Part 2 : So, What Now? Whats Next?

Wow, its been 11 days now since my last chemo.
I'm feeling a lot better, as long as I continue with my healthy routine.

Now, what do I need to do upon being diagnosed?
First of all, please allow me to share what I had gone through. 

Below is the ordeal of events from the time I got diagnosed.

Dec 17, 9.30am
Went to see Dr Gan Lian Hoe at Columbia Hospital Puchong.
Took a new Xray & CT Scan. 

Dr Jurina Mohd Hassan

Found a growth, a polyp in my windpipe. Just at the junction from the main windpipe to the left/right bronchial.
Referred & met with physician Dr Jurina Mohd Hassan.
Advised to go for  biopsy to check/extract some samples for testing.
If able, will also try to remove the polyp. 
.





Dec 18, 8am
Perform a biopsy at Columbia Hospital to extract the polyp out for checking.
Extracted blood to perform blood test as well.

Just right before going into the surgical room.

Dec 21, 5pm

Met with Dr Jurina to check the result of the biopsy.
Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma at the junction of the trachea.

Dec 22, 10am

Went to Subang Jaya Medical Centre.
Met oncologist Dr Foo Yoke Ching and asked for her advise. Based on the Xray, CT scan & blood test results, she prescribed what I have & advised to go for PET scan first.
However, not able to perform immediately as the list was full and need to wait till a week later.

The nurses & radiographer at Wijaya Medical Centre

Called to Wijaya Medical Centre & Prince Court. Fastest PET scan is at Wijaya on the following day.

Dec 23, 8am

Went to Wijaya Medical Centre to perform PET Scan
Got the results at 4pm.

Red circles are the tumor

Types of cancer cells. Was advised to perform another blood test just to be sure.

Raced to SDMC to meet Dr Foo YC. again. Was told that the windpipe has a 20mm tumor, with an infected  lymph node right below the lungs.
Options is to remove the growth & perform chemotherapy.
Was advised that there wasn't a specialist here whom is able to perform the surgery & reconstruction of the windpipe.
The closest is in Singapore, Dr T. Agasthian, a cardiothoracic specialist at Mt Elizabeth hospital whom has the experience in this field.

Dec 27, 5am

Took first flight out to Singapore to meet  Dr Agasthian at Mt Elizabeth, as well as Dr. Donald Phoon at  Raffles Hospital.
Consulted the options for the surgery.
Met Dr Donald Phoon to seek 2nd opinion pertaining to my case.
Called to SDMC to set up my 1st chemotherapy on the next day.

Dec 28, 8.30am (1wk after I was diagnosed with cancer)

SDMC South Tower

Went to SDMC to take my 1st chemotherapy.
Finished at 4pm. Went home & to wait for the side effects.

My MRN number at the hospital

My IV line.... got quite immune to needles. However, still painful

Jan 18, 8.30am

Went to SDMC for my 2nd chemotherapy

Feb 8, 8.30am

Went to SDMC to perform CT Scan.
Continue with 3rd chemotherapy at 11.30am

Feb 28, 5am

Going to Singapore to pre-register at Mt Elizabeth hospital.
Check into Value Hotel Thomson & settle Mimiko's transportation woes.

Mar 1, 7am

Admit to Mt Elizabeth hospital and operation is scheduled at 9am


Now, back to the topic. "What do you do if you are diagnosed? "
Upon diagnosis, above all, you need to STAY CALM.
I know its very hard to swallow but the fact is, its in you & it will not go away after a good nites sleep.


1. Get a 2nd opinion
If you have the resources, seek another doctor for opinion.
Its not a matter of trust but it is your life & its in your hands.

2. What is the procedure to get rid of the cancer. 
Surgery follow by chemotherapy or the reverse? Follow by radiotherapy?
Seek the oncologist advise & opt for the best treatment. Time is of essence. 

3. Do you have insurance?
If yes, it will make the burden much lighter. Go & call your insurance company immediately.
If not, you have to make the best out of your available funds.
Might want to consider chemotherapy first. It will kill the cancer cells & stop the spread. It could also shrink the tumor size, just like my case.

4. Start the therapy as soon as possible
One thing I learn about cancer cells, it spreads if you do not stop it.
Therefore, perform the therapies as soon as possible. Stop sitting thinking about death.
Go get your butt on the therapy plan.

5. What is the most important thing to you?
By this time, you should know what is the most important thing to you.
Whether its your husband, wife, son, daughter, GF, BF, pet, car, business, dreams... whatever it is,
 grab hold of it tightly. Let your subconscious mind seep & lock it.
You will need this "thought" in your mind whenever you go to bed.
No doubt sleeping time is the best time to rest your body, but Death also love to play games in our mind.


6. Exercise
Get your sneakers out.
Exercise those sweat out. BUT don't over do it. Don't aggravate those cancerous cell to be more active.

I bought these sneakers just for my morning walk.

Go for a morning walk. Breathe those fresh morning dew.

