"So, how much does treating your cancer really cost?"
All of us have some idea that treating cancer is expensive. The newspapers have tuned most of us to brace ourselves for that big medical bill when a critical illness hits us. Maybe not now, but one day. Hopefully, not ever.
But when I was asked this question some time ago, I thought that it would be good for more people to fully grasp what the real dollars and cents are, when an major illness like cancer strikes. And then perhaps, we all can better plan, save and respond to such an emergency. Is it about $10,000 or thereabouts? With medical costs escalating these days, perhaps double that to $20,000. The truth was, hubby and I didnt know what to expect in full, until now. So here's a summarised total of what I had to pay, moneywise, to fight this monster disease:
1. Surgery and hospital... $ 13,367
2. Chemo sessions (x6) ... $ 28,800
3. PET Scan.....................$ 3,100
4. Post-infusions (x4)..... $ 5,464
**********************************
Total todate............ $ 50,731
**********************************
And oh, this is not the end. Post-chemo infusions continue, now at 2 monthly intervals. And there are of course the followup visits with both the oncologist and gynae, which I expect will be required for the rest of my life. So, when the Health Minister says people of today needs to be able to manage and financially withstand a personal health crisis, we now know exactly what he means. It is interesting to note an article some time ago, that a high percentage of the American population today is one major health crisis away from personal bankcruptcy.
Goodness, and how true indeed, by just looking at this total sum above.
One word stands out like a beacon in my mind right now as I write this... insurance.
The need for health insurance to cover any major critical illnesses now rings true more so than ever. I am really glad I paid for some health cover when I was younger. I hope more women today will do likewise.
>> gleefully ntangle
Showing posts with label The 1st 6-months. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The 1st 6-months. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Hair Today, Hair Tomorrow : a lady's crown
I still remember that one of the very first questions I asked my oncologist when he first laid out the "chemo-buffet" on all the side-effects that I should expect over the 5-6 month period, was .. "Doc, how will my hair look after the chemo, in say, 2 to 3 months time after the last treatment?"
I could see my hubby looking back at me instantly, as if in total wonder that such a question had even come into my mind when my very life was on the brink. I suppose expecting a man to understand what a woman's crown really means to her would be too much of a stretch. In truth, as he walked side by side through the first 5 months with me, I can sense that he began to understand what it means to me .. a little, perhaps.
So, given that my hair took such a huge chunk of my attention, from the start of chemo till this day, I thought it would be interesting for you ladies out there to have a glimpse of the hair-evolution I had to go through, pictorially. Here's 4 pictures I can share:
(Pic 1 : my long hair, before chemo)
Here's my silky long hair.. a real "Before" shot of what was crowning my head for a good 20 years. Aahh, the good ole days..
(Pic 2: my crew cut)
My hubby insisted that I should have this photo taken. I have never seen myself in this crew-cut short hair before, so it was a bit of a shock to the system. My hairdresser was excellent in snipping my hair to a level that I wanted. By now, the hair had begun to fall, and I didnt want the long hair to be dropping all over our home. Also, it helped in adjusting my own view of me before the next phase hits me, ie totally bald.
(Pic 3 : My wig)
Me and my wig, which became my constant companion for a good 5 months. The wig was made of natural hair, which I discovered was more comfortable than the artificial hair. Sometimes the heat generated under the wig can be rather unbeareable, which led to curious stares from the public whenever I took it out for some much needed airing in the car.. who cares what other people might think!
(Pic #4 : now)
And so, this is the answer to the original question above.. my hair 3 months after my last chemo. It's soft and it's curly.. my mum's description says it best : "like a young kitten's".
I certainly did not expect it to be this soft. I decided to give it a coppertone colour.. and it felt and looked good then.. still do now!
(Pic #5 of Kylie's hair)
When Kylie was interviewed in June, she had this to say about her hair:
"When it first started to fall out, I just buzz cut the whole thing. I am used to having different looks and figured out the way to use my scarf. But when it started to grow back, it was so thrilling!"
Yes, I know how she felt and can share that same sense of thrill with her.
>>gleefully ntangle
I could see my hubby looking back at me instantly, as if in total wonder that such a question had even come into my mind when my very life was on the brink. I suppose expecting a man to understand what a woman's crown really means to her would be too much of a stretch. In truth, as he walked side by side through the first 5 months with me, I can sense that he began to understand what it means to me .. a little, perhaps.
So, given that my hair took such a huge chunk of my attention, from the start of chemo till this day, I thought it would be interesting for you ladies out there to have a glimpse of the hair-evolution I had to go through, pictorially. Here's 4 pictures I can share:
(Pic 1 : my long hair, before chemo)Here's my silky long hair.. a real "Before" shot of what was crowning my head for a good 20 years. Aahh, the good ole days..
(Pic 2: my crew cut)My hubby insisted that I should have this photo taken. I have never seen myself in this crew-cut short hair before, so it was a bit of a shock to the system. My hairdresser was excellent in snipping my hair to a level that I wanted. By now, the hair had begun to fall, and I didnt want the long hair to be dropping all over our home. Also, it helped in adjusting my own view of me before the next phase hits me, ie totally bald.
