1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #377 - Everest Base Camp @ 5364m, Day8

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #377

- Lobuche to Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp @ 5364m, Day8

 

(On Day8 and after a gruelling 10-hrs of almost non-stop trekking via Gorak Shep village, we reached Everest Base Camp, the world's highest base camp! It took everything out of us - at one point with 40minutes left to reach EBC, we were asking ourselves if we should continue. The gloom of the day, with cold wind, rain and then snow beating down on us and the failing daylight, we were seriously on the brink of calling it a day. Just look at the moon-like landscape we had to traverse - see video. But we summoned up enough strength to make it to the EBC 'summit' - surely, the most physically and mentally challenging thing we have ever done. But what a most fulfilling adventure it had been! Everest Base Camp - been there, done it, post-chemo, post-cancer. Just so, so happy - and proud of myself!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My 10th Anniversary "Beating Cancer" Holiday..

This is my 10th Anniversary "Beating Cancer" Holiday, and it's a whopper!

Out in the Alaskan wilderness and on Celebrity Cruises' #1 attraction, the top highlights for me were big indeed - the majestic humpback whale and the powerful brown bear. Their raw power inspires me..to continue fighting the big C, to continue experiencing this wonderful world - there is so much life out there to savour still.

What a warm glow of happiness and love emanating from this entire holiday...hmm..so cool, so endearing..(as this video shows..)

"10 Years Already? Time Flies.."

A wonderfully new milestone for me happened yesterday..

Dr Ang Peng Tiam said to me in his Mt E clinic:
"10 years already? Time flies. And your results today look great, Nellie"

And with that, my fight to be cancer-free reaches its 10-year milestone!
Throughout this time, Dr Ang and his personal assistant, Nurse Ace was by my side.

Feeling so grateful right now - I hope this photo of us shows my deep gratitude for them:

Thank you so much, Dr Ang and Nurse Ace!

(Later on, after this 10-second photoshoot, it was back to the chair, for more zoom-zoom drips into my body - a part of my life that few people know about, except my closest)

Celebrating my 8th Year, Cancer-free!

My 8th year of remission:
I celebrated it with our travel to the furthest spot on Earth that we have ever travelled to..Brazil and Peru!

 

 

 

 

And being able to complete that climb up to Huayna Picchu, to look down on Machu Picchu from 300m high up, even with my numb toes today? That was my pinnacle in achievement, my symbolic victory over cancer!

Follow me to South America on this video clip, from the mighty Iguazzu Falls in both Argentina and Brazil, to the magnificent Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, and onwards to the awe-inspiring Christ the Redeemer and the beautiful Copacabana in Rio! Enjoy this Peruvian treasure-song, El Condor Pasa, from the traditional windpipes of a Peruvian performer at the Sacred Valley,Urubamba ..

First to Dr Ang, Then to Work..

First to Dr Ang, then to work..

This sentence reminds me of the old Bata shoe advertisement of "First to Bata, Then to School.."

This month's visit to Dr Ang Peng Tiam's office became a marathon session of sorts..my 4.30pm appointment became an 8.30pm test-of-patience. Dinner had to be the last sandwich from Delifrance from the corner outlet. As long as this wait was for me, I had to remind myself that it is just as long for Dr Ang, and even longer for his staff, who had to still administer my Zoometa booster after his consultation. It was only at 9.15pm that I was able to head to the bus station to hop on the ride home.

 

But it was a ride of comfort, relief and satisfaction, with the words from Dr Ang still ringing in my ears.."Your CT Scan, mamogram and blood test results look great, Nellie!"

I will be more than happy to sit through another 4-hour session to hear those words over and over again, every 6-months. Strong in body, strong in mind..

Dr Ang Peng Tiam : "You are in good shape, Nellie"

To hear your doctor/onco tell you:
"You are in good shape, Nellie"
..it is simply music to my ears!

And Dr Ang Peng Tiam continued by saying that I have "graduated" from PET to CAT.
Meaning, no need for the more expensive PET scans anymore,  when the next appointment with him comes around in 6 months' time.

Excellent news..lets find my graduation gown and mortar board! I wish I could look a little like below..oh, such innocence, sigh..

12 Months, 12 Cancer Warriors..

In a meaningful tribute to cancer warriors who have successfully beaten cancer, Parkway Hospitals gathered 12 survivors together (for each of the 12 months of a year) at the Old Parliament House in October to give them an endearing afternoon, with family, friends and members of the press.

