I don't feel alone
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai (Hiep Hoa commune, Bac Ninh province) is one of the workers being treated for breast cancer at Bac Ninh Provincial Oncology Hospital.
At the beginning of January 2026, after discovering signs of abnormal health, Ms. Hoai went to Bac Ninh Provincial Oncology Hospital for examination and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. By April 2026, she underwent surgery and is currently waiting for chemotherapy.
Recalling the time of receiving the results, the 40-year-old woman was still in shock. "I was devastated and cried a lot when I knew I had a serious illness. My family was also sad and worried about me," Ms. Hoai said.
Life, which was already full of hardships, is now even more difficult. Ms. Hoai has been separated from her husband for the past 10 years, alone carrying the burden of raising 3 children of school age.
Due to a background illness, she cannot do heavy work, so for many years she has been attached to the garment worker profession, earning about 8-9 million VND per month. She always tries to save every penny, but the income is still not enough to cover living expenses and raise her children to study.
I alone shoulder the whole family, so I am in need of everything" - Ms. Hoai confided.
From March, she had to be hospitalized for surgery and treatment, which means temporarily stopping all work. When she could not go to work, her income was completely lost, and the difficulties became even more compounded.
Even so, the mother of 3 still tries to maintain an optimistic spirit to be a support for her children. "I have to be strong so that the children are assured. I just hope to recover from my illness soon to return to normal life, return to work in the business, and have income to raise my children to become good people" - Ms. Hoai shared.
In the treatment room this morning, Ms. Hoai could not hide her emotion at the attention, visits, and timely encouragement from the leaders of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and Bac Ninh province during the treatment period.
“In addition to material support, what moves me the most is the sincere concern and inquiries from the leaders. For workers suffering from dangerous diseases like us, it is an extremely great source of spiritual encouragement, adding strength to overcome illness, soon return to work, have income to support family and continue to contribute to society” - Ms. Hoai said emotionally.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh (Tan An ward, Bac Ninh province) said that at the beginning of 2026, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and just underwent surgery about 5 days ago at Bac Ninh Provincial Oncology Hospital.
For more than 10 years, Ms. Oanh has been attached to the job of a garment worker at a company near her house, earning about 7 million VND per month to cover family expenses. Ms. Oanh's family has 5 people.
The eldest daughter has married, the second child has just completed military service, and the youngest child is currently in 1st grade. The upheaval came when her husband had a stroke from last year, lost vision of both eyes, and his health seriously deteriorated.
All economic burdens in the family fell on the shoulders of a female worker with a meager salary. There were times when she seemed to fall into a deadlock, but Ms. Oanh still tried to get up to take care of her husband, raise her children and fight against illness.
I always encourage myself to try to overcome it, hoping my health will recover soon to return to normal life, continue to work to earn money to take care of my family" - Ms. Oanh shared.
Today, Ms. Oanh and many workers being treated at Bac Ninh Provincial Oncology Hospital were visited and encouraged by leaders of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and Bac Ninh province.
The woman who just underwent surgery could not hide her emotion at the concern and sharing of the Trade Union organization and leaders at all levels.
The concern and inquiries of the leaders make me feel that I am not alone in the most difficult times. That is a great source of encouragement for me to have more faith, more will to fight against illness, recover soon to take care of my family and continue working" - Ms. Oanh said emotionally.
There will be free health checks for 10,000 people in Bac Ninh
The activity of visiting workers undergoing cancer treatment at Bac Ninh Provincial Oncology Hospital is within the framework of the program "Giving Workers Health - For a Healthy Vietnam" 2026 organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in coordination with the Vietnam Young Physicians Association in Bac Ninh on the morning of May 10.
On May 10, the program conducted free examinations for 3,000 workers, including general and specialized examinations.
The total examination in Bac Ninh province is 10,000 people. In the coming days, examinations will be conducted at boarding houses, worker dormitories, and businesses.
Also at the program, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor presented 100 gifts to workers and laborers in difficult circumstances in the province.
We must consider the health of workers and people as the center of the development process.
If businesses do not take care of workers' health, labor productivity will decrease, products will be damaged, products will be faulty, and services that do not meet requirements will increasingly increase. Therefore, the competitiveness of businesses will decrease," Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor emphasized when speaking at the opening of the program.
Mr. Nguyen Hong Thai - Secretary of Bac Ninh Provincial Party Committee said that after the merger, Bac Ninh continues to be the leading dynamic industrial center in the country with more than 800,000 workers, including more than 600,000 trade union members.
Responding to the program organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Bac Ninh province is committed to continuing to consider caring for and protecting the health of workers and laborers as a regular and long-term political task, closely linked to development goals.
Continue to bring health care activities to factories, boarding houses, and industrial parks - not to let workers have to fend for themselves alone in the face of health problems.
