Start treatment this morning with the Chemo drug Taxotere ( Docetaxel ) and Zometa (Zoledronic Acid) after the premedication drug Dexamethasone and Kytril .
Docetaxel is a type of chemotherapy drug known as a taxane. It interferes with microtubules, which are part of the internal structure cells need when they are dividing. This leads to cell death. Because cancer cells divide faster than normal cells, they are more likely than normal cells to be affected by this drug.
Zoledronic acid is a type of drug known as a bisphosphonate. It is used to help treat cancer that has spread to the bones, usually along with other treatments such as chemotherapy. It lowers the risk of fractures and other bone problems. It is also used to lower high blood calcium levels in people who have cancer in the bones.
All goes well and coping well with it for until now .
Since about 8 pm , start to have some very slight back bone pain ( not serious ) and
about 10 pm, start to have metallic taste , anyway, this is the expected side effect.
Manage to have workout ( light exercise ) in the evening for about an hour to sweat out and feel better .
Thanks for Chris accompany me the whole day and visit by Fook Wai with snacks ... :) .
Wish the side effect by tomorrow and coming days will be minimum .
Main concern for me is the booster to take on 3rd / 4th and 5th day , with doctor suggested to use Granocyte , as Taxotere can lower our white blood cell count, especially in the weeks after the drug is given. This can increase our chance of getting a serious, or even life-threatening, infection.
Pray for God's grace and blessing for me to continue cope well with the chemo drug side effect .
Wish to have a good night sleep tonight in Pantai Medical KL and discharge tomorrow after a night of observation .
Good nite .
Monday, August 8, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Time for treatment
Last week X Ray show no big changes , but, Tumor marker CEA go up to near 3000 .
Early this week, on Tuesday, proceed for CT scan and the result show progression . The biggest tumor now increase to 11.3 cm from 8.5 cm ( last CT scan on early May ) . Means the progession is very fast for last 3 months.
So, there is no reason to wait and watch anymore .
Disucssed with doctor and decided to start the treatment by next Monday with different drug from the previous chemo treatment.
These few days is busy in getting things organise, so that I can focus in my treatment for the coming 18 weeks ( 6 cycles with 3 weeks once )
Well , time to have my good rest at home ,enjoy my colour pencil drawing again.
Am I ready ?
Yes ! I am ready for it .
Early this week, on Tuesday, proceed for CT scan and the result show progression . The biggest tumor now increase to 11.3 cm from 8.5 cm ( last CT scan on early May ) . Means the progession is very fast for last 3 months.
So, there is no reason to wait and watch anymore .
Disucssed with doctor and decided to start the treatment by next Monday with different drug from the previous chemo treatment.
These few days is busy in getting things organise, so that I can focus in my treatment for the coming 18 weeks ( 6 cycles with 3 weeks once )
Well , time to have my good rest at home ,enjoy my colour pencil drawing again.
Am I ready ?
Yes ! I am ready for it .
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
I feel glad for cancer patient for their good response to chemo treatment when I read their posting and be glad that I can join them for the kind of JOY and HAPPINESS they have with the success of the treatment.
But, at times, after reading all the good news posting, I will have kind of feeling of loss , feeling of upset ... because of my treatment not responding and the tumor still sitting inside my lung , like a time bomb .
It is not easy to deal with it .
It is depressing to think about it .
And sometime, it is hard to accept it .
Anyway, I think it is not wrong or rather to say it is normal for me to have this kind of feeling.
What is important is how fast can I be out of this kind of upset feeling .
How fast can I recover and face it .
With Lord and with support of family member and friends , I make it , and I know that I can overcome all the bad feeling , upset , fear , worry , be it yesterday , today or tomorrow , because Lord is with me and all of your are with me .
I feel grateful because Lord is with me .
I feel grateful because of the love and support of Chris and Natalie is with me .
I feel grateful because of the love and support of my family is with me .
I feel grateful because of the love and support of friends is with me .
I feel grateful because I manage to have such good quality of life for the last 3 years .
And I feel so grateful that I am still here writing my blog and share with you .
Thks God .
May God blessing reach all of us and bless us to have Joy, Happiness and Good health.
