First of all, RIP to TS.
I am not active in LYF but today I read this thread so I would like to share story of my cancer experience here as well.
Back to somewhere in second half of year 2007, when I was just 18 yo, just started my uni life.
One day, there was a lump about sized of 1/2 of a pingpong ball, suddenly popped out at my right side of neck just below my jaw. Why I said "suddenly popped" because it was really happened in a period of a day, I noticed it when I was showering, but I could not recall I touched the lump during my shower one day earlier. It was strange and frightening that it could grow up to that size in such a short time.
No pain no itchy at all even when pressing on it. It was quite stiff when pressing it, can feel like it was solid instead of liquid inside. Nothing special I could feel except the lump appeared.
I told my family about my lump immediately but none of us thought that it was a big deal. We just thought that maybe I was just having kinda of body inner heat because of the hot weather, (I guess in conventional Chinese this is the reason most of us will first think of when something weird happened to our body right?) . So I just drank more water hoping to get rid of my body inner heat and the lump would just gone by itself.
1-2 weeks passed, nothing changed, same lump size, no any uncomfortable feeling. Me and my family was worrying. Went to a common clinic. Cant remember what the doctor diagnosed but definitely nothing serious to worried about. Got some med (cant remember what med I was given) and asked to keep observing again.
Another few weeks passed, nothing changed, same lump size, no any uncomfortable feeling. somehow feeled like already get used to it and started to just let it be there since not affecting my life. But still went to second common clinic. Forgot what doc diagnosed but still something not to worry too much and asked to keep observing again.
Another few weeks passed and again, nothing changed, same lump size, no any uncomfortable feeling. been busying in my uni life and didnt concern on the lump since it didnt affecting my daily living. (This was way too wrong just to ignore it). Family did advise me to look for specialist to check in detail. But I was just not being convinced and feel very annoying to do so.
By end of year 2007, still nothing changed, same lump size, no any uncomfortable feeling. But somehow I started to worried after I read some info in the internet and a push from my ex-gf in the end, finally decided to look for specialist in KPJ. Still remember when the dr first looked at my lump he instantly said it didnt look good. Did the biopsy. Result would take 1 week to know. The doc asked us to be mentally prepared because it got the high chance of Nasopharyngeal cancer.
This situation was like a thunder striking to me and my family. The week of waiting for the the result is the most mentally suffering and longest period of time I felt in my life so far. My parents start looking contact for oncology, just to be prepared to action in the shortest time if worst case happened. My mom cried when she heard from the doc. Searched alot of info about the cancer and try to be prepared to whatever which would be striking to me.
I still remember I did plan a short vacation with my friends during that week but because of the situation I did not join them, had totally no mood to do anything. I did not tell my friend about my real reason not joining them, did not want to spoil their holiday mood as well.
1 week passed, which was last week of 2007, finally got the result and within expectation, it was Nasopharyngeal cancer stage 3. Felt sad but at the same time kinda of relief as well because no more doubt and suffering for waiting the result. Since then I knew my life path would be different with most of others and there was a list of things waiting for me to do in front.
1. Straightly contacted with ENT specialist in Sunway Medical Center, Subang Jaya. Dr reviewed my result again and refer me to oncology in Subang Jaya medical center (SJMC). The dr came out with a treatment plan and schedule, Radio + Chemo therapy. duration of about 6 months. Dr said my success rate should be quite high since my age is still young and my cancer was still localized, no sign it spread to other position.
2. The next day after I got my result I still took an exam in my uni with minimum study and preparation. Told myself it was not important anymore but didnt know why I still took the exam.
Said good bye to my course mate and friends in quick manner. Didnt want to put much emotion in farewell. Withdrew my Uni program.
3. Started the treatment in SJMC. Never expected that I would start a new year with such situation. CT scan, MRI and some other procedures done to plot the exact position of my tumor, for precise shooting of the radio ray to my tumor.
Side effect after multiple cycles of radio therapy: the skin surface at the lump area was getting darker tone like burning sign, dry skin at that area but did not feel much uncomfortable.
Immediate side effect after every cycle of chemo therapy: very bad digestion, feel vomiting, no appetite, only can consume very light food, then gradually hair dropping, weight dropping. typical cancer patient look.
So I could said I suffered much significantly from chemo instead of radio during treatment.
After few cycle of the therapies, the lump size shrunk significantly. just keep doing the therapies as advised to make sure total clean.
During the 6 month of treatment period, thought alot of things, how I should continue life after treatment, what would be different after all these. been back and forth SJMC alot of times for the therapies, 3-4 times per week for radio and about 1-2 weeks once for chemo. progress was improving within plan. the rest of time stayed at home, occasionally went to garden nearby for light recreation.
After 6 month, Dr evaluated me considered recovered from cancer can can stop the treatment. but need to keep closed monitoring in case of any recurrence. Periodically back to SJMC for specific check up as follow up.
Now I am 35 yo. Married with a 5 yo son. So far no any recurrence and hopefully never happen at least until I am old enough.
I was the unlucky one,
to get the cancer at the age of 18 yo. No drug, no smoking, no alcohol, no bad lifestyle habit, no family history of the specific cancer. but still got it. No idea about the factor. Dr could not tell as well. Just could think of something related to my genetic mutation or triggered by EBV (type of virus which could cause this kind of cancer). And according to statistic, Chinese male, especially originally from southern part of China (Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka, Teochew - I am), has the highest record of patient of such cancer. Most Malaysian Chinese ancestor were from south of China.
Some said taking salted fish could increase chance of getting this kind of cancer. I did occasionally took salted fish before that. But I was not the only one taking it right... Anyway.. I was the unlucky one.
But, I am lucky enough in the other hand,
1. to have my family which was able to afford my entire treatment cost, the strength and time they had been spent for the whole event, the support which had given to me. Ya, I was not covered by any medical insurance when I was hit by cancer. Total treatment cost is 80k ++ excluded supplement products and many more. Many thanks to my family.
2. to had my ex-gf to push me hard to do the detailed check. Otherwise I might miss the critical timing to be cured before it was too late. Although we are not together anymore but I appreciated her for somehow saving my life.
3. to have my wife who does not mind about my cancer record and always concern about my health.
I think I should be qualified in certain level to give some advice here from perspective of an ex-cancer patient,
1. If any part of your body grew a lump and it gave no pain or any discomfort, please treat it seriously instead of ignoring it like what I have done. Lump with no feeling is more dangerous sign than lump which gives pain. Consult specialist ASAP to find out what the lump is about before it is too late.
2. Buy at least medical insurance as early as possible. Buy for your children as early as possible. Any other insurance is not as important as medical insurance. It is me and my family regret that I was not holding medical insurance when I was diagnosed with cancer.
And since after until now, I have been trying to apply / appeal medical insurance multiple times with different insurance companies, but none of my applications succeeded, even with my dr official letter to claim that I am not cancer free. The best I could get now is life, and critical illness insurance which cancer coverage excluded. So I was with my own financial risk if in future there was any recurrence back to me.
That's my cancer experience overall. Thanks for reading until here. Hope it helps you somehow.
Mar 25 2024, 02:35 AM
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