While an impressive String Quartet serenaded the warriors, Dr Ang Peng Tiam took to the stage to congratulate all 12 survivors who have successfully passed the all-important 5-year milestone. A lovely studio-produced photo-frame was given all the survivors to mark the occasion. This momento certainly gave me even more incentive to pass the next milestone of 10-years.

Goodness, why not aim to go all the way and pass the 50-year milestone all the same!

My 5-Year Milestone!

My 5-year milestone of being cancer-free is here, and it's today, 16-06-11!
Let the fireworks begin..

Thank you to everyone who have supported me, no matter how small or how insignificant you thought it was. I am so grateful, words cannot describe how I feel right now..

R-E-M-I-S-S-I-O-N

R-E-M-I-S-S-I-O-N

The 9-letter word that all cancer patients (and warriors) cannot wait to hear from their own oncologist, and on 23 March, I finally heard mine from Dr Ang!

"Have I finally made it? Is it already fully 5 years since the end of the last chemo?", we asked the good doctor in earnest.

Doc replied, "No, you are 3 month short, but your results are so good, I believe you have made it, Nellie!"

What a surge of emotions inside me! These 2 photos really depict everything that's inside me:

Once, I was blurred, from the backdrop.

Now, I am right on 100% focus! And at the forefront of my life!

I did it..

With the help of everyone around me - my family, my father in heaven, my Hubby, my Doc - I have saved my own life!

And to mark the occasion, Hubby bought a lovely ring, right off Orchard Road on the evening itself, to signify that my life has indeed come full circle!

Words cannot describe my gratitude to all who have helped me through this amazing roller-coaster of a journey. That night, as I lay in bed, I said a silent prayer..

(And oh, in case you are wondering, this is no April Fool's joke)

My Pilgrimage to Mt E..

My 'pilgrimage' to Mt Elizabeth once every 3 months is both a little intimidating and fortuitous at the same time. Why do I say that? Especially given that I have taken this pilgrimage every quarter for the past 4 and 1/2 years.

Well, intimidating because the needles await me, and one simply do not know what results will show up on the doctor's desk with this quarterly 'throw of the dice'. Will the results be in my favour again?

But it is also fortuitous because deep inside me, I am very grateful that I am being looked after by an excellent doctor in Dr Ang Peng Tiam and his team. These visits always end with a shot of Zoometa to boost my body's immunity..and a bill of nearly $3000, everytime. They reaffirmed my wisdom of having a good insurance cover when I was younger, an action that must be taken up by all women, at the earliest opportunity, in their adult lives. See my earlier posting on the same:
http://beatcancer10.blogspot.com/2006/10/so-how-much-doe-cancer-cot.html

If I was to add it all up, the total medical bill would have easily crossed the $100k mark by now. But that wise step of buying that insurance plan made this journey of mine so far a much more liveable experience.

And after each trip of blood extraction for cancer-marker testing, and then followed by the wait to sit on Doc Ang's hot-seat, that shot of drug and a tummy-feeling meal along Orchard Road, I am always filled with a new zest for life.. at least until the next pilgrimage..

"The Doctor Needs to See You Today.."

"The Doctor needs to see you at his office today", said the lady's voice over the phone, when hubby and I were just round the Paragon corner, 50m from MtE, on our way to see Dr Ang Peng Tiam for my regular 3-monthly review and iron-booster drips.

With my adrenaline now pumping a little, we walked into the reception to be told by the lady, "We have your case-file here and the Doctor needs to see you."

Hubby and I heard exactly what she said, but with perplexed looks on our faces, we just sat down to patiently wait for our turn, not wanting to ask the receptionist further about this sudden urgency. You know that feeling... you know it can be bad, so you don't want to know about it, not just yet..

80mins later, we were called in to see the Doc. Again, not wanting to look unnecessarily anxious, we let the Doc go through his paces, laid on his couch, checks, weight info, some small talk about his upcoming Bali getaway, and then..

"Everything is good, Nellie. In fact, you look younger than your husband here!"

Broad smiles swept over our faces.

We later realised that the receptionist was new, and in her new role, probably took her instructions to give a gentle reminder to all patients of the day, to attend their appointments, a little bit too enthusiatically. Her choice of words could have been couched in a better context, given my circumstance of being cancer-free since June2006.

A sense of relief, nonetheless. Still, it was a small gift we were happy to receive, given that it was the eve of the eve of Xmas (23Dec).

And feeling a little like Marilyn too (at ResortsWorld), I might add..well, just a little..

"I Think You Have Escaped It.."

Yesterday, the first thing that Dr Ang Peng Tiam said to me, as I sat down in front of him..

"I think you have escaped it"

Huh?

Say what, Doc?