(Pic 3 : My wig)Me and my wig, which became my constant companion for a good 5 months. The wig was made of natural hair, which I discovered was more comfortable than the artificial hair. Sometimes the heat generated under the wig can be rather unbeareable, which led to curious stares from the public whenever I took it out for some much needed airing in the car.. who cares what other people might think!
(Pic #4 : now)And so, this is the answer to the original question above.. my hair 3 months after my last chemo. It's soft and it's curly.. my mum's description says it best : "like a young kitten's".
I certainly did not expect it to be this soft. I decided to give it a coppertone colour.. and it felt and looked good then.. still do now!
(Pic #5 of Kylie's hair)When Kylie was interviewed in June, she had this to say about her hair:
"When it first started to fall out, I just buzz cut the whole thing. I am used to having different looks and figured out the way to use my scarf. But when it started to grow back, it was so thrilling!"
Yes, I know how she felt and can share that same sense of thrill with her.
>>gleefully ntangle
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
"Your cancer is in remission!!"
The days after the 6th chemo were filled with so much anticipation.. half my mind was fighting the usual aches in the bones and numbness, but the other half was awaiting the final results. Will this war with my cancer be ultimately declared successful, or will more treatment be required? All the 5 blood tests todate appear to show consistently good results, esp the CA125 marker, which tracks the cancer cells for ovarian cancer.
However one last test was recommended by Dr Ang Peng Tiam, one called a "PET Scan". It will allow him to see cell activities.. cancer cells being more active than normal cells. If no red patches show up in the scan, then all's well. He calls this the test to confirm all the past blood tests.
15June.. the scan took a full 5 hours to complete at Mt E, which supposedly is the only hospital in Spore to have this technology.
16June.. Time to see Dr Ang for the PET Scan result. I had a strange feeling.. like I was about to receive my school exam results.. butterflies-in-the-tummy time. Hubby and I sat in front of Dr Ang, his left hand holding my right, as if in joint prayer. And then, the 5 words I had been nervously waiting for..
"Your cancer is in remission!!"
He carried on .. "You can now go back to normal life, Nellie. You can do anything you want and eat anything you want." My hubby chimed in, "Including durians, doc?". He replied in the affirmative.
160606.. this is a day I will remember for the rest of my life. As much as 19Jan took almost everything out from inside me, this day brought just about everything back into my body. I can now wake up in the morning with confidence, laugh in the day with joy and go to bed in the night with peace inside me. We thank Dr Ang profusely. And we asked him if he could do us the honour of autographing his book.. the very book which brought us to him in the first place. And he wrote... (see pic below).
However one last test was recommended by Dr Ang Peng Tiam, one called a "PET Scan". It will allow him to see cell activities.. cancer cells being more active than normal cells. If no red patches show up in the scan, then all's well. He calls this the test to confirm all the past blood tests.
15June.. the scan took a full 5 hours to complete at Mt E, which supposedly is the only hospital in Spore to have this technology.
16June.. Time to see Dr Ang for the PET Scan result. I had a strange feeling.. like I was about to receive my school exam results.. butterflies-in-the-tummy time. Hubby and I sat in front of Dr Ang, his left hand holding my right, as if in joint prayer. And then, the 5 words I had been nervously waiting for..
"Your cancer is in remission!!"
He carried on .. "You can now go back to normal life, Nellie. You can do anything you want and eat anything you want." My hubby chimed in, "Including durians, doc?". He replied in the affirmative.
160606.. this is a day I will remember for the rest of my life. As much as 19Jan took almost everything out from inside me, this day brought just about everything back into my body. I can now wake up in the morning with confidence, laugh in the day with joy and go to bed in the night with peace inside me. We thank Dr Ang profusely. And we asked him if he could do us the honour of autographing his book.. the very book which brought us to him in the first place. And he wrote... (see pic below).
We headed out to celebrate at my favourite steakhouse..Tony Roma's.
Yes, I have won this battle for my life!
Yes, I am now a cancer survivor, I am proud to say.
Where do I begin in thanking all those who have helped me along this tough, long road to recovery? My mum and sisters.. your wonderful food and your continuous support to fight this evil. My friends.. your visits, your thoughts and words of encouragement, and your Korean DVDs! And a huge thank-you to Dr Goh whose keen eye caught the disease early on 19Jan, and to the magical hands of Dr Ang and his talented team.
And of course, Dad.. I know you are watching over me..
>>gleefully ntangle
Monday, August 28, 2006
"What about my job, dear.."
We had kept Nellie's employer informed of her condition from the very beginning in January when her abdominal pain got from a mere irritation to being persistent. Given her newness to the company, she had to obtain due instructions from them on which clinic is under their group insurance and what was covered.. you know, the usual stuff that an employee should get to know at times like these.
But man, things sure were not usual stuff anymore, as we had learnt, about a week into her surgery.
