I am fine today. I feel physically better compared to yesterday.
I am right now at Papa Koptiam, having few slides of toast ( butter/kaya) and a cup of tea. I must said the tea smell good. I remembered during young time, my dad used to brought us to kopitiam and the tea taste exactly the one I am drinking now. The different is , the tea at Papa cost few times more + they provide free WIFI.
Due to my mouth ulcer ,only soft food can accommodate me. Last Sunday, I was having a teabreak with Fong Ming at Secrete Recipe. I had a marble cheese cake + a cup of vanilla latte. The marble cheese cake is their award winnning product.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Day +260 : Dry Mouth
I am not feeling well today, My dry mouth have cause me a great problem in eating. I can only choose soft food. and also it irritate every I chew the food.
Dr Ala Teh told this is due to GVHD, and asked me to put cream to maintain the moisture. I hope the problem will settle down in the next few days or I think my weight will drop again.
Dr Ala Teh told this is due to GVHD, and asked me to put cream to maintain the moisture. I hope the problem will settle down in the next few days or I think my weight will drop again.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Day +258 : Side effect of Cyclosporine
I am taking Cyclosporine to control the GVHD, An immunosuppressive agent - It is used to decrease the immune system's response to a transplanted.
For many months, I am having dumbness in feet and hand due to these drug. Now I have another new issue, my gum bleed, also due to the drug. The Internet reveal much information about the drug
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. You will have regular blood checks. Do not change the brand of medicine unless directed by your doctor or health care professional. If you get a cold or other infection while receiving this medicine, call your doctor or health care professional. Do not treat yourself. The medicine may decrease your body's ability to fight infections. You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks. This medicine can make you more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun. If you cannot avoid being in the sun, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or tanning beds/booths. The medicine can cause unusual growth of gum tissue and can make your gums bleed. Practice good oral hygiene, and be careful when brushing and flossing your teeth. See your dentist regularly.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
changes in vision
high blood pressure
increased urge to urinate or frequent urination
numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
seizures
severe stomach pain
vomiting
yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
bleeding or tender gums, overgrowth of gum tissue
diarrhea
excessive hair growth on the face or body
nausea
tremors This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
For many months, I am having dumbness in feet and hand due to these drug. Now I have another new issue, my gum bleed, also due to the drug. The Internet reveal much information about the drug
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. You will have regular blood checks. Do not change the brand of medicine unless directed by your doctor or health care professional. If you get a cold or other infection while receiving this medicine, call your doctor or health care professional. Do not treat yourself. The medicine may decrease your body's ability to fight infections. You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks. This medicine can make you more sensitive to the sun. Keep out of the sun. If you cannot avoid being in the sun, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or tanning beds/booths. The medicine can cause unusual growth of gum tissue and can make your gums bleed. Practice good oral hygiene, and be careful when brushing and flossing your teeth. See your dentist regularly.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
changes in vision
high blood pressure
increased urge to urinate or frequent urination
numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
seizures
severe stomach pain
vomiting
yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
bleeding or tender gums, overgrowth of gum tissue
diarrhea
excessive hair growth on the face or body
nausea
tremors This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Day +257 : Dry Mouth
I am suffering from dry mouth syndrome because my saliva glands are attacked by my own immune system – one of the symptoms of post bone marrow transplant side effect called graft versus host disease (GVHD).
My mouth always dry, I could feel my teeth is pulling each others. I have to use The Biotene mouth wash to relieve my dry mouth syndrome, at this moment it work quite well.
My mouth always dry, I could feel my teeth is pulling each others. I have to use The Biotene mouth wash to relieve my dry mouth syndrome, at this moment it work quite well.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Day +255 : Book by Lance Amstrong, a member of the cancer community
I came across this book two years ago, but I did not buy it. It was during a book sales in PJ.
Here is the review about the book
Lance Armstrong, for those of you who may not know, is a two time Tour De France winner, post cancer, as well as a new Dad and Olympian. He grew up in Texas and trains there and in Europe, a world-class athlete. At 25, already an elite international bike racer, he was diagnosed with a virulent form of testicular cancer that spread to other parts of his body, including his brain, before it was stopped. He was young, strong, an athlete, single, well-off from his racing revenues and he faced a very poor prognosis. What is at least an inspiring story, is at its best a true portrayal of what cancer patients young and old face everyday. Some are not so fortunate with their outcomes, but It's Not About the Bike honestly reveals the side of cancer that most relatives and well-wishers never see: that treatment is truly awful, that patients are heroes, oncology units are places of very human emotion and that sometimes your best one liners pop out when your stomach is roiling and your hair is gone.
