Insensitive Advertisement

On my way to work one morning early this week, I heard an advertisement being aired by one of the local radio stations.

The ad is by one of the local banks promoting their insurance products for women.

The ad starts with a woman in a such a pathetic voice saying “I have cervical cancer”. Then a man voice follows with no emotions, “We found a lump in your breast. The tumor is malignant”. This is followed again by the woman’s voice which could be heard saying, “Who says it is easy being a woman. We should protect ourselves before anything happens.” Then the ad concludes by saying the listeners should get insurance to protect themselves.

I have survived breast cancer, now being a survivor I get irritated with this kind of ads. Firstly the ad is so pathetic and demoralizing. You can only protect yourself financially with insurance but you cannot protect yourself from cancer! What more you cannot buy insurance once diagnosed with cancer.

May be I thought I was being over sentimental, so I asked two colleagues if they have heard of the ad and what they thought of it. One of them said the ad was good as it reminded woman that they should get insurance and there are products to cover women related diseases. But then she added on by saying she was looking it from the view point of advertising and security.

On the other hand, my other colleague said it was bad taste to air it early in the morning and it depicted women are bound to have a cervical or breast cancer. I totally agree with her.

Yes, it is a good reminder that women should seriously consider insurance coverage but at the same token the advertisers should be more sensitive to contents and air time of such ads.

Is There Life After Cancer?Looking Good & Feeling Great.

I had a very interesting morning last Saturday. I was called to share my experience as a cancer survivor at the Malaysian Dietitians Association Scientific Conference 2006 . It was held at Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel. The theme of the conference was Cancer Care: Team Approach Towards Optimum Nutrition And Quality of Life.

The last session for the conference was sharing of experiences by 4 breast cancer survivors. We had about 100 odd audience listening to us at this concurrent session.

The first speaker was Ms Siti Shariah Hj Shaari. She is one amazing woman who has survived breast cancer and now is under going treatment for ovarian cancer. She spoke on “My Journey- A Personal Experience of a Breast Cancer Survivor”. She showed grit by making it to the conference all by her own and displayed a wonderful zest for life!

This was followed by Ms Adeline Joseph of the National Cancer Society, Malaysia. Her presentation was titled “The Role of Cancer Support Group” . I am so thankful to her because she was my support during my treatment. She is a breast cancer survivor for the last 11 years with a pleasant and cheery countenance.

I was the third speaker. I was called in to replace the original speaker who was not well.

The last speaker was Ms Dee Sidhu from Amanita, Malaysia who spoke on “Lessons Learned- A Dietitian’s Reflection After Cancer”. I am truly astonished that she can juggle so many responsibilities in her busy schedule of business, family, training and voluntary work. And what more she is a breast cancer survivor filled with energy and enthusiasm.

I spoke on “Is There Life After Cancer? Looking Good and Feeling Great.” I was really excited when I was given the opportunity because this is the first time I have spoken at a scientific conference!

I spoke on the following:
•OUTLOOK TO LIFE
- Love & Cherish Life, What Matters Most In Life, Inner Strength
•ADDITIONAL CARE BEYONG TREATMENT
- Continuing Care, Reconstruction, Tamoxifen Therapy
•COPING WITH LINGERING SIDE EFFECTS
- Fatigue & Loss of Energy, Arm Lymphedema, Other Side Effects
•CARING FOR MY NEW SELF
- I Come First, Diet, Exercise, Relationships, Breast Self Examination,
A Child In Future, Support Group, Career
•CELEBRATING LIFE
- Birthdays, Celebrations and Merriments, Holidays, Hobbies
•Living Beyond Breast Cancer
- To live with renewed zest for life!!

We had a panel discussion in the end of the session. Many of the participants came up and said how they admired us the survivors for coming and sharing their personal experiences.

I like what one of them said, “the session was one of the best sessions in this conference as this was the only session that allowed for real life facts and personal touch by survivors.”

After the presentations, there was this one participant who came to me and said that all of us are so lucky to have all support and love. Not ever one is lucky as we are.

Yap, I suppose we are lucky for the tremendous support we received from family, friends and anyone who came our way. I for one am thankful to God for that.

Juices and Rabbit Food!

I have been snacking on “rabbit food” when I am in the office. Yap…that is what my colleagues call the slices of cucumber, carrot, capsicum, celery, lettuce and tomatoes that I eat in the office.

I have been reminded to have a balance diet and to drink a lot of juices. That is why when I got back to office after recovering from breast cancer, I started eating fresh vegetables and more variety of fruits daily.

At the beginning, I was very diligent and use eat them every other day in the office and drink the juices when at home over the weekend. Then after few months of eating capsicum, it aggravated my heartburn. So now I do not eat them so often. I also had to visit the dentist because some of the fillings in the teeth came out! This is due to eating some of the rabbit food raw, which is of hard texture. Then…. I became lazy. I did not eat my rabbit food that often nor did I make the juices over the weekend

Every time I skipped eating my rabbit food or drinking my juices, I got worried. I felt I am losing on the antioxidant, vitamins, minerals, live enzymes and other important elements. Then what some breast cancer survivors told me some time ago flashes across me…"I always take juices everyday before leaving for work"…..

I finally brought a new juicer to office this week after procrastinating for so long. Since I come very early to work I decided I might as well use the time to make my vegetable or fruit juices instead of reading the newspapers. I do not have to eat them raw but can juice and gulp them. It is so easy but then, there is the cleaning up to do. YOU CAN’T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT!

Satay For Dinner. Charred Food?

Yesterday for dinner, I could not refrain myself from eating chicken satay( slices of meat on bamboo skewers, which are grilled on charcoal fire). I use to crave for it often, eating drowned with kuah kacang (peanuat gravy).

After breast cancer, I have been told by may well wishes that I should not take charred/ grilled or food which is barbequed as it contains carcinogenic particles.

A quick search on the internet on this issue and this phrase often appeared “.....some evidence that large amount of charred food may cause cancer, the evidence is not conclusive.....”.

So yesterday, I peeled off the charred portion of the meat an enjoyed the balance of, dipping in the peanut gravy. YUMMY!

Anyway it not often that I indulge myself like this. Life has to go on, food has to be enjoyed.

And guess what!After all this I had fish burger for lunch. Ah….Ah……AH!