I make it by seeking Him to guide me .

Feel great ! Just back from Ho Chi Minh , Vietnam . A short visit to office ; meet up with customer ; partner and staffs for dinner and discussion.
Beside of minor sore throat ( could be due to dehydrate and polluted air ), the whole trip doing well .
Start my vege/juice cleansing today and will have simple meal with lots of vegetable and fruits for next couple of days to ensure my immune system back in top condition.
With my regular brisk walking and to catch up with good rest and sleep, I shud be back in top condition in next two days.
The great feel is that I make it for the trip without any problem , Praise the Lord !
Before heading to HCM, I meet up with two oncologist in Singapore for their opinion about my condition and their suggestion for further treatment options. Also to gain some information of what is the latest available drug and new treatment or clinical trial for Lung cancer.
Both oncologist have given me their valuable opinion and as normal , it make me start thinking about my condition ; about my next treatment option and about many many things .
Some would say stop thinking too much, it will make us feel more worry/fear, and some may say, it is important to think about it and organise all the opinions and workout a proper treatment plan .
I think both are right . Most of the time after discussion with doctor, we tend to think of . " What if ."
- What if we not follow the Doctor opinion and situation turn worse ?
- What if we don't do it immediately and the delay cause tumor grow faster or cancer spread ?
- What is we take the recommended treatment or drug and we are the odd one suffer with unknow side effect ?
- What if we maintain doing nothing and we can live better with quality life ?
So, there is a long list of "what if .." and we will keep asking ourself and end up we get very very confuse and finally we are lost .
When there is too many " What if .. " , we tend to develope worry and it then turn to fear and it affect our sleep and it affect our immune system and so on ... . So, it is not wrong to say , if we think too much it will make us feel more worry/ fear .
Well, I also agreed with others, who say that we should think about it and start our plan for the treatment options . It is true that we can not just lay back and put everything behind us and live our life like nothing happen , because it is a matter of fact that we must know how to live with the " C " . To live with the " C " , means we must know the character of the cancer that living with us . ( each of us live with cancer with different character and it is the reason why we read articles about cancer treatment ; about new R & D report about cancer , read message board and forum to know how other cancer patient doing , read about all the success stories of cancer survivor and also why we spend money to have 2nd ; 3rd or 4th opinion from different oncologist.)

Therefore, we must do some work to think and re-study all the informations we get and workout the plan for coming months and years..

We are not the doctor , but, always remember that we can know ourself better than any doctor, if we know how to listen to our body . Doctor will guide us and give us informations of all the available treatment options, but, to make the right decision for the right treatment, it need a very close understanding between us and the doctor. Because , doctor will not able to know exactly how we feel after the drug go in to our body and most of the time, the kind of side effect is very difficult to explain in word.

The conclusion is that we have to make a balance when we work on it and we should ask ourself positive questions when study thro' all the opinions and informations we gather , so that the negative thought have no chance to destroy our positive drive and faith for recovery .

Anyway, it is easy to say than action . But, we know that we can call for our LORD , pray and ask for wisdom , for guidance , to lead and guide us to organise and finalise a great treatment plan.



Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7 : 7 - 8 )



GOD is great and He will guide us for the Great treatment plan .



God bless to all of us and by grace we will be strengthen for great recovery.

What is cancer ?

...... Defining Cancer ......

Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues.
Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.
Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases.
There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start - for example, cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer; cancer that begins in basal cells of the skin is called basal cell carcinoma.
Cancer types can be grouped into broader categories.
The main categories of cancer include:
Carcinoma - cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
Sarcoma - cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
Leukemia - cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.
Lymphoma and myeloma - cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.
Central nervous system cancers - cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.
(For definitions of other cancer-related terms, see NCI's Dictionary of Cancer Terms.)

Origins of Cancer
All cancers begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life.
To understand cancer, it's helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancer cells.
The body is made up of many types of cells.
These cells grow and divide in a controlled way to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy.
When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new cells.
However, sometimes this orderly process goes wrong.
The genetic material (DNA) of a cell can become damaged or changed, producing mutations that affect normal cell growth and division.
When this happens, cells do not die when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them.
The extra cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumor.
(Image from Understanding Cancer Series: Cancer.)
Not all tumors are cancerous; tumors can be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors aren't cancerous.
They can often be removed, and, in most cases, they do not come back.
Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant tumors are cancerous.
Cells in these tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.
The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.
Some cancers do not form tumors.
For example, leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood.

Additional Information
Find a type of cancer:
A to Z List of Cancers
Cancers by Body Location/System

More cancer topics:
Cancer Prevention
Cancer Genetics
Cancer Causes and Risk Factors
Screening and Testing to Detect Cancer
Cancer Treatment
Coping with Cancer
Cancer Statistics
Clinical Trials
Cancer Publications
The risk of developing many types of cancer can be reduced by practicing healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and not smoking. Also, the sooner a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better the chances are that the treatment will be successful.

