THE JOURNEY-Newsletter by NSCM

A copy of “THE JOURNEY”, the newsletter published by NSCM was sent to my office recently. My colleague brought it to me immediately. A few minutes later when I had the chance to look at it I was surprised to see my picture….hei! What am I doing! Ah!...it was picture take during the fashion parade held in conjunction with the NCSM’s Yellow Week 2005 at Suria KLCC Main Concourse.

That was the first time in my life I took part in a fashion show and I must say I had a wonderful time. It was also immediately after I had completed my treatment in August 2005 and this gave me a real image booster. I paraded myself in designer clothes and professional make up… face…ah!....ah! It was really a new experience for me…but have not got the opportunity to do so after that although there were invitations. What to do…as most of the event falls on a working day.

I realized they have also published the article I for the newsletter titled “ My first 2 days of being diagnosed with breast cancer-NCSM’s support”. Looking back, I am really glad the article was published because it emphasizes my favourite message i.e “It is important to open up and receive support when dealing with breast cancer”. It is also good I wrote this article and to have my experience documented. This is because as the years go by, I may forget how I handled the situation during treatment. As it is I always had a problem remembering things! I hope the article will inspire others to seek and receive support when diagnosed with cancer.

About last week I received a call from BCWA about doing a mother & daughter interview for a local woman’s magazine with a wide circulation. The writer wanted to write an article based on cancer in the family. As I had to check with my mom, I told them that my mom is not me and may be reluctant to give the interview. True enough when I asked my mother she was not in favour of it. To be interview is one’s prerogative
and they decision should be respected!

As I looked at “THE JOURNEY” again to write this post, I am glad for all the new experiences gained. After BC , I am game for new frontiers!

National Cancer Society of Malaysia, Relay For Life

National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) will be organizing their inaugural RELAY FOR LIFE Kuala Lumpur 2007 to raise funds.

I have been invited to be a volunteer for this grand happening, which will be held from 2-3 June 2007 at the MSN Training Stadium Bukit Jalil. During the same time other countries over the world too will be hosting this event. I did not know what this event until I volunteered. Relay for Life is a fund raising overnight team event in a carnival like atmosphere.

I just received all relevant leaflets and forms. I would have to disseminate this information among friends and acquaintances. And hope to raise some funds too…ha…ha!

This is really going to an exciting occasion because we would have to participate from 2 (6pm)-3(10am) June i.e spending a night over at the Stadium. I usually cannot keep awake by 10.30pm…he!….he!…this is going to interesting.

Relay For Life will start with a Survivors Lap where cancer survivors will proudly make the first lap around the track to celebrate their triumph against cancer. The finale will be the Luminaria Ceremony where candles will be place around the track as a tribute to survivors or in memory of loved ones.

People will all walks of life will make this a day to remember filled with memories, for some of battles won, for some of loved ones lost and for all to cherish life with laughter and joy!

My Mother Has Breast Cancer

My mother was diagnosed having breast cancer some weeks ago and had a mastectomy done last Friday.

It has been one hell of a journey for all of us especially for me!

It started like this...I have always pestered my mother to do her breast-self examination regularly. I had always been warned by my doctors about the high risk my first degree relatives having breast cancer and mammography should be done annually. Immediate family members would only include my mother as I have no sisters.

Several weeks ago my mother told me that she felt a lump on her right breast. She was reluctant to go for a mammography as wanted to wait but I insisted on it. So with much trepidation and heavy heart we embarked on the journey of tests and discovery. As Dr Saunthari Somasundaram of National Cancer Society who is my aunt, we immediately went to NCSM to have ultra sound and mammogram done. With heartfelt thanks to my aunt, lightening speed arrangements were made to meet other medical professionals as a suspicious lump was found. We went to Subang Jaya Medical Centre to get the biopsy was done by Dr Sumithra Ranganathan. Later, the report confirmed that the lump was cancerous and 6mm in size. And finally Prof Yip Cheng Har of University Malay Medical Centre, the same surgeon who did my mastectomy also did my mother’s op.

I was in an emotional and mental topsy-turvy and this is the first time after my own treatment I have been in such a stage of affairs. Oh god! It was walking through the scenes of memory again, just that this time around there was no element of the unknown! I had the mastectomy last February and this December my mother is having hers. Life really sucked then! Why must the damn cancer hit my family again!

I…I had to break the news to my mother. She took it amazingly calmer than I did. Being a religious person her famous words are “ …if one has to go through it then one has to…that is karma”. I of course, was unduly worried for her and put myself in a terrible stress. My mother is 62 years of age, married with 3 children and the years have seasoned her to take each encounter with more strength and will power to over come it.

I sourced around for survivors where the daughter was diagnosed first then the mother but could not find any. I suppose my mother and I are exception to the general rule!

I sent emails to my fellow survivors about my mother having BC, the people who really could understood what I was going through. Some of them replied and some called and in all of them I found abundance words of encouragement, support, assurance and prayers for everything to go well.

I realized how I handled my BC is different from how my mother would want to handle hers. After all we are two different individuals. My mother did not even want her siblings to know about her condition until the last week of her surgery. She said that she being the eldest in the family she did not want the family to be worried about her. When the family got to know they were in shock! They could not believe that my mother who is a vegetarian, a homemaker and leads a healthy lifestyle could have BC. Of course after the breaking news, she received all their support and love.

The table has been turned for me from a care receiver to a care giver. I spent the night beside my mom at the medical centre after her surgery. She was there for me and I reciprocated it. My mother is really progressing well and is in high spirit. Thank god for that. Well now we have become the family of lopsided females. Ha!...Ha!...Ha…!

They say life is a balance of sorrow and happiness. In the midst of this turbulence, my brother was blessed with a second baby boy, 2 days after my mother’s surgery. The new born baby… a symbol of life, joy, hope and renewed strength!