But, at times, after reading all the good news posting, I will have kind of feeling of loss , feeling of upset ... because of my treatment not responding and the tumor still sitting inside my lung , like a time bomb .
It is not easy to deal with it .
It is depressing to think about it .
And sometime, it is hard to accept it .
Anyway, I think it is not wrong or rather to say it is normal for me to have this kind of feeling.
What is important is how fast can I be out of this kind of upset feeling .
How fast can I recover and face it .
With Lord and with support of family member and friends , I make it , and I know that I can overcome all the bad feeling , upset , fear , worry , be it yesterday , today or tomorrow , because Lord is with me and all of your are with me .
I feel grateful because Lord is with me .
I feel grateful because of the love and support of Chris and Natalie is with me .
I feel grateful because of the love and support of my family is with me .
I feel grateful because of the love and support of friends is with me .
I feel grateful because I manage to have such good quality of life for the last 3 years .
And I feel so grateful that I am still here writing my blog and share with you .
Thks God .
May God blessing reach all of us and bless us to have Joy, Happiness and Good health.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Can patient make their own decision of not proceed with treatment ?
Many people ask me ....
" Your doctor allow you to make your own decision ? "
" You can make your own decision to watch and wait ? "
" Your doctor allow you to delay the treatment ? "
My answer is " YES "
Yes ! Everyone have their own right to make their own decision for any treatment.
Doctor will recommend the best treatment option to us and the ultimate decision is on the patient.
But, I would like to clarify that I am not here to promote or encourage anyone to follow my approach . Please discuss with your doctor and know about your treatment benefit , treatment side effect and equip yourself with knowledge before you make any decision to watch and wait.
Meantime, not all patient can delay their treatment or take up the watch and wait approach, it is all depends on how serious is their condition and how aggressive is the cancer cell .
Before making own decision to delay treatment , one have to :-
- Discuss and have the full understanding with doctor
- Know what is the possibility affecting your health and condition
- Spend time to reseach and discuss with doctor to know what is the pro & con of doing so.
- Ready to accept full liabilities and risk , if something happen
- Continue reseach and study in order to have the knowledge of making wise decision
- Know your body well and be ready to spend time monitor and listen to your body everyday and be ready to proceed discussion with doctor and start immediate treatment without fail, if something happen or not well.
- Keep yourself feel good , feel great .
- Discipline in exercise , diet , resting and ...
Wish my sharing is useful and helpful .
SK
" Your doctor allow you to make your own decision ? "
" You can make your own decision to watch and wait ? "
" Your doctor allow you to delay the treatment ? "
My answer is " YES "
Yes ! Everyone have their own right to make their own decision for any treatment.
Doctor will recommend the best treatment option to us and the ultimate decision is on the patient.
But, I would like to clarify that I am not here to promote or encourage anyone to follow my approach . Please discuss with your doctor and know about your treatment benefit , treatment side effect and equip yourself with knowledge before you make any decision to watch and wait.
Meantime, not all patient can delay their treatment or take up the watch and wait approach, it is all depends on how serious is their condition and how aggressive is the cancer cell .
Before making own decision to delay treatment , one have to :-
- Discuss and have the full understanding with doctor
- Know what is the possibility affecting your health and condition
- Spend time to reseach and discuss with doctor to know what is the pro & con of doing so.
- Ready to accept full liabilities and risk , if something happen
- Continue reseach and study in order to have the knowledge of making wise decision
- Know your body well and be ready to spend time monitor and listen to your body everyday and be ready to proceed discussion with doctor and start immediate treatment without fail, if something happen or not well.
- Keep yourself feel good , feel great .
- Discipline in exercise , diet , resting and ...
Wish my sharing is useful and helpful .
SK
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Will watch and wait further .
It's 1 1/2 month now from the last CT scan.
Been think a lot and study, analyse my situation after two discussion with doctor .
Finally , I decided to continue my watch and wait approach for time being and will monitor very closely .
Doctor have given me suggestion for chemo drug options and also his opinion . Thanks so much for Dr John advice and assistance .
Thanks Lord for his continue healing for me to be strong and healthy .
Looking forward to next week , my 3rd year is around the corner , feel GREAT !