When she asked, ".. but what about my job, dear?", I took the view that being able for her to return to her current job would be most soothing for her, given the circumstances. When things do get back to "normal", she would more than likely want to get back to work, I reasoned. Of course, there's the other view that giving her 100% focus on winning her war with cancer ought to be priority #1, as opposed to getting sidetracked by what could be or might be, 6-9 months down the road. We decided that it would make better sense to hold on to the job than to resign, and took the decision to ask from her employer a leave of absence of about 8-10 months. We asked her oncologist to write us a letter to explain her condition now, and was duly given one the very day we asked.. what impressive turnaround indeed from Dr Ang and her office.
Her request was formally put to the company the next day. What came back literally blew my top!
Sorry, your request for LOA was denied.. so said the HR dept. How can this be? Here's an employee seeking what to me was a most innocuous request: time-off to fight a disease, so that she can be back to perform her duties again. And a terminal disease called ovarian cancer, no less. Surely, the time to look after the welfare of your employees must be now.. now, more so than any time in an employee's tenure with a company, wouldnt it?
We felt utterly deflated. But we decided to take the matter further with the VP of the company, essentially appealing to his sense of caring and compassion. Afterall, she isnt asking to be paid... just time off to fight for her life! What could be more immediate or noble a cause than that?
2 days into her appeal, Nellie came to me with an email in hand and with a smile as wide as the horizon, "The company has decided to grant me the LOA, dear!"
Who's to say what that had meant to her? Who's to say what would have happened to her spirits if her appeal was not granted, and the impact that would have had on her will to fight? I have no doubt in my mind that knowing that her job was there waiting for her when she goes back to "normal" was one of the key contributors to her successful conquest of this most dreadful disease.
As I write this, Nellie is looking through her wardrobe again.. checking out her working garments and deciding which dress she will be wearing this Friday.. when she steps into her office again.. exactly 7 months and 12 days later. I know she can't wait to be back with her colleagues..
Thank you, Nellie's employer!
In making her feel special, you are now a special breed of employers who have shown what this sometimes cold dark world can be when we all show a little bit more compassion and caring. Well done indeed!
>>gleefully ntangle
But man, things sure were not usual stuff anymore, as we had learnt, about a week into her surgery.
When she asked, ".. but what about my job, dear?", I took the view that being able for her to return to her current job would be most soothing for her, given the circumstances. When things do get back to "normal", she would more than likely want to get back to work, I reasoned. Of course, there's the other view that giving her 100% focus on winning her war with cancer ought to be priority #1, as opposed to getting sidetracked by what could be or might be, 6-9 months down the road. We decided that it would make better sense to hold on to the job than to resign, and took the decision to ask from her employer a leave of absence of about 8-10 months. We asked her oncologist to write us a letter to explain her condition now, and was duly given one the very day we asked.. what impressive turnaround indeed from Dr Ang and her office.
Her request was formally put to the company the next day. What came back literally blew my top!
Sorry, your request for LOA was denied.. so said the HR dept. How can this be? Here's an employee seeking what to me was a most innocuous request: time-off to fight a disease, so that she can be back to perform her duties again. And a terminal disease called ovarian cancer, no less. Surely, the time to look after the welfare of your employees must be now.. now, more so than any time in an employee's tenure with a company, wouldnt it?
We felt utterly deflated. But we decided to take the matter further with the VP of the company, essentially appealing to his sense of caring and compassion. Afterall, she isnt asking to be paid... just time off to fight for her life! What could be more immediate or noble a cause than that?
2 days into her appeal, Nellie came to me with an email in hand and with a smile as wide as the horizon, "The company has decided to grant me the LOA, dear!"
Who's to say what that had meant to her? Who's to say what would have happened to her spirits if her appeal was not granted, and the impact that would have had on her will to fight? I have no doubt in my mind that knowing that her job was there waiting for her when she goes back to "normal" was one of the key contributors to her successful conquest of this most dreadful disease.
As I write this, Nellie is looking through her wardrobe again.. checking out her working garments and deciding which dress she will be wearing this Friday.. when she steps into her office again.. exactly 7 months and 12 days later. I know she can't wait to be back with her colleagues..
Thank you, Nellie's employer!
In making her feel special, you are now a special breed of employers who have shown what this sometimes cold dark world can be when we all show a little bit more compassion and caring. Well done indeed!
>>gleefully ntangle
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Diary of my chemo days....
11 Feb
Had my 1st chemo treatment today, which had me sitting at the clinic for almost 3 hours.
I was hoping the drips would be faster. But then again, what other appointments do I have?
13 Feb (% of sleep: 40)
I suffered body aches and was low in energy. As a result of the aches it also impacted my sleep. This is what I have to get used to for the next 4 months, I suspect.
21 Feb (% of sleep: 50)
Today I noticed hairs on the seattee and on my pillow. It is the beginning of my hair falling as result of the treatment... Sigh!
22 Feb (% of sleep: 80)
Got my hair dresser in today to shave the hair to 1/2 inch height. I wanted to ensure a gradual change of my image, as opposed to what could be a heart wrenching experience of seeing a full head of long flowing hair turning bald, right before my very eyes.
