Talking about cancer to an audience

I did not know that giving a presentation as a cancer survivor after a gap of almost a year was going to be difficult.

I was recently called by leading insurance company to share my experience as a cancer survivor to a group of successful lady insurance consultants.

At first, I eagerly agreed but when I started amending my power point presentation slides, it reminded me of the days the cancer dominated my life. Yet, I found that I could not remember some of the moments when I was undergoing treatment. During a few days before the presentation I heard a survivor of 20 odd years have a recurrence of breast cancer and she was the epitome of “survivorhood” for all of us. I spoke to her and she sounded cheerful as ever and taking the chemo at a good stride. I also spoke to my fellow survivor and blogger Dalilah who is currently undergoing treatment. I was happy to hear these great ladies being so confident and strong.

And now for myself… sudden compared to 2 years ago I wasn’t really eager to share all of a about cancer. I realized that it is not so easy sometime to share because it takes you back on a painful flashbacks and memory lane, …a road filled with so much pebbles and holes.

I only had a few days left to gear up myself and so I called up another long time survivor who now works for a cancer organization to get inspiration. I asked her how she can deal with patients and giving talks often…does she not get worried and be constantly reminded of cancer. She told me she had not choice but to put aside her fears and move on. She said it is not easy for her either but she some how manages to do so. Well I was glad I spoke to my friend because I now know what I am feeling is normal.

Anyway I did give my presentation in front of many aspiring consultants about 50-60 of them for about 45 minutes on late evening after work.

I suppose I did quite a good job as when I ended I was given a standing ovation and was given a wonderful token of appreciation by the organizers. I wish all these charming and pleasant ladies all the best in their career as consultants.

Well! I suppose in the end of the day, as we inspire people, we too get inspired. I really take my hats of for all those cancer survivors who keep the momentum of talking to people and dealing with cancer relates matters for years.

New Addition to the family

This week has been a rather an interesting week. My mother celebrated her 64th birthday, early this week. Celebration was just with immediate family which included husband, children and her only two grandsons.

This morning after almost going into labour for a 24 hours, my second sister-in-law delivered a baby girl. The little baby came saying hello to the world in wee hours of the morning...ha..ha.

We were all really excited, eargerly waiting for her arrival as after two nephews, it is good to have a niece.

I will now have more little fellows to deal with...hmm...it is going to be really interesting.

Since I do not have children of my own, i can experience a little bit of parenting when all the little ones come to the house...and that include sometimes driving me up the wall!

Married couples should have children. As children enhance and bring so much of joy to their lives. In fact i just found out that a friend of mine who was childless for many years, has adopted a baby boy. Having children also builds bond among the in-laws.

I wish this little baby girl, a life filled with lots of happiness, peace and good health.

Sungai Buloh Leprosy Control Centre

I recently joined the Sathya Sai Baba Centres in their quarterly visit to the Sungai Buloh Leprosy Control Centre. It has such a long time that I have joined in this activity.

We were told that the inmates at Leprosy Centre have dwindled to about 160 people as many of them have passed away. When I visit started visiting this place some years ago the number used to be more than 200 inmates.

Many of the inmates have been day since pre merdeka days and that is the only home they know. Many of them have been abandoned by family and children because of their conditions.

I was at the food section as food and towels were distributed to the intimates, while the rest went form ward to ward, singing song, bhajans, speaking to the intimates and cheering them up.

Visiting the place always reminders me lucky we are for the life we lead with our loved ones. It is also a reminder how the human instinct to survive is great as some inmates have only each other and have become a new family unit. Some new volunteers were asked about their experiences. They all said it was an interesting experience and one way to do charity and give back to society.

What was quite disappointing on this trip is that many plant nurseries and landscaping businesses have given way to widening of the roads for new developments in that area including the new Sungai Buloh Hospital. These nurseries are owned by former patients from the leprosy centre. There are only a few plant nurseries that are left. I usually buy some gardening stuffs when I have there is a wide variety of plants, pots and gardening decoration. I suppose in my next trip there would be no more plant nurseries or landscaping businesses left and Sungai Buloh would have lost it fame for being a centre for plant nurseries and landscaping businessess.

Camaraderie at The ATTIC

During the weekend the National Cancer Society of Malaysia extended an invitation to volunteers who took part in the Relay for Life KL ’08 to an afternoon of sumptuous lunch and camaraderie.