Been think a lot and study, analyse my situation after two discussion with doctor .
Finally , I decided to continue my watch and wait approach for time being and will monitor very closely .
Doctor have given me suggestion for chemo drug options and also his opinion . Thanks so much for Dr John advice and assistance .
Thanks Lord for his continue healing for me to be strong and healthy .
Looking forward to next week , my 3rd year is around the corner , feel GREAT !
Great news for liver cancer patient in Malaysia . How about lung cancer ? Is Lung foundation Of Malaysia working on it too ?
The article in The Star Fit4life today ( 19th June 2011 ) about The NexPAP programme is such a good news to liver cancer patient
http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2011/6/19/health/8926005&sec=health
Thanks to Bayer HealthCare and Malaysian Liver Foundation (MLF).
Meantime, looking forward to Lung foundation of Malaysia to start working on some programme to assist lung cancer patient in Malaysia .
+++++
Sunday June 19, 2011
The NexPAP programme
NexPAP is a programme designed to assist Malaysian patients who have been diagnosed with liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC), and have been prescribed by their doctors to use sorafenib.
The programme aims to provide drug assistance to help patients in continuing with drug treatment for as long as medically required.
This programme is part of Bayer HealthCare Malaysia’s initiatives to provide drug assistance to Malaysian patients.
Bayer HealthCare is working in partnership with the Malaysian Liver Foundation (MLF) to run NexPAP.
As part of NexPAP, patients will purchase the first two months of sorafenib, after which Bayer HealthCare will donate free sorafenib for up to the next 12 months to patients, as long as medically required as determined by the prescribing physician.
How Does NexPAP Work?
1. The patient has been diagnosed with HCC by a medical professional.
2. The patient fulfils the eligibility criteria for NexPAP, such as:
·Malaysian citizenship or permanent residency
·Satisfactory income level based on certain criteria (subject to MLF approval).
·Ability to purchase the first two months’ treatment of sorafenib.
3. The patient to apply for NexPAP to MLF with prescribing doctor’s recommendation.
4. The application will be assessed by MLF based on entry criteria with supporting documentation.
5. The patient will receive application results from MLF via the prescribing doctor.
6. The patient needs to follow up with his/her prescribing doctor monthly for treatment of the disease, but collection of the monthly donation sorafenib will be from MLF.
According to Janice Chow, senior public relations manager with Bayer HealthCare, “We have a long and ongoing commitment to contribute to medical progress and to improve the quality of human health. Each NexPAP beneficiary has a truly heart-warming story to share and we are pleased to be able to help make a difference in their lives. We will continue to work with the Malaysian Liver Foundation on NexPAP to see more liver cancer patients benefit from treatment.”
Since the launch of the progarmme, more than 50 patients have benefited from it.
Patients can apply to the MLF for the NexPAP patient assistance programme with their prescribing doctor’s recommendation. For more information about liver cancer and NexPAP, please contact the foundation at 03-7842 6101.
+++++++
http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2011/6/19/health/8926005&sec=health
Thanks to Bayer HealthCare and Malaysian Liver Foundation (MLF).
Meantime, looking forward to Lung foundation of Malaysia to start working on some programme to assist lung cancer patient in Malaysia .
+++++
Sunday June 19, 2011
The NexPAP programme
NexPAP is a programme designed to assist Malaysian patients who have been diagnosed with liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC), and have been prescribed by their doctors to use sorafenib.
The programme aims to provide drug assistance to help patients in continuing with drug treatment for as long as medically required.
This programme is part of Bayer HealthCare Malaysia’s initiatives to provide drug assistance to Malaysian patients.
Bayer HealthCare is working in partnership with the Malaysian Liver Foundation (MLF) to run NexPAP.
As part of NexPAP, patients will purchase the first two months of sorafenib, after which Bayer HealthCare will donate free sorafenib for up to the next 12 months to patients, as long as medically required as determined by the prescribing physician.
How Does NexPAP Work?
1. The patient has been diagnosed with HCC by a medical professional.
2. The patient fulfils the eligibility criteria for NexPAP, such as:
·Malaysian citizenship or permanent residency
·Satisfactory income level based on certain criteria (subject to MLF approval).
