Recharging with my Team..

Took 18 members of my staff to Malacca for a weekend retreat..a much-needed break from the daily grind of our preschools .. to recharge our bodies and minds.

And Malacca was indeed a natural well-spring for this re-charging, with streets filled with history and food.

Looking at the team brings a surge of warmth within me, realising that I am now impacting the lives of over 20 adults in my immediate circle of influence, and they, in turn, touching the young lives of over 150 children..

That's a nice feeling to have..

(thank you, ladies, for taking this journey with me in touching the lives of our young ones in our own special ways..)

"Oh yes, it's ladies' night.."

Bringing 2 of the best acts in R&B together to the Esplanade, this year's Mosaic Music Festival out-did itself compared to previous years.

And yes, it was Ladies' Night all the way!

With Babyface one night, and Kool & the Gang the next. They turned back the years for us.

How can one not "feel alive" with songs and music like theirs..

The Most Beautiful 2000km on Earth..

Can this possibly be the most beautiful 2000km on Earth?

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

Everytime I view these scenes, I am completely taken by the inspiring beauty that resides inside each brick and stone, every piece of marble and each hunk of steel that has made these western European cities the most beautiful on Planet Earth. Surely, there can't be another 2000km stretch of land as beautiful and historical as this Rome-to-Paris-via-Venice-Florence-and-Lucerne stretch, can there?

As the song says, ".. And I feel just like I am livin' someone else's life..it's like I've stepped outside, when everything is going right.."

Hey, everything is going right, for me!

Perhaps, the coin that Hubby tossed into the Trevi Fountain will bring me back there again, one day..

(thank you Mum and Sis for making this trip with me, and making it even more meaningful for me!)

"One Hundred Ways"..

An evening to recharge the soul, with James Ingram, the ultimate soul-man.

Regarded by top professionals in the music industry as the "Singers' Singer", the man took the stage at the Esplanade like a real pro, and rolled back the years as if 20 years younger than he really is today, complete with actual press-ups on stage.. while singing in his full, rich voice.

"..find One Hundred Ways.."

This song brings me back to the days when I had to find all ways, yes 100 ways, to combat my cancer. What an inspiring evening indeed, just listening to this man belt out his multiple Grammy-winning songs. Just listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnaY4AQrlzE&feature=related

Thank you, James Ingram, for enveloping my body with those beautiful (and I am sure, cancer cell-busting!) words..

(see earlier postings on what music means to me, and how it can recharge our bodies:

http://beatcancer10.blogspot.com/2008/08/once-in-lifetime-events.html

http://beatcancer10.blogspot.com/2008/12/dancing-with-childrenwhat-gift.html )

The Neverending Food Trail in Penang..

Food Heaven can come in many forms, but for us, Penang is as close as it gets.

Just look at this neverending food trail we immediately embarked upon when we hit the ground last month in Georgetown at 9.30am, barely unpacking at our hotel..
Day#1
1. Char Koay Teow (Lorong Selamat)

2. Prawn Noodles (same)

3. Popiah (same)

4. Ngor Heong (same)

5. Ice Kacang (same)

6. Tau Sar Piah (same)

7. Nutmeg (same)

8. Durian - Mountain Cat (Macalister Rd)

9. Chendol - Teochew style (Penang Rd)

10. Seasoned Papaya (same)

11. Fried Bee Hoon Fish (Macalister Rd)

12. Wantan Mee (same)

13. Oyster egg (same)

14. Apom balik (same)

Pause to breathe..

Day#2

15. Roti Canai (Penang Rd)

16. Roti Kaya & Kopi (Campbell St)

17. Nasi Lemak (same)

18. Pork Porridge (same)

19. Chee Cheong Fun (same)

20. Lor Mee (same)

21. Chai Tow Koay - black (same)

22. Peanut Cake (same)

23. Jackfruit (same)

24. Indian rojak (Gurney Dr)

25. Penang Assam Laksa (same)

26. Prawn Mee #2 (same)

27. Cuttlefish Kangkong (same)

28. Penang Rojak (same)

29. Corn-on-cob (same)

Pause..

Day#3

30. Koay Teow Tng (Campbell St)

31. Wantan mee#2 (same)

32. Kueh - multiple varieties (same)

33. Cheng Tng (same)

Day#4

-Fever & constipation!

Day#5

-Recovered enough to head to the airport

What a super-gluttonous trip for us! Is it any wonder that Hubby's body just gave up and took 2 full days to recover?

Here's proof that it all happened...in fact, it came and went so fast it almost felt like a dream, if not for these photos. No place on Earth can compare with Penang for food..it's a good place to be alive, to feel alive!!

Run for Hope 2009..

