Love, Care, Defeat Cancer

Cancer is a disease. No matter who suffers from it, it is bad luck! 

“Why me! Am I going to die soon?”

Every cancer patient needs encouragement, care and support from their friends and families. Some patients lose hope for life once they are diagnosed with cancer. If patients are lacking in their families’ love, care and support, their survival and will to live will naturally be affected. It has a big influence on their treatments. I am a lucky patient and have gotten a lot of love and care. Allow me to feel I am just a little bit misfortunate. Even though it seems like a tiny little thing, it is huge for cancer patients. When given encouragement and confidence, patients will have the power to fight the disease. 

I'm 58 years old and single.  I am a government officer of Prachin Buri. On February 7, 2008, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. On February 11, 2008, I had the removal surgery in a leading private hospital in Bangkok. My doctor said my colon cancer was in stage III; I needed to have 12 cycles of chemotherapy. Each cycle cost 180,000 baht.  Since I could not afford the expensive private hospital charges, I requested to transfer to the National Cancer Treatment Centre (NCTC).  Three days after the surgery, I heard the doctor's diagnosis. I was not like the others and too shocked about the bad news. Ironically, my brother, my sister-in-law and my sister were crying desperately. I thought they probably took pity on me! Anyway, they cared about me.  

When I came to the NCTC for treatments, a doctor did an examination again and told me I had stage II colon cancer. The doctor gave me a prescription for chemotherapy drugs and made appointments every 3 weeks. (Total: 6 appointments) During this period of time, the executives of the government administrative department that I serve were kind and caring. They came to visit me with a Taiwanese product, Coenzyme. I would remember all of the above care that they gave me.  

I Thought I was Cured But I was Told of a Recurrence

Around the end of July 2008, I finished my medication.  I was so happy to think I was cured. My God! I was happy for only a few days! At the annual follow up test after my surgery, the doctor found a new growth, a tumor at the same locale, though a colonoscopy. Afterwards, the doctor arranged a further colonoscopy and removed tissue samples 3 times for biopsy to ensure whether it was cancerous or not.

At every screening test, I had a bowel prep to clean my intestine so the doctor (gastroenterologist) could insert a colonoscope (a long, flexible, narrow tube with a light and tiny camera on one end) through my anus and could check for any tumors. This procedure was extremely painful. On June 2, 2009, I had to undergo the second operation. On the day of the surgery, I was suffering with lower abdomen pain. I needed to take chemotherapy drugs and I waited for the operation. All of my sisters and brother were so worried about me. I was living in Prachin Buri with a local nanny that I had hired. My family was concerned that if I was sick, no one would bring me to see a doctor. Therefore, my sister stayed with me after she retired. Her home was in Bangkok, so she was going back and forth between 2 places. Finally, my sibling decided to build a new house in the Pak Chong in Nakhon Ratchasima, and invited me to live with them. When I got sick, they could take care of me. Now I had a new home. 

During the removal surgery, big pieces of tumor inside the colon had been removed.  I was suffering from the preoperative preparation and postoperative recuperation. It was much more painful than my previous experiences. I was suffering from my second colon cancer; the doctor told me this cancer was in stage III. And I needed to have 12 cycles of intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. Each time, I needed to lie down and I received IV chemo doses for 48 hours. For this reason, I had to stay in the treatment center for few days at every treatment.  The drugs made me feel nausea, have no appetite and feel sick when I smelled food.  This was my second time having cancer and my subordinates worried about me because I was too thin (I was only 36kg by the time of the surgery) and I could not stand the chemotherapy. Hence, they were looking for every medicine and supplement that could relieve or reduce the side effects of the chemotherapy for me.  The result of their searching was a traditional Chinese herb medicine which was compatible with chemo drugs. It is called Tian Xian Liquid. 

After I read about Tian Xian Liquid’s efficacy, I bought it and took it. I have been taking it up until now. I think I’ve had little side effects from the second course of chemotherapy because I had the help of Tian Xian Liquid. Now, I have finished the seventh cycle of the chemotherapy. I am counting down to the last chemo cycle (the 12th cycle). Meanwhile, I am worried about whether the cancer will recur a third time after my twelve cycles of chemotherapy?   

The Care and Love of Relatives, Families and Friends is Important; but a Positive Personal Attitude is More Important

During the period of my second treatment, my siblings, subordinates and friends cared about me a lot. Even though some friends were too far away, they phoned me and chatted with me with care, or introduced me to different kinds of herbs and health products. They even sent me self-care books written by cancer patients. Some of them sent me recipes for cancer patients. My friends who lived close by came to visit me in the center. They continuously brought me supplements. The consultant, Ah Ying (Napada) serving at Tian Xian Liquid’s company showed her sincere care for me even though we never met.  She was so kindhearted and thoughtful and told me about both before- and after-care associated with chemotherapy. She told me about a lot of self-care methods; she also sent me several books such as “Eat for immunity”, a book about diets for cancer patients. Every time Ah Ying phoned me, she always told me, “Do not forget to drink plenty of water and rest more.” I express here my great gratitude for her care for me and her encouragements. 

Cancer patients are lucky when they are being loved, cared for and supported. However, I think it is not enough when they need to fight with cancer. One important thing for patients is they need to take good care of themselves and pay attention to themselves as well. More importantly, it becomes their strongly held belief.  

There is a saying, "the heart is the master; the body is the servant." If patients are heartbroken and without confidence, cancer will certainly be more invasive. On the other hand, their bodies are weak and unable to tolerate cancer treatments. They will finally lose. I have taken good care of myself psychologically and physically. In terms of my psychological level, I do good deeds for days, practice chanting and meditate, and observe the five precepts. I have done more practice since I got sick.  

So when I knew I had cancer, I did not feel too frightened or upset. I have endured various kinds of treatments. About care for the body, I adhere to 30 minutes of brisk walking every day and practice qigong. I also read books about diets for cancer patients, and try to follow through. For example, do not eat pickled foods or processed foods; no fish sauce, use sea salt and preservative-free soy sauce, no MSG, eat natural foods such as freshwater fish, organic vegetables and so on.

Last but not least, I hope my experience can play the role of encouragement. I hope that we can overcome difficulties, get good treatment, and do more good deeds. No matter what happens to us in the future, the more good deeds you do, the more prosperous returns that will come and cancer cannot put us down. If you get no immediate return, do not worry, it will pass through to our afterlife. If you do not believe in an afterlife, you should know that at least your grandchildren will remember you were generous and kind, they will be proud of all the good deeds you have done. You will be their role model and be eulogized. 

A poem says:

Grass wood pollen are aromatic, lying a dead elephant. 

Ivory charms are present, the body contains varieties. 

King’s demeanor is shown, chance to perish. 

Remains in village and sea, good evil install in world.

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