Note : Information from National Cancer Institute ( U.S. National Institutes of Health )
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/what-is-cancer

Chemotherapy

When I was told surgery and radiation is not an option for me and Chemotherapy will be the treatment, I am wondering, what is " Chemotherapy " ?
Since last year. I went thro' 6 cycles of Chemotherapy with Carboplatin + Taxol ; 3 cycles with Cisplatin + Alimta ; 3 cycles with Alimta and I wish that my sharing of following information can be helpful to other cancer patient and care taker.

( note : following information from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/chemotherapy-and-you/page2 )

What is chemotherapy? Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.

How does chemotherapy work? Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. But it can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow. Damage to healthy cells may cause side effects. Often, side effects get better or go away after chemotherapy is over.

What does chemotherapy do? Depending on your type of cancer and how advanced it is, chemotherapy can:
-Cure cancer - when chemotherapy destroys cancer cells to the point that your doctor can no longer detect them in your body and they will not grow back.
-Control cancer - when chemotherapy keeps cancer from spreading, slows its growth, or destroys cancer cells that have spread to other parts of your body.
-Ease cancer symptoms (also called palliative care) - when chemotherapy shrinks tumors that are causing pain or pressure.

How is chemotherapy used? Sometimes, chemotherapy is used as the only cancer treatment. But more often, you will get chemotherapy along with surgery, radiation therapy, or biological therapy.
Chemotherapy can:
- Make a tumor smaller before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.
- Destroy cancer cells that may remain after surgery or radiation therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.
- Help radiation therapy and biological therapy work better.
- Destroy cancer cells that have come back (recurrent cancer) or spread to other parts of your body (metastatic cancer).

How does my doctor decide which chemotherapy drugs to use?
This choice depends on:
-The type of cancer you have. Some types of chemotherapy drugs are used for many types of cancer. Other drugs are used for just one or two types of cancer.
- Whether you have had chemotherapy before
- Whether you have other health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease

How is chemotherapy given? Chemotherapy may be given in many ways.
-Injection. The chemotherapy is given by a shot in a muscle in your arm, thigh, or hip or right under the skin in the fatty part of your arm, leg, or belly.
-Intra-arterial (IA). The chemotherapy goes directly into the artery that is feeding the cancer.
-Intraperitoneal (IP). The chemotherapy goes directly into the peritoneal cavity (the area that contains organs such as your intestines, stomach, liver, and ovaries).
-Intravenous (IV). The chemotherapy goes directly into a vein.
-Topically. The chemotherapy comes in a cream that you rub onto your skin.
-Orally. The chemotherapy comes in pills, capsules, or liquids that you swallow.

How often will I receive chemotherapy?
Treatment schedules for chemotherapy vary widely. How often and how long you get chemotherapy depends on:
-Your type of cancer and how advanced it is
-The goals of treatment (whether chemotherapy is used to cure your cancer, control its growth, or ease the symptoms)
-The type of chemotherapy
-How your body reacts to chemotherapy . You may receive chemotherapy in cycles. A cycle is a period of chemotherapy treatment followed by a period of rest. For instance, you might receive 1 week of chemotherapy followed by 3 weeks of rest. These 4 weeks make up one cycle. The rest period gives your body a chance to build new healthy cells.

How will I feel during chemotherapy? Chemotherapy affects people in different ways. How you feel depends on how healthy you are before treatment, your type of cancer, how advanced it is, the kind of chemotherapy you are getting, and the dose. Doctors and nurses cannot know for certain how you will feel during chemotherapy. Some people do not feel well right after chemotherapy. The most common side effect is fatigue, feeling exhausted and worn out. You can prepare for fatigue by:
-Asking someone to drive you to and from chemotherapy
-Planning time to rest on the day of and day after chemotherapy
-Getting help with meals and childcare the day of and at least 1 day after chemotherapy. There are many ways you can help manage chemotherapy side effects. For more information, see the Side Effects At-A-Glance section.

How will I know if my chemotherapy is working?
Your doctor will give you physical exams and medical tests (such as blood tests and x-rays). He or she will also ask you how you feel. You cannot tell if chemotherapy is working based on its side effects. Some people think that severe side effects mean that chemotherapy is working well. Or that no side effects mean that chemotherapy is not working. The truth is that side effects have nothing to do with how well chemotherapy is fighting your cancer.

For more information, i.e. pls read from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/chemotherapy-and-you/page2

Meantime, I feel that in order to have a smooth ; peaceful and successful treatment, patient should take note the following :-

> Do not be bother by all the hearsay informations. You should get the correct and update information from Government official website or Hospital .