4 Mar (% of sleep: 75)
Had my 2nd chemo today. Told the doc of my experiences after the 1st chemo session and he was happy with my progress. He increased the dosage 10% more. Informed the doc about the numbness on my fingers and toes that I have been feeling since yesterday. In the afternoon after the chemo, the numbness that I have been feeling went away. A bonus.
5 Mar (% of sleep: 70)
Woke up without feeling any numbness or body aches.. but I anticipate it coming any moment. Hubby and I set off for our first outing... KL trip, after midday. It was good to be able to get out and join the human race again!
6 Mar (% of sleep: 10)
Body aches and numbness starting to impact me. Energy level has also dropped. Went to the massive Times Square to walk around but I could not walk much (my legs are feeling weak), so I decided to walk back to the hotel to rest. Shopping isn't the same anymore..
7 Mar (% of sleep: 70)
Similar body aches and numbness feeling. I went to Parkson around 10am but came back to the hotel after about an hour's walk and my legs are feeling weak again. We headed back to Singapore around 12pm.
8 Mar (% of sleep: 80)
Body aches and numbness are still there and by the later part of the day the aches have subsided. A good friend came to visit me today and we chatted.... it was good to have friends during this period.
25 Mar (% of sleep: 70)
Woke up at midnite to take my medication in preparation for my 3rd chemo today. The treatment ended later than usual, drip was rather slow. Nurse at the clinic says that chemo treatment cause the veins to shrink thus drip is much slower, another biological change to me, I thought.
26 Mar (% of sleep: 80)
I woke up feeling ok and decided to go for a light jog. We spent some time at the beach. It was good to feel and smell the fresh sea breeze.
1 Apr (% of sleep: 90)
Woke up at 1.20am and went back to sleep till 7.15 am. Hubby and I went to watch a play "Doubt" at the Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel. 11.30pm..we had never been out this late for a long time now. Apart from my wig, I could easily pass off as any other ladies at the show.. nice feeling.
12 Apr (% of sleep: 85)
Went to Mt. E this morning for my blood test and saw the doc in the afternoon pending my 4th chemo the next day. Doc says I am tough and doing good (as shown in the blood test results). This made me feel uplifted!
16 Apr (% of sleep: 80)
Numbness and tingling on my toes and fingers are more intensed than previous treatment. Tummy was feeling bloaty and I was burping alot. My appetite was not good and in the evening after dinner I threw up around 9pm. This is a new experience for me being the first time.
17 Apr (% of sleep: 80)
I woke up many times last nite but managed to go back to sleep. Tummy still feeling bloaty and decided to call the doc about it. He asked for me to collect some medicine to reduce the bloatiness. After 2 doses I felt slightly better. This is probably the most uncomfortable period over the last 2 months of chemo.
26 Apr (% of sleep: 60)
Was struggling to sleep the whole night as I was impacted with a bad persistent headache from previous day.
3 May (% of sleep: 90)
As I have been feeling better the past few days, hubby decided to take me to golf .. for a start 9 holes. I survived the game and felt great (who cares about the score!). It's fantastic to feel the golf clubs and hear the sound of the ball falling into the cup again.
5 May (% of sleep: 60)
Very disturbed sleep last nite... not sure why? Had my 5th chemo today.. started at 8.50 am and ended at 1.10 pm... I'm restless by then. Numbness and tingling were felt on my thighs and lower arm after today's session.
7 May (% of sleep: 90)
Slept better last nite. After breakfast I started to feel a little nauseous. I didn't have much appetite during lunch so I just had a bun. Decided to pop in an anti nausea pill... I was also experiencing diarrhea today. Mild body aches and my knees are feeling weak.
26 May (% of sleep: 90)
Today is my last chemo session, finally! A sense of relief and excitement at the same time. A small prayer.. let this be my last, dear God.
Looking back, keeping a record of how I felt everyday since my first chemo has helped me to stay in closer touch with my day-to-day emotions and feelings. Plus it has given me a chance to recall as much information as I can whenever I visited the doc. I would recommend keeping such a diary for anyone who is in a similar situation as mine.
>>gleefully ntangle
Had my 1st chemo treatment today, which had me sitting at the clinic for almost 3 hours.
I was hoping the drips would be faster. But then again, what other appointments do I have?
13 Feb (% of sleep: 40)
I suffered body aches and was low in energy. As a result of the aches it also impacted my sleep. This is what I have to get used to for the next 4 months, I suspect.
21 Feb (% of sleep: 50)
Today I noticed hairs on the seattee and on my pillow. It is the beginning of my hair falling as result of the treatment... Sigh!
22 Feb (% of sleep: 80)
Got my hair dresser in today to shave the hair to 1/2 inch height. I wanted to ensure a gradual change of my image, as opposed to what could be a heart wrenching experience of seeing a full head of long flowing hair turning bald, right before my very eyes.
4 Mar (% of sleep: 75)
Had my 2nd chemo today. Told the doc of my experiences after the 1st chemo session and he was happy with my progress. He increased the dosage 10% more. Informed the doc about the numbness on my fingers and toes that I have been feeling since yesterday. In the afternoon after the chemo, the numbness that I have been feeling went away. A bonus.
