Category: #sharestrength

For my colorectal surgery (colectomy procedure to be accurate), I was warded in the hospital for 9 days, excluding the pre-surgery admission to prepare my bowel. When I was discharged 9 days later, my surgery lab report was still not ready apparently. Dr Samuel Tay, my surgeon, asked me to go home and enjoy Chinese New Year first.

As much as I didn’t want to be too anxious about my colorectal surgery report that’d tell me more about my malignant colon tumor and if I need any adjuvant treatment, I believe subconsciously, I was anxious. I didn’t have much deep sleep and woke up early (as early as 4am sometimes) for the 1.5 week leading to my appointment with Dr Samuel Tay to review my report. Continue reading #sharestrength – My Colorectal Surgery Report

This is a continuation from My Colorectal Surgery Part 2.

6th Day Post-Surgery

Nightmare. Lowest point of my hospital stay. At 2am, my epidural alarm went off. I pressed on the call button to alert the nurses as usual. But instead of turning off the alarm and leaving, the nurse said, “Epidural sudah habis ya. Esok baru kita buka epidural site.” I stared at her and gave her a cheeky smile as if saying, “Oh-oh…” Fyi, epidural was my 24/7 painkiller since my surgery. I could not sleep that night. I kept calling the nurses every hour to help make me comfortable. I was so afraid and felt so insecure. Continue reading #sharestrength – My Colorectal Surgery Part 3

This is a continuation from My Colorectal Surgery Part 1.

1st Day Post-Surgery

The next thing I remembered after being knocked out for the colorectal surgery was waking up shivering like a fish out of water. It was cold. So cold. I vaguely remember my surgeon standing next to me and telling me everything is OK now while holding my hand. Continue reading #sharestrength – My Colorectal Surgery Part 2

Finally it’s time to talk about the colorectal surgery that I underwent on 26 Jan 2016. The purpose of the surgery was to remove the colon tumor alongside the surrounding healthy tissues and lymph nodes of my colon (large intestine). The surgeon had to cut my abdomen open in order to do that because the tumor was too big to be removed via lapascopy (keyhole surgery). It was a major surgery. I was hospitalized for 9 days post surgery and am on a month-long medical leave. Continue reading #sharestrength – My Colorectal Surgery Part 1

I had about a week to prepare for my colon surgery to remove the malignant tumor that has blocked at least 80% of my bowel. I was diagnosed on Wednesday and was scheduled for surgery the next Tuesday. Excluding the weekend and the public holiday on Monday, I had only 2.5 working days to settle the pre-surgery preparations for my colon surgery.

What are the pre-surgery preparations? Enough to keep me busy all working days. I scheduled my surgery and completed my pre-admission alongside the insurance application on Wednesday afternoon itself after being diagnosed. Everything was arranged by Sime Darby Medical Center so I just followed the instructions. Continue reading #sharestrength – Pre-Surgery Preparations

Immediately after I have received my diagnosis, I had this urge to share it with so many people close to me. I wanted confidants while I figure out how to break the news to my mom. I wanted encouragement and support to help me process this puzzling news. At the same time, I didn’t want to worry too many people as well because I know it won’t be an easy news to take. Continue reading #sharestrength – Breaking The News to Close Friends and Family

From the story of my colon cancer diagnosis, I think it’s easy to tell I didn’t suspect I had issue with my gastrointestinal at all before the checkup. This left me puzzled and so I kept searching for symptoms of colon cancer to see if I even exhibit any of the signs.

First of all, my maternal grandmother suffered colon cancer at old age. With that being the case, I have thought of my chance getting it at old age but not now when I’m 25 years younger than the age for the recommended regular colonoscopy.

Continue reading #sharestrength – The Symptoms of My Colon Cancer

Let’s start the story with the diagnosis of my colon cancer. On 9 Jan 2016, I went to the GP for pre-employment medical check up; it’s part of the process of getting my confirmation for a job that I was already on for 6 months. During the check up, doctor noticed a mass at my left abdomen so he insisted me to meet a gastroenterologist. Continue reading #sharestrength – The Diagnosis of My Colon Cancer

This is going to be a big news for many (if not all). But I know that as hard as it is to break the news, it’s something that I want to share and raise awareness for. And I know I’d reap lots of benefits from this sharing too. I was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 24 years 8 months on 20 Jan 2016.

I’m writing this as I lie on the bed, recovering from my colon surgery on 26 Jan 2016. I was just discharged from the hospital yesterday on 3 Feb 2016. Continue reading Starting 2016 with The Big-C