The following are the recommended website by my doctor ( http://www.cancer.gov/ ; http://www.cancer.org/ ; http://www.cancer.net/ ) and there are many more good website with very good and resourceful information.
> Do not make a sudden change of diet , i.e. immediate change to full vegetarian. Cancer patient need proper/balance diet with good nutrient to build up their immune system and be healthy to cope with the treatment.
> Reseach for information of possible side effect . It help us not to panic and be very alert in monitoring the side effect during the treatment.
> Avoid fear and worry , as it is the number one enemy for cancer patient. Cancer is not the end of the world , stay positive ; stay healthy ; stay happy .
> Be serious of hygiene . During treatment, chemo drug will attack not only cancer cell. It will also attack and harm good cell and therefore may lower the patient immune system . Just keep in mind that cancer patient can not afford to fall sick .
> Listen to your body . No more stress your body . Listen to your body, when it say " Hello ! I am tire, please sleep now " , you should sleep . You need good rest for speedy recovery .
> Exercise or brisk walking . Discuss with your doctor and if your body allow, try to have some light exercise . Brisk walking is good .

We all know that it is not an easy journey, but, if we are prepare well physically and mentally to face it, we will minimise the possible side effect .............. " Sometime, surprise bring us joy & happiness, but, most of the time, it make us panic . " , so, get prepare to avoid surprise.

God bless

What so special about this Christmas ?

Is this year Christmas special to you ... ?
For me , it is special ...
It is definitely special and it is SO Special for me .
As I am 1 1/2 years now , isn't it GREAT .. :)
Lord is great , Praise the LORD .
It is a great journey in LIFE for me for the last 1 1/2 years and learn so much .

Learn to live a more meaningful LIFE
Learn that the world is still full of LOVE , Love from Lord ; family ; relative ; friend .
Learn that the power of support is so great , it is the power of support with Love and Sincerity that make many of us have courage to figth the battle .
Learn that it is by Grace of Lord keep us moving on .
And the most important is that I learn to rejoice , even in our suffering :-
".... , ..we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and charater, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God
has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. "
ROMANS 5 : 3-5 (NIV)

On this special Christmas day , may Lord bless the world with peace ; bless us with Joy , happiness and good health ; bless us with wisdom & knowledge to know His will ; bless all the cancer patient to be healed and fully recover .

Thank you Lord .

.............Merry Christmas ..................
SK

Fear ; worry ... the number one enemy for cancer patient

The most depressing for cancer patient is : -
... when Doctor inform and confirm it is cancer
... when result of scan ; blood test ... show no improvement ; deteriorating .
The feel of fear and worry will start .
And it affect the emotion of the patient ; it cause negative thinking to patient ; it lead the patient to be more depressing .
All the mentioned effect will lead the condition of patient to deteriorate further and therefore, as cancer patient , we must bring ourself back to face the fact of the sickness positively and not to let the feel of fear and worry control us .
Many times, cancer patient will ask doctor or the doctor will inform about the balance days without treatment or with treatment .
In most of the cases for end stage cancer, patient been inform of 2 to 3 months to go, if without treatment and days will prolong for a year or more , if proceed for treatment , depends on the patient reaction to the drug or the radiation or surgery.
But, there is no definite answer and the survivor of the cancer patient is depends on many many factors , we can not base on the staging to determine .
Anyway, no one can decide how long we will live, except God . When it is time for our beloved God to call us home, it is the time we leave .
Therefore, we should not be fear or worry about it .
Stay positive and ask for counselling if needed .
Join the support group and discuss with other cancer survivor .
Read informations about cancer treatment .
The more we know : -
- about cancer
- how others go thro' the treatment
- kind of diet and supplement we need to build or immune system
- how to stay positive
The fear and worry will stay away from us ,
And we can pray to Lord for his healing and to strengthen our body, mind and soul .
Walk with Lord , talk to Lord when we are in fear and worry. Our loving Lord will give us Love and Peace.
Let's pray that by grace we will stay strong and away from fear and worry .
God Bless

Living with Lung Cancer ...... what is ahead of us ?

Just like most of you , I hv read many books, articles, testimony and blogs about life after diagnosed with cancer , life after treatment and life of many many cancer survivor .
It is so encouraging and it keep us moving forward .
Especially the sharing of informations ; experience in some of the community message board ( i.e. Cancer Compass ( http://www.cancercompass.com/ ) , it is so great to see the cancer patient and care taker support each other , especially during the tough time of going thro' some of the treatment side effect .
I been plan to start a blog to share my experience ; my thoughts ; my suggestion , and I am glad that today , I finally did it .
I will be putting up my informations in coming days and wish the sharing from me will help and guide others .
So, what is ahead of us ...." Living with Lung Cancer " .... ?
Be frank , I am not so sure and I am seaching for the answer .
One of the answer I hv is to share our experience in LIFE ( be it our experience in living with cancer ; our experience in our career or profession ; our experience in how to hv a happy family life ; our experience in walking with Lord ....... ) with others.
When I was diagnosed with cancer, I told myself , it is God's will for me to go thro' it and to share what I'm going to experience , with people who need the information
But, whatever is the answer ..... what is most important is to LIVE everyday with LOVE and stay happy , and Lord will guide us thro' everyday .