5 Mar (% of sleep: 70)
Woke up without feeling any numbness or body aches.. but I anticipate it coming any moment. Hubby and I set off for our first outing... KL trip, after midday. It was good to be able to get out and join the human race again!
6 Mar (% of sleep: 10)
Body aches and numbness starting to impact me. Energy level has also dropped. Went to the massive Times Square to walk around but I could not walk much (my legs are feeling weak), so I decided to walk back to the hotel to rest. Shopping isn't the same anymore..
7 Mar (% of sleep: 70)
Similar body aches and numbness feeling. I went to Parkson around 10am but came back to the hotel after about an hour's walk and my legs are feeling weak again. We headed back to Singapore around 12pm.
8 Mar (% of sleep: 80)
Body aches and numbness are still there and by the later part of the day the aches have subsided. A good friend came to visit me today and we chatted.... it was good to have friends during this period.
25 Mar (% of sleep: 70)
Woke up at midnite to take my medication in preparation for my 3rd chemo today. The treatment ended later than usual, drip was rather slow. Nurse at the clinic says that chemo treatment cause the veins to shrink thus drip is much slower, another biological change to me, I thought.
26 Mar (% of sleep: 80)
I woke up feeling ok and decided to go for a light jog. We spent some time at the beach. It was good to feel and smell the fresh sea breeze.
1 Apr (% of sleep: 90)
Woke up at 1.20am and went back to sleep till 7.15 am. Hubby and I went to watch a play "Doubt" at the Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel. 11.30pm..we had never been out this late for a long time now. Apart from my wig, I could easily pass off as any other ladies at the show.. nice feeling.
12 Apr (% of sleep: 85)
Went to Mt. E this morning for my blood test and saw the doc in the afternoon pending my 4th chemo the next day. Doc says I am tough and doing good (as shown in the blood test results). This made me feel uplifted!
16 Apr (% of sleep: 80)
Numbness and tingling on my toes and fingers are more intensed than previous treatment. Tummy was feeling bloaty and I was burping alot. My appetite was not good and in the evening after dinner I threw up around 9pm. This is a new experience for me being the first time.
17 Apr (% of sleep: 80)
I woke up many times last nite but managed to go back to sleep. Tummy still feeling bloaty and decided to call the doc about it. He asked for me to collect some medicine to reduce the bloatiness. After 2 doses I felt slightly better. This is probably the most uncomfortable period over the last 2 months of chemo.
26 Apr (% of sleep: 60)
Was struggling to sleep the whole night as I was impacted with a bad persistent headache from previous day.
3 May (% of sleep: 90)
As I have been feeling better the past few days, hubby decided to take me to golf .. for a start 9 holes. I survived the game and felt great (who cares about the score!). It's fantastic to feel the golf clubs and hear the sound of the ball falling into the cup again.
5 May (% of sleep: 60)
Very disturbed sleep last nite... not sure why? Had my 5th chemo today.. started at 8.50 am and ended at 1.10 pm... I'm restless by then. Numbness and tingling were felt on my thighs and lower arm after today's session.
7 May (% of sleep: 90)
Slept better last nite. After breakfast I started to feel a little nauseous. I didn't have much appetite during lunch so I just had a bun. Decided to pop in an anti nausea pill... I was also experiencing diarrhea today. Mild body aches and my knees are feeling weak.
26 May (% of sleep: 90)
Today is my last chemo session, finally! A sense of relief and excitement at the same time. A small prayer.. let this be my last, dear God.
Looking back, keeping a record of how I felt everyday since my first chemo has helped me to stay in closer touch with my day-to-day emotions and feelings. Plus it has given me a chance to recall as much information as I can whenever I visited the doc. I would recommend keeping such a diary for anyone who is in a similar situation as mine.
>>gleefully ntangle
Monday, August 07, 2006
The side effects : chemo treatments..
Total hair losts, body aches, numbness and nausea are the 4 main side effects which I have to go through during chemotherapy.... Wow, there goes my long and silky hair! I guess body aches and the numbness are side effects which I can put up with. Also there are medications which Dr. Ang will prescribed on standby to ease these side effects. Nausea is almost 90% a "no" but there may be occasions during the treatments when I may experience it. So the total hair loss is something which is rather difficult for me to accept... I asked the doc : when will my hair start to drop and his answer is "in two weeks time after your first treatment".. oh dear..
11 Feb 2006 - The day I am set for my 1st treatment..... sitting at the clinic for the treatment lasted for 3-1/2 hours and this first experience wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Although during the treatment I did feel a little restless. Home I go after the treatment. Body aches started the next day and it lasted for 4 days.
11 days later my hairs started to show signs of dropping... hairs on our settee, pillows and all over the floor!
13 days through my treatment I called my hairdresser to our home to shave off my hair to half an inch long.... my new hairdo took a while to get used to it, but I was all ready and even more determined to fight this battle.
My sleep was also impacted since I had the treatment.. my mind was overly alert and I struggled to have a good nite sleep. The yellow antihistamine pills became a good companion for the next 2 nites.