The gathering was held at the The ATTIC, Bangsar. The President of NCSM, Mr Anthony Skelchy and I entered the place together and we were greeted with the aroma of food and chatting of people.

We, of course, had the bar in boutique to ourselves and the ambiance was cozy with everyone being relaxed. The friendly waiters and waitresses made sure we had our glasses filled with drinks or wine at all times.

Many volunteers, staff and survivors attended the function. Some brought their family too. One survivor cooked her signature mutton dish, which everyone enjoyed. Later we found out it was her 51^st birthday and with quick thinking & action a birthday cake was produced. We sang the birthday song and she then cut her birthday cake with a wide smile.

As the networking went on full swing…the place was filled with laughter and music. We also had some lucky draws, games and of fun in the form of line dancing. The ladies and some men enjoyed themselves to line dancing rhythms and beats following the survivors who were familiar with the steps.

In the midst of all the merriment, we had survivors who are going for treatment for reoccurrence of cancer. I must take my hats of for these ladies for the enthusiasm, eagerness to take part and to still have a good time.

The President gave a short speech thanking everyone for their support and contributions. He concluded by adding the survivors were and inspiration to others and to keep their spirit high.

I had a good time on a Sunday afternoon, as I got to meet fellow survivors on other occasions beside the day of the Relay for Life.

I took some photos which will be posted later.

Leave me alone

I have been worried sick for the last few weeks as I had experience some pain and throbbing sensation on the area where I had the surgery. Of course all horrid thoughts were running in my head including whether I was also having problem with my heart! It was also a coincidence that during this time I was due for a six month’s once ultrasound examination on my right breast and breast clinic check up.

I had my ultrasound on 1 Aug and followed by the check up last Wednesday. During the ultrasound, as usual the radiologist had to wait for the chief radiologist to confirm that everything was fine on my right breast. As the examination took some time, I completely forgot to tell them about the pain on my left side and decided to speak with Prof. Yip my surgeon with whom I had an appointment the following Wednesday.

Prof. Yip assured me that the pain and the discomforting sensation are normal to be experienced by a survivor even after few years of surgery. I was really happy to hear that and left her room smiling from ear to ear.

Nowadays, I am in one of these moods of “leave me alone”! I was asked to give an interview for a leading women’s magazine for the October issue. I just declined and told them to look for other cancer survivors. I was told that sometimes it is difficult to find cancer survivors who want to be interviewed. I just admire survivors who can always appear in the media and in public and talk about their experiences.

Falling on the tracks

I finished my traveling trips nationwide and the last training was held in Kota Kinabalu. It has been an interesting project and I would miss the traveling.

I came back home and received some sad news. My fellow survivor and blogger Raden Galoh has developed a recurrence and is undergoing treatment. I also found out another young fellow survivor and active volunteer is also going through treatment for recurrence.

It is not really easy when you hear friends you know developing recurrence. They are in my prayers for a good recovery.

I have started tai chi workouts which I have skipped for the past 4 months due to the traveling. Many of the ladies wanted to know the reason for me for not attending the workouts for such a long time but were glad to see me in their midst.

A month ago while I was waiting at KL Sentral to take the commuter train home after work, I heard a loud thud. Suddenly, the crowd including me saw a girl lying on the railway track. Some men nearby, quickly jumped down from the platform and picked her up. She must have slipped while standing at the edge of the platform, busy “smsing” as she was still holding on to her handphone when she fell. Luckily during that rush hour the trains were delayed on that day. I have taken the train for over a decade now but this is the first time I have witnessed something like this. Hope the girl did not have committing suicide in mind. She may have suffered some slight injuries, as her neck and head had hit the tracks. How fragile life is and how carelessly some people can meet with accidents and that too because of a handphone.

Travelling

I just thought i will drop a few lines before I began a week's travel to Sarawak and Sabah due to work assignmnents. I got an sms from a friend who is on a work project in Europe (who read the blog), hoping that i am much better....and so i decided to post this before i catch a plane in a few hours.

My cough is much better though it is still there. I will just have to be much careful on the food i take while i am in East Malaysia.

A couple of days ago a friend of mine forwarded me this mail and i thought it was really good as it showcase of will power and faith of a man. These are the type of movitation we should be reminded oftern to get on with our daily lives. Happy viewing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF9wo9sVn2c