Another lively bunch of runners (well, 7000+ bunch, actually) took to the early morning sunshine at the East Coast to do their bit for cancer research.

It was good to see that the drab economic landscape this year has not dampened the spirit of giving. I am sure the number supporting this event will surpass 10,000 soon.

"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..

"It'll be the Himalayan mountains next.."

The refreshing feeling of being up high in the mountains is one to savour. One gets the sense of accomplishment, of being high up there, and of having 'conquered it".

After a false start back in 2004 when our planned trip to Kota Kinabalu was aborted due to other priorities, we made sure that this time around, we would make it up there..all 13,432 ft of it, if we can.

Well, not quite that high, this time around. At the main base camp area for the assault on Mt Kinabalu, was all we could manage..or more precisely, was permitted to do, without a 6-mth prior application for permission to climb.

Still, it was a nice feeling being up there. Seeing real mountains of that height..it was quite a sight.

Give me Mt Everest next...and why not? Well, at least the Himalayan mountains, be it in Kathmandu or Tibet, I don't really mind. Bring it on..

"Doc Talk" by Dr Ang..

Dr Ang Peng Tiam
to George
date Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 8:34 AM\

subject Re: 'Doc Talk' articles in MYB
Sep 26

Dear George

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.
The thought of doing the article every fortnight is a bit of a chore. But once I get a theme, it is not too difficult. The feedback I get from readers spurs me to continue writing.

God bless.
PT

---

George wrote:

Dear Dr Ang,

Dropping you a quick note to say that Nellie and I always enjoy reading the *"Doc Talk" segment of MYB* in The Straits Times, whenever you are 'on air'.

(click here: www.parkwaycancercentre.com/mindyourbody )

They are always written with plenty of poignancy and care,and have never failed to give us loads of comfort,and in some articles, entertainment too.

We hope you will continue with it. We continueto be amazed by you and we keep asking ourselves,"Just how does he find the time to do this?".

You are a national treasure!

warm regards,

Nellie&George

(After seeing you Wednesday, we headed straight to the hip Ion Orchard, hoping to totally storm the Louis Vuitton store, still smarting from what you told us that day. It appears that the 'better half' decided that a bowl of $10 hokkaido ramen will do nicely instead. Such is the irony of life..haha)

"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..

The Molly Lee Appeal

We came across this donation appeal - for funds to support cancer patients - in the papers this morning:

"The Molly Lee Appeal"

http://bodybeautifulphotos.wordpress.com/

Please support it ..every little bit helps, for cancer patients who are facing difficulties in funding their medical treatments.

(What a wonderful idea, Josef and team!)

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..)

The Link between Stress and Cancer..

The following is an extract from an article title ‘The link between stress and cancer ‘ by Dr. Ang Peng Tiam in “Mind Your Body” of the Strait Times dated 18 December 2008:

I remember a conversation in 1992, when Professor Sun Yan, a renowned oncologist from Beijing, visited Singapore.

He was asked whether he believed that stress can cause cancer.

Without hesitation, he said: 'Of course, stress definitely causes cancer.'

I was taken aback and asked him why he gave such a confident response. He went on to talk about the Cultural Revolution in China.During that period, between 1965 and 1975, ordinary Chinese people came under tremendous psychological stress.

Betrayal by friends and family, oppression of thought and mandatory and harsh new routines created an upheaval in their lives.'During that period, I was already a doctor and there was a sudden rise in the number of cancer patients in all the hospitals,' Prof Sun related.'We saw many more cancer patients. The common factor among them was the tremendous psychological stress they were all experiencing. That's why I'm sure that stress is one of the causes of cancer.'

At the time, I had doubted his conclusion. Today, after more than 20 years in the field of oncology, I am more inclined to believe him.

So how does stress cause cancer?Evidence from animal and human studies has shown that chronic stress weakens the immune system which is responsible for constant surveillance within our bodies for infections and cancers.This system seeks out and destroys abnormal cancer cells which may arise from time to time.

When it fails, the cells can go undetected and grow into malignant tumours.For the same reason, patients suffering from Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or post-kidney transplant patients on immunosuppressive drugs, are more prone to developing certain cancers.

There is also some data suggesting that cancer patients who feel helpless and have negative emotions tend to be worse off. The 'bad vibes' promote the growth or spread of cancer, although this relationship was not consistently seen in all the studies.

So how can anyone, particularly a cancer patient, cope with stress?Faith in God is one way. By entrusting one's life to a supreme being, the burden is taken off oneself.

Exercise, meditation, leisure activities, counselling and use of anti-anxiety drugs may all help in improving one's psychological well-being too.

Even though I sometimes struggle to see the many patients waiting to see me, I constantly remind myself to practise what I preach: 'Be happy and live each day to its fullest'.

You don't need science to tell you that.