My 2nd treatment was scheduled 3 weeks later and I went through the same 3-1/2 hr of infusion at the clinic.
But more was to come..
>>gleefully ntangle
11 Feb 2006 - The day I am set for my 1st treatment..... sitting at the clinic for the treatment lasted for 3-1/2 hours and this first experience wasn't as bad as I anticipated. Although during the treatment I did feel a little restless. Home I go after the treatment. Body aches started the next day and it lasted for 4 days.
11 days later my hairs started to show signs of dropping... hairs on our settee, pillows and all over the floor!
13 days through my treatment I called my hairdresser to our home to shave off my hair to half an inch long.... my new hairdo took a while to get used to it, but I was all ready and even more determined to fight this battle.
My sleep was also impacted since I had the treatment.. my mind was overly alert and I struggled to have a good nite sleep. The yellow antihistamine pills became a good companion for the next 2 nites.
My 2nd treatment was scheduled 3 weeks later and I went through the same 3-1/2 hr of infusion at the clinic.
But more was to come..
>>gleefully ntangle
Thursday, August 03, 2006
The book that changed our lives..
On the very day of her surgery, a rather inconspicuous article in the "Today" newspaper caught my attention, as I sat at the lounge waiting area of the hospital.
It was titled "One in 4 S'poreans will die of cancer", and carried on.." Driven by harsh figures, oncologist writes book for parents, families". The book was titled "Doctor, I Have Cancer. Can You Help Me?" And the oncologist? Dr Ang Peng Tiam.
Few things could ever compare the irony of the situation that I was in.. here I was at the very day of my wife's surgery that could potentially save her life, and there it was, an article on cancer in the papers saying one in four people will die of cancer. But reading into the article a bit more, it was billed as a book of hope. I made it a point to seek out the book as soon as I could. I showed it to Nellie and said to her that this book will bring something new to our fight against the cancer.
"I read the book within a day! Filled with pictures, it was easy to read and clearly showed how the most aggressive of cancers can be stopped from spreading further, if not fully cured. In my mind, I was half dreading what's to become of me in the months ahead, but also what I can do inside me to win this fight... literally, the fight of my life. The book put in all together for me, from what others have had to go through to what expectations I should carry with me, as I walk down this war path. I am going to try to be as positive as I can, and if mind over matter has anything to do with it, I will give it a very good try !!"
After reading it, we both decided immediately that Dr Ang will be her oncologist from here on.
Fate has a way of bringing together what looked like the most disconnected of things. What were the chances of me ending up reading that article on Dr Ang's cancer book? And on the very day of her surgery, no less. Looking back, one has to marvel at the ironically fortuitous circumstances of it all.. indeed, the book literally brought us both plenty of hope! And of course, Dr Ang himself.
It was titled "One in 4 S'poreans will die of cancer", and carried on.." Driven by harsh figures, oncologist writes book for parents, families". The book was titled "Doctor, I Have Cancer. Can You Help Me?" And the oncologist? Dr Ang Peng Tiam.
Few things could ever compare the irony of the situation that I was in.. here I was at the very day of my wife's surgery that could potentially save her life, and there it was, an article on cancer in the papers saying one in four people will die of cancer. But reading into the article a bit more, it was billed as a book of hope. I made it a point to seek out the book as soon as I could. I showed it to Nellie and said to her that this book will bring something new to our fight against the cancer.
"I read the book within a day! Filled with pictures, it was easy to read and clearly showed how the most aggressive of cancers can be stopped from spreading further, if not fully cured. In my mind, I was half dreading what's to become of me in the months ahead, but also what I can do inside me to win this fight... literally, the fight of my life. The book put in all together for me, from what others have had to go through to what expectations I should carry with me, as I walk down this war path. I am going to try to be as positive as I can, and if mind over matter has anything to do with it, I will give it a very good try !!"
After reading it, we both decided immediately that Dr Ang will be her oncologist from here on.
Fate has a way of bringing together what looked like the most disconnected of things. What were the chances of me ending up reading that article on Dr Ang's cancer book? And on the very day of her surgery, no less. Looking back, one has to marvel at the ironically fortuitous circumstances of it all.. indeed, the book literally brought us both plenty of hope! And of course, Dr Ang himself.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
"Relative 5-Years Survival Rate is.."
Hitting the Net immediately when I returned from hospital, I began searching for information on anything cancer, and in particular, ovarian cancer.
http://www.cancer.org/ gave the most comprehensive and easily understood details, posting information from the American Cancer Society. It showed clearly how ovarian cancer is staged, or how widespread it is. More important to me was a small table titled "Relative 5-Years Survival Rate", showing all 10 Stages, from Stage 1A to Stage 4. It refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer had been diagnosed.. 92% for Stage 1A and at Stage 4...17.5%... a chill ran down my spine.
Nellie's 3-day stay at the R Hospital was relatively smooth. Fed with her Mum's best soups and porridge, and with comforting visits by family and friends, she soon gained enough strength to return home.