·Ability to purchase the first two months’ treatment of sorafenib.
3. The patient to apply for NexPAP to MLF with prescribing doctor’s recommendation.
4. The application will be assessed by MLF based on entry criteria with supporting documentation.
5. The patient will receive application results from MLF via the prescribing doctor.
6. The patient needs to follow up with his/her prescribing doctor monthly for treatment of the disease, but collection of the monthly donation sorafenib will be from MLF.
According to Janice Chow, senior public relations manager with Bayer HealthCare, “We have a long and ongoing commitment to contribute to medical progress and to improve the quality of human health. Each NexPAP beneficiary has a truly heart-warming story to share and we are pleased to be able to help make a difference in their lives. We will continue to work with the Malaysian Liver Foundation on NexPAP to see more liver cancer patients benefit from treatment.”
Since the launch of the progarmme, more than 50 patients have benefited from it.
Patients can apply to the MLF for the NexPAP patient assistance programme with their prescribing doctor’s recommendation. For more information about liver cancer and NexPAP, please contact the foundation at 03-7842 6101.
+++++++
Friday, June 17, 2011
What happen for last few weeks ...
A week before leaving KL for vacation with family, I take a good rest to ensure my body condition is at it best , so that I will not have problem with the 4 hours flight .
All goes well and manage to take the flight without any problem .
As the vacation is rather short , so, it make me a little tire after back in KL.
Since then until early this week, I am resting most of the time for a good recovery and been disturb with different type of sudden symptom that prompt me to think about whether my condition getting worst .
A week after back from vacation , one of the morning , I wake up with chest pain whenever I take a deep breath . Close monitoring with exercise , brisk walking in the morning and evening , follow-by some deep breathing exercise, it finally goes off after a few days .
But, do feel kind of tire in the afternoon, almost everyday . Overcome it by taking a nap in the afternoon .
Then, early this week, some extreme pain in one spot of my waist (towards the bone), when I touch it . Situation getting worst the next day , where , sitting up or moving , or cough , will feel sharp pain in the particular spot .
Finally decided to make an appointment with doctor for check -up and advise, just worry is it because the of cancer tumor in the bone getting active.
But, with wisdom from Lord , I wake up middle of the night and decided to apply Tiger Palm ointment to the spot and slowly rub it . It is painful, but, it did help to release pain after a while . Thereafter, I repeat the same after an hour .
It is so much better in the next morning and I decided to call up clinic to cancel doctor appointment and will monitor it for few more days.
I continue to use the ointment to rub it for 4 times yesterday and feel great today .
The pain have not goes off 100% , but, it is very minor now.
Feel great today and pray Lord will continue to bless and heal me . Also to give me wisdom .
Thanks Lord , Amen.
All goes well and manage to take the flight without any problem .
As the vacation is rather short , so, it make me a little tire after back in KL.
Since then until early this week, I am resting most of the time for a good recovery and been disturb with different type of sudden symptom that prompt me to think about whether my condition getting worst .
A week after back from vacation , one of the morning , I wake up with chest pain whenever I take a deep breath . Close monitoring with exercise , brisk walking in the morning and evening , follow-by some deep breathing exercise, it finally goes off after a few days .
But, do feel kind of tire in the afternoon, almost everyday . Overcome it by taking a nap in the afternoon .
Then, early this week, some extreme pain in one spot of my waist (towards the bone), when I touch it . Situation getting worst the next day , where , sitting up or moving , or cough , will feel sharp pain in the particular spot .
Finally decided to make an appointment with doctor for check -up and advise, just worry is it because the of cancer tumor in the bone getting active.
But, with wisdom from Lord , I wake up middle of the night and decided to apply Tiger Palm ointment to the spot and slowly rub it . It is painful, but, it did help to release pain after a while . Thereafter, I repeat the same after an hour .
It is so much better in the next morning and I decided to call up clinic to cancel doctor appointment and will monitor it for few more days.
I continue to use the ointment to rub it for 4 times yesterday and feel great today .
The pain have not goes off 100% , but, it is very minor now.
Feel great today and pray Lord will continue to bless and heal me . Also to give me wisdom .
Thanks Lord , Amen.
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