16th January 2009, Friday
For the past few niights, I had a young therapist who would diligently applied different types of moisturisers on different parts of my body. Hand cream for hand, foot cream for toes and foot and body cream for the hands and legs. And all these for no charges and performed while I was resting on my bed, watching the ever depressing news. This person is none other than my daughter, Angeline.
Last night, she also extended her services to her dad. I suggested to her that she can be an entrepreneur next time and open a shop. She has bigger ambitions than me. She says that she wants to open 1,250 shops worldwide! Looks like I need to start to teach her accounting and finance and she can have a headstart. Ha! Ha!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Heart medicine
15 Jauary 2009, Thusday
As all of you have know, my mum had passed away in last October, due to heart failure. That's 2 months after her illness was being diagnosed. We are left with bags of her heart medicines, costing hundreds of dollars. I have called the hospital and nursing home, but am told that they don't take back medicine. Presumably they are concerned that the medication could have been tempered. Well, our intention is that it is better to give away the medication, than to throw them away, as these medicines cost money and in today's climate, every dollar save is every dollar earn.
So, fellow friends out there, if you know of any heart patients and don't mind (and not pan tan), please let me know and I can pass the medicine to you.
I am also planning to go for some family holiday during Mar school holiday, since we didn't travel last year. Any suggestions? Must avoid cold weather countries, as Alvin has a sensitive nose.
As all of you have know, my mum had passed away in last October, due to heart failure. That's 2 months after her illness was being diagnosed. We are left with bags of her heart medicines, costing hundreds of dollars. I have called the hospital and nursing home, but am told that they don't take back medicine. Presumably they are concerned that the medication could have been tempered. Well, our intention is that it is better to give away the medication, than to throw them away, as these medicines cost money and in today's climate, every dollar save is every dollar earn.
So, fellow friends out there, if you know of any heart patients and don't mind (and not pan tan), please let me know and I can pass the medicine to you.
I am also planning to go for some family holiday during Mar school holiday, since we didn't travel last year. Any suggestions? Must avoid cold weather countries, as Alvin has a sensitive nose.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
4th cycle
14th January, Wednesday
Yesterday I went for the 2nd drip of the 4th chemo cycle. I have completed half-way mark. Will have 2 to 4 more cycles to go. Must press on for myself and my family.
It was a long waiting time for the blood test, but the wait for the chemo treatment was surprising short. When my number was called, I was still in the toilet. Had to rush to the nurse station to identify myself. The nurse was asking if I was the patient or the family member of the patient. When I said I was the patient, she gave me a shock look. Subsequently when she was preparing the procedures for me, I asked her about her shock look. She replied that I did not look like any of her cancer patients, and bet that my friends can't tell that I look like one. Well, I take that as a compliment. :-)
The new drug that I am taking is making me drowsy. Not sure if the cough medicine that I am taking also add to the drowsiness. Have been having cough since last Friday night, but it has since improved.
Looking forward to the family photoshoot this Saturday. This is the first time that we are getting the studio shot together. Hmmmm....
Will also look forward to eat CNY goodies and go to Chinatown next week for the CNY ambience, since I get 2 weeks of rest.
Yesterday I went for the 2nd drip of the 4th chemo cycle. I have completed half-way mark. Will have 2 to 4 more cycles to go. Must press on for myself and my family.
It was a long waiting time for the blood test, but the wait for the chemo treatment was surprising short. When my number was called, I was still in the toilet. Had to rush to the nurse station to identify myself. The nurse was asking if I was the patient or the family member of the patient. When I said I was the patient, she gave me a shock look. Subsequently when she was preparing the procedures for me, I asked her about her shock look. She replied that I did not look like any of her cancer patients, and bet that my friends can't tell that I look like one. Well, I take that as a compliment. :-)
The new drug that I am taking is making me drowsy. Not sure if the cough medicine that I am taking also add to the drowsiness. Have been having cough since last Friday night, but it has since improved.
Looking forward to the family photoshoot this Saturday. This is the first time that we are getting the studio shot together. Hmmmm....
Will also look forward to eat CNY goodies and go to Chinatown next week for the CNY ambience, since I get 2 weeks of rest.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
MIdway Report
8 January 2009, Thursday
I had an appointment on Tuesday with the oncologist to review the PET scan that I had done on Monday. The results showed consistent with the CT scan that my condition is stabilised (good news #1) and the cancer cells activity is a little bit less inflamed orange, as compared to before treatment (good news #2). Inflamed orange means that the cancer cells are active, while green means reduced activity. Also, in the liver, there used to be a horseshoe size of mass before the treatment. Now there is a small breakage in the mass. (good news #3).
With these positive results, the oncologist decided that I need not take Tarceva, as he previously recommended (which is more costly and the effectiveness is low in the clinical study). Instead, I am taking another additional oral chemo drug which is used for liver cancer and less costly. The latter drug is supposed to block the blood vessels and starve the cancer cells. Hopefully, killing them in the process. Will still conitnue the same chemo combination, which is well tolerated by me and the new drug will be the additional line of attack to the cancer cells. Side effect of the latest drug is that I will be sleepy. Hence, taking that at night and this should help me in my dreamland.
Will need to continue the chemo cycles for3 to 5 cycles, before he will decide on the next steps. We discussed about alternative treatments, such as liver transplant, photodynamic, etc, but these are all ruled out for me as the cancer cells are now too widespread. Both the oncologist and the Chinese sinseh asked me to take one step at a time and too plan too far ahead. Stay positive and maintain peace with myself.
Chinese sinseh also allows me to eat some of the forbidden food in low amount for the CNY period (there is a list of forbidden food from the Chinese sinseh, including chicken, lamb, prawn, crab and spicy food). At the very least, I get to enjoy CNY this year as my rest week will be one week before and 1st week of CNY.
I had an appointment on Tuesday with the oncologist to review the PET scan that I had done on Monday. The results showed consistent with the CT scan that my condition is stabilised (good news #1) and the cancer cells activity is a little bit less inflamed orange, as compared to before treatment (good news #2). Inflamed orange means that the cancer cells are active, while green means reduced activity. Also, in the liver, there used to be a horseshoe size of mass before the treatment. Now there is a small breakage in the mass. (good news #3).
With these positive results, the oncologist decided that I need not take Tarceva, as he previously recommended (which is more costly and the effectiveness is low in the clinical study). Instead, I am taking another additional oral chemo drug which is used for liver cancer and less costly. The latter drug is supposed to block the blood vessels and starve the cancer cells. Hopefully, killing them in the process. Will still conitnue the same chemo combination, which is well tolerated by me and the new drug will be the additional line of attack to the cancer cells. Side effect of the latest drug is that I will be sleepy. Hence, taking that at night and this should help me in my dreamland.
Will need to continue the chemo cycles for3 to 5 cycles, before he will decide on the next steps. We discussed about alternative treatments, such as liver transplant, photodynamic, etc, but these are all ruled out for me as the cancer cells are now too widespread. Both the oncologist and the Chinese sinseh asked me to take one step at a time and too plan too far ahead. Stay positive and maintain peace with myself.
Chinese sinseh also allows me to eat some of the forbidden food in low amount for the CNY period (there is a list of forbidden food from the Chinese sinseh, including chicken, lamb, prawn, crab and spicy food). At the very least, I get to enjoy CNY this year as my rest week will be one week before and 1st week of CNY.
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