4 days later, it was time to see her gynae again for her final results to be revealed, showing the staging of her ovarian cancer.
" I remember saying to myself, 'Be brave. Lets get the full story from Dr Goh' , and then take it from there. But what awaited me was more then I could handle. The doc said that not only has the tumour grown to such an enormous size, it has also spread to the womb lining, the ommentum.
She continued, "I am afraid your cancer is at Stage 3C!"
My husband and I held our hands, and wept. A minute later, and still fearing for the worst, he asked Dr Goh to give it to us in plain English what a Stage 3 cancer really meant... ' about 30% chance of survival' was her answer. My head was spinning. It took awhile to soak it all up. We thank the doc and took a sombre drive home. In the bathroom, I fell onto my husband's shoulder and sobbed.."
>>gleefully ntangle
Monday, July 17, 2006
"Why is it taking so long.."
Surgery of any type is a worrying situation. Surgery to see what exactly is inside your abdomen and then to determine if a tumour in an ovary is malignant or not is simply edge-of-the-seat stuff. And I was only the guy sitting outside the OT, waiting for the gynae's results and for Nellie to be rolled out.. safely.
It was supposed to be over within 3hours..
"So why is it taking so long..?", asked Nellie's mum, with increasingly worrying lines on her face. 4 hours passed. In the 5th hour, the gynae surgeon came out and gave the news..
"The tumour is malignant. We had to be doubly sure that we got out as much as we could. We took the womb out too."
I swallowed, but my throat was dry.
"I was feeling drowsy and could hear voices of the family around me..... My mum came over and asked if I was feeling fine. I said yes and went back to sleep.
It was not until the next morning that I was fully conscious and was waiting for the gynae to come over and tell me what had been done to me. My hubby came early in the morning and I could see from his face that things does not look right for me. I asked him if I was ok and he came over.. gave me a big hug and started tearing. I knew from that point that the cancer had hit me! The sadness and disappointment in his face made me realised that I was in a very major battle to fight from now on.......
The battle that I have to fight was confirmed by the doc who came over to see me around 10am. She said I have to be strong, stay positive and fight it! As devastated as I was feeling then, I told myself that I will have to fight this."
The doc showed us the picture of the ovary.. a massive size of a tennis ball! (see picture in next blog-entry). It was a disgusting sight, made all the more gory by the streaks of blood around it.
How can this be? Just 3 weeks ago we were strolling in the cool mountain air of Cameron Highlands. In fact, just 5 months ago, she had a full medical healthscreening and apart from a few innocuous comments, she was given the all clear. Everything still seemed so totally surreal..
>>gleefully ntangle
It was supposed to be over within 3hours..
"So why is it taking so long..?", asked Nellie's mum, with increasingly worrying lines on her face. 4 hours passed. In the 5th hour, the gynae surgeon came out and gave the news..
"The tumour is malignant. We had to be doubly sure that we got out as much as we could. We took the womb out too."
I swallowed, but my throat was dry.
"I was feeling drowsy and could hear voices of the family around me..... My mum came over and asked if I was feeling fine. I said yes and went back to sleep.
It was not until the next morning that I was fully conscious and was waiting for the gynae to come over and tell me what had been done to me. My hubby came early in the morning and I could see from his face that things does not look right for me. I asked him if I was ok and he came over.. gave me a big hug and started tearing. I knew from that point that the cancer had hit me! The sadness and disappointment in his face made me realised that I was in a very major battle to fight from now on.......
The battle that I have to fight was confirmed by the doc who came over to see me around 10am. She said I have to be strong, stay positive and fight it! As devastated as I was feeling then, I told myself that I will have to fight this."
The doc showed us the picture of the ovary.. a massive size of a tennis ball! (see picture in next blog-entry). It was a disgusting sight, made all the more gory by the streaks of blood around it.
How can this be? Just 3 weeks ago we were strolling in the cool mountain air of Cameron Highlands. In fact, just 5 months ago, she had a full medical healthscreening and apart from a few innocuous comments, she was given the all clear. Everything still seemed so totally surreal..
>>gleefully ntangle
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
"Something's not right.."
Back from the mountains in Cameron Highlands after a nice 2006 New Year's holiday, Nellie began to feel pain in her abdominal area. She described it as "a small discomfort". But it was discomforting enough for her to seek medical help from her employer's doctors.
Her initial prognosis? Probably a urinary tract infection. She got her medicine, she took them and we didnt think much of it.
But the discomfort persisted. She returned to the same GP the following week. Some additional tests were done. Again, she was asked to take some new medicine and to monitor her condition.
Then..
6 Jan 2006 - It started with a cramp attack which lasted for about 10 mins. I was unable to move, feeling faint and started to cold sweat. Seated in my office chair I was waiting for the pain to go away. I was scared as this has never happened to me before. The GP suspected it was food poisoning.
