise. For me, that meant shifting my focus to building muscle, especially as I’ve entered perimenopause.

What habits or rituals do you share as a family that reflect your health philosophy?

I practise daily fasting, though I’ve been clear with our children that it’s not something they need to adopt at this stage. That said, they rarely eat breakfast before school, which has made our routines calmer and less rushed.

Dean and I have eliminated sugary drinks, and our children now instinctively choose water when we’re out. At home, we serve lower-GI carbohydrates such as multi-grain rice with vegetables for dinner, and fruit — which they genuinely love — is their go-to dessert. 

How have your children responded to growing up in a household where healthy habits are the norm?

Children absorb habits from what they see at home, and we’re proud that they’ve embraced healthy choices early on — habits we hope will stay with them for life.Interestingly, they’ve become far more disciplined about sugar than we ever insisted on. They often decline sweets, skip birthday cake, and rarely touch candy or baked treats. In many ways, they’re more disciplined than I am.

In fact, if they catch me snacking in front of the television, they’ll wag a finger and remind me, “Mom, you said you wanted to quit chips!” More than once, they’ve confiscated and hidden my chocolates to keep me accountable.

Sarah and her children today.

Do your kids ever join you for an ice bath — or are they still in the “mom’s crazy” stage?

Ha — yes, actually. Last summer, our son took a hard fall on his tailbone and had to cancel most of his soccer camp. It hurt for him to sit anywhere.I suggested he try the ice bath with me and explained how cold exposure can help. To my surprise, he agreed. His first plunge in June was two minutes at 12°C. Gradually, as he grew more comfortable, he worked up to three rounds — five, five and six minutes — at 11°C.

More than the physical relief, I think it gave him hope. He could feel incremental improvement each day, and that sense of progress encouraged him. I’m so glad he enjoys it now. I love timing his plunges and chatting with him while he’s in the tub.

What’s a guilty pleasure food you still love?

Dark chocolate. I have my little stash of it that everyone knows not to touch.

If you could give one piece of advice to other women facing a major health crisis, what would it be?

Come talk to me. Kidding not kidding.I’d say, don’t panic. Breathe. Pause. And join a support group. There are ones on Facebook for every type of illness out there. Ask questions to reduce your anxiety. Educate yourself.

I’m going to say something that will not be easy to understand: “No one is coming for you.”

At first, I misunderstood it. I thought it meant no one was coming to help. But what it really means is this: the answers you’re searching for are already within you. Look inwards.

Sarah has emerged from her battles stronger and more resilient, with much to look forward to.

What’s next for you?

Strengthening my right leg, which couldn’t move after spine tumour surgery, so I can start running again. I trust the universe completely. I no longer force or enquire about anything or anyone. I simply receive, staying open to the opportunities that have continued to come my way after chronic pain forced me to surrender control. It was the best decision I’ve made, and now I’m seeing the abundance I’m receiving from the universe.

I’m finishing my book based on my Facebook stories — if you haven’t read them, they’re actually quite funny. I first wrote them with a morbid thought: “I’m only 44 with two tumours. I want my story told.” It was meant for my children to read, in case I wasn’t around to tell it myself.

I’m also starting a podcast as a “Spiritual Scientist” to help others understand these “new age” modalities by explaining them through science, which may encourage them to give it a try.