#sharestrength – kyension.com

Talking Life with Mei Sze Facebook Live: Cancer and Fertility

Over the weekend, I mustered a lot of courage to do a Facebook Live chat with Mei Sze about cancer and fertility. It’s a difficult topic to talk about in public because infertility insecurity has been my biggest issue since my cancer diagnosis four years ago. At that point in time, I didn’t know if I wanted to have my own children yet but very quickly after learned that it’s one experience I’d be most curious about if I end up kicking the bucket at 25 from cancer.

COVID-19 Vs Cancer

While watching a COVID-19 press conference by the Prime Minister a few weeks back, he was describing the new way of life and I told RK, “new normal”. Minutes later, he used the word “new normal”. And I gasped. Then something clicked in my brain. This COVID-19 is sounding more like cancer, the more I think about it.

Note: I’m gonna be inserting satire cancer memes from @thecancerpatient.

Food I Avoid After Colon Cancer

This COVID-19 lockdown has forced me to cook at home more than ever. And unfortunately, I haven’t learn to embrace the joy of cooking yet. My bestfriend even asked me to watch Julie & Julia after hearing about my lack of enthusiasm for cooking. (Nice movie, btw!) But unlike Julia who learned to cook because she loved her husband and loved to eat, I don’t enjoy eating. LOL. I guess that’s one enlightenment I got from the movie. I don’t like cooking because I don’t like eating. Hahaha.

Acknowledging The Two Sides of Young Cancer Survivors Group and Life

Slightly more than a year ago, I wrote about HITT boxing with LiquidCage as part our National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) activity for the young cancer survivors. We don’t usually repeat our activities but we did HITT boxing again last month with the same instructor but at his new place: HIITREBEL.

Thanks to the previous experience, I knew what to expect this round. I knew I’m in to sweat a bucket, especially because I haven’t been working out for quite a while.

My First PET-CT Scan Experience at PPUM

I’ve never done a PET-CT scan before. It’s not part of the standard protocol for my case of Stage 3 Colon Cancer. However, during a routine CT scan earlier this year, doctors found increasing cysts in my liver and thus I got sent for PET-CT scan in PPUM.

For the record, the liver specialist and oncologist were not concerned about the cysts but I’m doing the scan anyway as precaution (like 7 months after).

My First Wisdom Tooth Extraction

I always find it easier to blog about my healthcare experiences vs travel experiences. I think I know why after my tooth extraction today. Healthcare experiences are short yet vivid, condensed and dramatic. Don’t get me wrong. I did receive care from a dentist in Parramatta but I still cannot believe I convinced myself to extract wisdom teeth.

Quarterly Chat with My Oncologist 23 Months Post Cancer Treatment

It’s time to meet my oncologist again! If I’m not mistaken, this was my second last quarterly visit. I’m gonna see him half yearly only after this…or maybe not since I’m still on a drug test program 🤔.

Anyway, let’s get the big news out first: blood test result was good. We spent 10 seconds talking about it.

4th Colonoscopy for Colon Cancer Surveillance at 27 Years Old

It’s been a year since my last colonoscopy and I think I’m becoming an expert! Spoiler alert: I thought my bowel prep was better this round and I completed another unsedated colonoscopy like a champ! Continue reading 4th Colonoscopy for Colon Cancer Surveillance at 27 Years Old

How I Spent 6 Hours in Hospital for a 10-Min Oncologist Consultation

Today’s post is gonna be kind of a rant post to try to explain why I need a full day MC for my quarterly oncologist visit (everytime) even when there’s nothing for us to discuss, really.

You see. I just met my oncologist 7 weeks ago for an unscheduled visit due to my CT scan false alarm. Even though I wasn’t expecting to be walking in and out of the hospital within an hour (because blood test needs two hours to process anyway), I didn’t think I’d spend 6 hours in the hospital last Friday.

Continue reading How I Spent 6 Hours in Hospital for a 10-Min Oncologist Consultation

My First Non-Routine Post-Cancer Oncologist Consultation

About 6 weeks ago, I got downgraded from seeing my oncologist every 12 weeks to seeing him in 6 weeks because of my less-than-perfect CT Scan result. So the 6 weeks came and here’s the update.

I went to the hospital early for my appointment for the first time since Nov 2016! That’s simply because my appointment time got pushed back from the usual. But yeah, I was still early. Continue reading My First Non-Routine Post-Cancer Oncologist Consultation