13 Jan 2006 - A week later I had the same attack and it was then that I insisted she refer me to a specialist or whoever that can tell me why I'm experiencing this pain? Fortunately a lady Gynaecologist will be in the clinic in the afternoon and an appointment was made for me to see her. My appointment with Dr.Karolyn Goh at 12.30pm was even more shocking when the ultra sound scan showed my ovary had ballooned to the size of 10.8cm, a tennis ball instead of a fishball! She immediately wanted me to go for a further test and scan at Raffles Hospital that afternoon. I left the clinic and called my hubby immediately to tell him what happened.
19 Jan 2006 - My experience at R Hospital was something which I will never forget. With a full bladder, I was asked to wait until it was my turn..an uncomfortable 30min wait. With the additional scans, the tumour was confirmed. And it was likely cancerous. The doctor asked that we consider immediate surgery to remove not just the ovaries, but also the fallopian tubes and the womb... a total hysterectomy! My mind was spinning..how can this be? Just 3 weeks ago, I was in the cool mountain air of beautiful Cameron Highlands. Now, I am in the clutches of cancer..
We were asked to seek a second opinion, if we wanted. But my mind was made up. I had asked for the earliest surgery available.
The next day, I was rolled into the operating theatre...
>>gleefully ntangle
Her initial prognosis? Probably a urinary tract infection. She got her medicine, she took them and we didnt think much of it.
But the discomfort persisted. She returned to the same GP the following week. Some additional tests were done. Again, she was asked to take some new medicine and to monitor her condition.
Then..
6 Jan 2006 - It started with a cramp attack which lasted for about 10 mins. I was unable to move, feeling faint and started to cold sweat. Seated in my office chair I was waiting for the pain to go away. I was scared as this has never happened to me before. The GP suspected it was food poisoning.
13 Jan 2006 - A week later I had the same attack and it was then that I insisted she refer me to a specialist or whoever that can tell me why I'm experiencing this pain? Fortunately a lady Gynaecologist will be in the clinic in the afternoon and an appointment was made for me to see her. My appointment with Dr.Karolyn Goh at 12.30pm was even more shocking when the ultra sound scan showed my ovary had ballooned to the size of 10.8cm, a tennis ball instead of a fishball! She immediately wanted me to go for a further test and scan at Raffles Hospital that afternoon. I left the clinic and called my hubby immediately to tell him what happened.
19 Jan 2006 - My experience at R Hospital was something which I will never forget. With a full bladder, I was asked to wait until it was my turn..an uncomfortable 30min wait. With the additional scans, the tumour was confirmed. And it was likely cancerous. The doctor asked that we consider immediate surgery to remove not just the ovaries, but also the fallopian tubes and the womb... a total hysterectomy! My mind was spinning..how can this be? Just 3 weeks ago, I was in the cool mountain air of beautiful Cameron Highlands. Now, I am in the clutches of cancer..
We were asked to seek a second opinion, if we wanted. But my mind was made up. I had asked for the earliest surgery available.
The next day, I was rolled into the operating theatre...
>>gleefully ntangle
Monday, July 10, 2006
"This is my first public outing, dear"
And so it ended. Our incredible journey of nearly 6 months, fighting this monster of a disease called cancer. Or has the journey only just begun....
08-07-06
A date for a new couple, as they glide down the ballroom, hand in hand. But also, a new date for a not-so-new couple too... Nellie and I stepped out together to face the world. Her cancer is now in full remission!
How symbolic indeed that it took the wedding of one of our best friends' daughters to highlight the significance of Nellie's own 'walk down her aisle'. Looking beautiful as ever, in her beige dress, in stilts and oh... her favourite hair, of course.
We laughed, we shared, we told our usual golf stories, our wins... our spirits were high. What a lovely evening. To be amongst friends. People who, just 6 months before, rallied behind our crusade. With their thoughts, their prayers. It's such a lonely battle to fight alone.. this monster. Indeed, we fought a good fight. We won!
Over the next blog entries, Nellie and I will document what happened over the last 6 months when she was first told.. "I think there's a tumour in your ovary!"
We hope this successful fight of ours will provide, in small perhaps immeasurable but hopefully significant ways, for you to gather the strength that she somehow managed to find, in her darkest hours over those 6 months..
>>gleefully ntangle
08-07-06
A date for a new couple, as they glide down the ballroom, hand in hand. But also, a new date for a not-so-new couple too... Nellie and I stepped out together to face the world. Her cancer is now in full remission!
How symbolic indeed that it took the wedding of one of our best friends' daughters to highlight the significance of Nellie's own 'walk down her aisle'. Looking beautiful as ever, in her beige dress, in stilts and oh... her favourite hair, of course.
We laughed, we shared, we told our usual golf stories, our wins... our spirits were high. What a lovely evening. To be amongst friends. People who, just 6 months before, rallied behind our crusade. With their thoughts, their prayers. It's such a lonely battle to fight alone.. this monster. Indeed, we fought a good fight. We won!
Over the next blog entries, Nellie and I will document what happened over the last 6 months when she was first told.. "I think there's a tumour in your ovary!"
We hope this successful fight of ours will provide, in small perhaps immeasurable but hopefully significant ways, for you to gather the strength that she somehow managed to find, in her darkest hours over those 6 months..
>>gleefully ntangle
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