6. Western Medication + Eastern Medication?
I was equally as suspicious as you when it comes to eastern meds.
Will it help? Well, I can tell you that it does.
I'm going for acupuncture regularly, taking chinese herbs as well.
Honestly, the chinese doctor did tell me that it will not help on my cancer cells, but it will promote better digestion and blood circulation in me. In other words, it promotes intake of food, better sleep & better digestive system which you will be deprived during chemotherapy.

Needles on my stomach

7. Concentrate your fight with cancer. Be a positive cheerful person.

Again, this is your life. Fight it with all your heart, never ever give up. Don't even give a chance to it.

Again, this is your life. You need to control your emotions and boost those good chi into yourself.

Again, this is your life. Many are supporting you, your family & friends. Don't let them down.

Again, this is your life. Lead a healthy lifestyle. Sleep is the best medicine for your cells to recover.

You ARE what you LIVE. Remember this. 

Part 1 : What is Cancer?

To start off with the 1st topic... what is cancer?

The word certainly strike fear to each of us.... probably due to our very little knowledge about it.
It may not be as bad as you think once you know it.
Understand & whip out a cocktail of remedies to combat it.
I have extracted the below definitions from the website based on Wikipedia & the American National Cancer Institute.
You can clink to the website to understand more about it.
I don't want to bored you with the details.


 

Based on Wikipedia's Defination 

Cancer /ˈkænsər/ (medical term: malignant neoplasm) is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth, invasion that intrudes upon and destroys adjacent tissues, and sometimes metastasis, or spreading to other locations in the body via lymph or blood. These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which do not invade or metastasize.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer

 

Based on National Cancer Institute (US) Defination

Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.

Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start - for example, cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer; cancer that begins in basal cells of the skin is called basal cell carcinoma.

 http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cancerlibrary/what-is-cancer 

Since trachea(windpipe, the hose which air passes through to the lungs & allow us to breathe) is part of the lung system, I have attached the types of lung cancer.
Even though its a bit a dark, hope that you can view it clearly. 
What I have is squamous cell carcinoma. Its blocking my air passage onto my right lung.

Its about the size of a 20cents coin (20mm).
My lymph node has been infected as well, measuring 22mm. 
This means, the cancer cells had gone into my blood.

I be back to fill in the 2nd topic. 

Intro - My Blog & My Fight With Cancer

Hello There,

I'm Nick fr KL, Malaysia. 

First time blogging & my aim is to share info as much as possible pertaining to my experience on cancer.

While I'm writing this, I've finished my last chemotherapy closed to a week ago & recovering from it. 

Just a couple of weeks more before I go for my ops in Singapore. 

Diagnosed on 18 Dec 2010 with trachea (windpipe) cancer .

I know how devastating it is when you hear these words splat onto your face...
' I'm so sorry to tell you that its cancer.'

' Huh?? Am I dreaming or what? Cancer? Huh????'

Everyone seems to be in shock to hear it & some couldn't stop the tears from flowing.
You will feel lost & probably think of the below.
' Will I die from this? Do I have to leave my wife, my son, my family, my friends... everything?.'

Death never did cross my mind until then.
At that moment, the brain painstakingly works on the maths, what I have & what I need to do to move on.
Our dream seems distant & the mind just wouldn't come drift off to rest.
Dreaded, tired, sad , dissapointed, scared & negative.
But I told myself this,
'Life moves on & I am definately facing this for a reason.'


' Nick, gear yourself up with objectives, polish those sweet thoughts in your mind, put your brain to work those financial maths which seems to follow you like your shadow...........FACE the fact & COPE with it.'

When I got to know what I'd got,  I was searching the web for anything pertaining it. My wife was also desperately digging the vast web with me. 
Conclusion, not many people would like to share their cancer experiences over the web in Malaysia, or rather they are too tired to do it.

Only found Äida, whom had gone through it & shared her therapy experiences in detail. 

You can click the below to view.

http://munirah18.blogspot.com/2010/11/radiotherapy-week-1-and-chemotherapy.html

Below are the events & thoughts which had run within my thoughts.

If you have any suggestions, do drop me a message.
I might change the titles as I move on. 

Events
1. What is cancer? My initial impression was that it kills.

2. So? What now ? Whats next?
2a. Medical Vacation At Singapore (Added in on 11 Mar'11)
2b. The Side Effects during Chemotherapy (Added in on 11 Mar'11)
2c. The Pain during the Operation (Added in on 11 Mar'11)
2d. Your Optimism Gets Twisted Once In A While (Added in on 11 Mar'11)
2e. Substance X (Added in on 11 Mar'11)

3. Family & friends, where am I without them?

4. A Mix of Eastern with Acupuncture & Herbs

5. My source of motivation, comfort & support.

6. So frustrating... choices are limited.

7. Lucky I have I have insurance to help.

8. Options for operations?

9. Like it or not, you need to work your body out.

10. Being bald is not bad , not too bad at all.

I need a nap now. Feels very tired easily & just vomited a while ago. 

Continue as soon as I can.