Dr Ang, the medical director of Parkway Cancer Centre, has been treating cancer patients for nearly 20 years. In 1996, he was awarded Singapore's National Science Award for his outstanding contributions to medical research.

CNA's TV program on Ovarian Cancer

Did you watch the full program on ovarian cancer on Channel News Asia (CNA)?
So many things to learn from this TV program. Please take the opportunity to watch this full version:

http://www.parkwaycancercentre.com/multimedia/journey-of-hope/ovarian-cancer-part-1

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!

"Cancer is not a contagious disease"..

Setting the record straight on this needling question on cancer..

Cancer is not a contagious disease
(ST Forum - 09 March '09)

WE REFER to the article by Andy Ho last Saturday, "'Catch' cancer? Yes, you can".
( http://heresthenews.blogspot.com/2009/03/cancer-yes-you-can.html )
It highlights the role of infectious agents, particularly viruses in causing cancer, and suggests that since viruses are infectious, one might "catch" cancer from a cancer patient.

Viruses have been known to play a role in cancer causation since the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the transforming activity of the rous sarcoma virus in chickens by Dr Peyton Rous nearly 100 years ago. However, an infectious virus causing cancer is different from cancer being a contagious disease. In other words, healthy patients do not acquire cancer from another patient.

One of our patients mentioned this as a concern recently, and we feel it is important to point this out as cancer patients require the full support and care of their loved ones. It would be sad to see our patients with advanced cancer dying alone and or with relatives fearing to hold their hands or touch them. Some may even use such excuses to neglect or isolate their relatives with cancer.

Viruses are widespread and many people may have been exposed without symptoms. Hepatitis B carriers, for example, have an increased risk of liver cancer. Carriers could pass on hepatitis B as an infection, and all necessary precautions should be taken to minimise this.

However, only a minority of hepatitis B carriers develop liver cancer. These patients frequently acquired their infection many years ago at birth or during childhood. The liver cancer itself is not contagious.

It is estimated that 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the adult American population has been exposed to the virus mentioned in the article, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is related to nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) and lymphoma.

About 50 per cent of the world population has been exposed to the bacterium, helicobactor pylori, related to stomach cancer.

Overall, very few people who are exposed eventually develop these cancers.

Certainly, hand washing and other general hygiene measures are needed when we care for our loved ones with cancer, mainly to protect them from germs. However, we should not let that prevent us from touching and loving them.

Dr Peter Ang Cher Siang
Dr Tay Miah Hiang
Dr Leong Swan Swan
Oncocare Cancer Centre

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!

Nellie featured in "HealthNews" by ParkwayHealth

'If I have to, I'll fight it again' ..

I was asked to be featured in Parkway Healthcare's PCC newsletter in November, and I agreed.

Here's the full story published this month ..one that I am particularly happy with because my Mum and sister are both shown standing by my side. A lovely family moment for me..

http://www.parkwaycancercentre.com/healthnews/english/January2009/004_newsandevents_healthnews_2009_jan1.htm

Dancing with Children..what a gift!

I have to pinch myself at times..
Where else can you dance with wonderful 4-, 5- and 6-year old children?
When else should we let our own innocent free spirits fly high and just enjoy the moment?



I had the honour (and privilege) to step on stage with some of the lovely children from my childcare centres 3 weeks ago and danced with them, in front of over 250 parents during this year's Graduation Concert 2008. And what energy indeed from these musically gifted children ..raw and unbridled. And they hardly required much in terms of directions from our teachers to dance their moves to this catchy Bollywood favourite, "Bole Chudiyan".

What an "encore", children! (did we teach you, or did you teach us teachers instead?)

I am just so lucky to be able to receive these moments of joy and laughter from the children. Thank you, children (and my teachers) for shining "your light" on me on that day and allowing me to dance with you .. what a gift indeed that you have given me that day! (thank you, parents too!)

Malacca - Our Spiritual Home..

For the Peranakans, Malacca is regarded by many as their spiritual home. For us, Malacca is much more than our spiritual home, for that was where we were borned!

2 years ago in Oct '06, one of the first places I wanted to go to, after the end of my chemo treatments, was Malacca. Somehow, when I am there, I feel "whole". It is a rather strange feeling, perhaps one that comes out of being so close to my own mortality just 2 years ago, and is hard to explain.

This time during the Deepavali holiday, with Mum and sis in tow, we took to Jonker Walk like we were just there, 2 years ago. We visited Mum's sister, who lives there and it was evident on our faces that we enjoyed this small 'reunion' of sorts, everytime we walk on the streets of Malacca.

These 2 photos, 2 years apart, really showed how far I have come, since the chemo days.

I will surely continue to go to Malacca, and renew my spiritual side of my life, every year if I can..