When we asked him what that actually meant in his medical lingo, he clarified:

I think you have escaped your cancer, Nellie. Based on my experience and the history of my patients, if there was to be a relapse, it would have happened already. You are passed 3 years since your last chemo/PET scan, right?

We nodded our heads, barely able to contain our joy inside!

Next to the best 5 words I have ever heard ("Your cancer is in remission"), these 6 words come pretty close on the joy-o-meter.

My hubby and I looked at each other for a few seconds, not being able to fully fathom the depth or meaning of Dr Ang's sweet 6 words.

And then it sank in, at home..

"I am an escapee!"

And this is where a girl skips and hops out of the hospital ..and into the hip-and-shining Ion Orchard, heart filled to the brim with joy, right?

Thank you, God. Thank you, Dad. Thank you, everyone who had helped me through this..

16-06-06 to 16-06-09 : 3 Beautiful Years

(click on the "4-arrows" icon for a full-size screen view)

16-06-06 to 16-06-09..

3 beautiful years..

Life..

To be savoured..

To be treasured..

To be loved..

With many more..

And then some..

Beautiful years to come..

(remember to turn up the speaker volume..)

5-in-1 Test at Year #3..

For the first time, Dr Ang Peng Tiam suggested that I go through a series of tests to round out what had seemed like a fantastic first 3 years, post-chemo. It was to cover..

1. my mammogram

2. my bone density

3. my cholesterol level

4. my overall blood test incl CA 125

5. and the big one, my CT Scan

Even with all the 'experience' of needles and numerous tests before, one cannot help but feel a little uneasy at the thought of all 5 tests being done at one go. Wouldn't the chances of something 'negative' popping up be quite high from these large series of tests?

I thought it would be best to get them over and be done with, once and for all.

So, on Saturday 28March, I trooped into Mt E, with hubby in tow, to face this 5-in-1 test like a good warrior should. First, it was the blood test. Then the bone test. Followed by the mammogram and lastly, the CT scan.

And on Monday, in Dr Ang's spanking new office, he said..

"All's fine, Nellie! You are in great shape!"

What a huge relief..again!

As you can see from these "Before" and "After" photos of the test, my face told a thousand stories.

I happily sat on the new recreation-chair outside of Dr Ang's room for my usual R&R ..a shot of Zometa, to strenthen the bones and wipe out any remaining unwanted cells.

Another good day at the office..as they would say in the corporate world.

Yes.. many, many more to come, I would say!

Back to the original "crime scene"..

Back to the original "crime scene"?..

Well, kind of. This is not CSI.

But you see, it was exactly 3 years ago that the real story of my cancer started..right here, as shown in this photo : Cameron Highlands, the place of the original "crime scene".

For it was from here that I started to feel discomforts in my abdomen, after a short New Year holiday there. Click here for the original story :

http://beatcancer10.blogspot.com/2006/07/somethings-not-right.html

So, it was nice to "retrace" back, like a CSI detective, to this spot, exactly 3 years later. As a golfer, this has to be one of the loveliest and most serene places in this part of the world, down from the hillside of this public golf course in Tanah Rata, and with the view of the Chinese temple at the back, where I have offered prayers everytime I was there, without fail.

And being the eve of the New Year of 2009, hubby and I had a wonderful dinner at the famous "Ye Olde Smokehouse" Hotel, right beside this golf course.

Was it a dinner to remember? Yes..except that most of it was left on the road kerb, beside the hotel. Suffice to say that my tummy was not taking to RM300-type haute-cuisine well, at high altitude. A simple RM1.20 prata will do nicely for me, thank you very much..haha!

The Symbol of Eternity..

Of all the stories, the schoolbooks and the wonders of ancient history, the one that stood out for us most was the history of the great Egyptian era.. and of course, the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Hailed by many as the universal symbol of Eternity, one cannot help but feel small in front of this massive human engineering feat, which has lasted over 4500 years .. yes, it was built in 2560 B.C.!

Being there, right under the shadow of these magnificent pyramids, one can sense that "eternity". Not even the beautiful Sphinx can compare with its majesty and longevity.

I wish a little of this "eternity" has rubbed off on me..

Yes, life can be short..but it was a dream come true to be standing beside the Great Pyramids of Giza.. and holding it by the tip of my fingers, no less!

This is one experience for me that will last for eternity!

( the Great Pyramid itself - the one with the polished tip - can be scaled downwards, right into the very heart, by walking down a tunnel through bended knees. I decided to take the scenic option and opted out, but hubby was game enough to overcome the heat and the claustrophobic tunnel to view the insides.. what a view it must have been!)