On the day of my second surgery, I knew what I was facing. I clutched Lance's book until the last moment before anesthesia when the pre-op nurse respectfully took my glasses and laid the book on the chair by the curtain. I had read and read in the days before and I was comforted. I was going where Lance had gone, I wanted an honest portrayal of the difficulties. I didn't want it sugar coated. He doesn't.
The moment that someone tells you this kind of bad news is profoundly confusing. The shock is immediate and the reaction can be to say: Let's get on with it. Let's get this thing cured and done and go on to the next thing. I don't have time for this. The reality is very different and the beauty and honesty of It's Not About the Bike is that Armstrong tells the entire story, not just the triumphant ending. He takes you through the surgeries, the seemingly endless days of profound chemotherapy induced illness and the rehabilitation. Armstrong guts it out on the pages of his book. You can feel his will. This same will is most certainly what has made him a world class athlete, but applied to cancer, it will inspire even those with no athletic ambitions.
The beginning of the book is filled out with Lance's recollections of his formative years, his indomitable single mother's unstinting efforts to improve their lot as well as Armstrong's early days of racing. We meet his agents, his international cast of friends and colleagues. Armstrong even offers some tantalizing hints at the fierce chess-like moves required of riders and agents in the heady echelons of world class racing. For those who don't follow the sport closely, this peek behind the scenes of international bike racing is enough. The main event in this book is the fight for life.
The most telling chapters are about chemotherapy. In these chapters, Armstrong lays it out for the uninitiated. He pretends no heroics, he tells it exactly as a patient sees it. The cure is horrific, make no mistake. But there is heroism in the telling. There is a wonderfully drawn portrait of his oncology nurse, LaTrice Haney. Lance banters and jokes with her when he can talk at all, he tells her about his bike and she allows him to be human in the midst of his pain. Hers is the best kind of nursing. We meet Jim Ochowicz, Lance's friend who tirelessly tries to distract him during the chemo marathons in the hospital. Heroes abound in this book. If we need to be taught about friendship and compassion, these are the teaching chapters.
Then there is life. In Armstrong's case, his cancer was gone after a year. He could start to rebuild and recondition himself for the road ahead. He attacks the project with the style of the athlete he is. He suffers the post-cancer existential survivor questions and rides through them. He begins a new relationship, falls in love with Kik, his future wife and acts like a guy again. In the pursuit of normalcy he is also one of us. The wedding, the longed for baby and the triumphs follow, but Lance Armstrong will never forget where he has been.
I will always carry the lesson of cancer with me and feel that I'm a member of the cancer community. Anyone who has heard the words You have cancer and thought, 'Oh my God, I'm going to die,' is a member of it. If you've ever belonged, you never leave.
It's Not About the Bike is non-fiction and not for everyone. If you have an interest in the spirit and resiliency of the human mind, read it. You will learn something. If you have a friend or a loved one who is touched by cancer, read it. There is comfort here and hope. If you have cancer, read it. It will give you a light for your heart.
Here is the review about the book
Lance Armstrong, for those of you who may not know, is a two time Tour De France winner, post cancer, as well as a new Dad and Olympian. He grew up in Texas and trains there and in Europe, a world-class athlete. At 25, already an elite international bike racer, he was diagnosed with a virulent form of testicular cancer that spread to other parts of his body, including his brain, before it was stopped. He was young, strong, an athlete, single, well-off from his racing revenues and he faced a very poor prognosis. What is at least an inspiring story, is at its best a true portrayal of what cancer patients young and old face everyday. Some are not so fortunate with their outcomes, but It's Not About the Bike honestly reveals the side of cancer that most relatives and well-wishers never see: that treatment is truly awful, that patients are heroes, oncology units are places of very human emotion and that sometimes your best one liners pop out when your stomach is roiling and your hair is gone.
On the day of my second surgery, I knew what I was facing. I clutched Lance's book until the last moment before anesthesia when the pre-op nurse respectfully took my glasses and laid the book on the chair by the curtain. I had read and read in the days before and I was comforted. I was going where Lance had gone, I wanted an honest portrayal of the difficulties. I didn't want it sugar coated. He doesn't.
The moment that someone tells you this kind of bad news is profoundly confusing. The shock is immediate and the reaction can be to say: Let's get on with it. Let's get this thing cured and done and go on to the next thing. I don't have time for this. The reality is very different and the beauty and honesty of It's Not About the Bike is that Armstrong tells the entire story, not just the triumphant ending. He takes you through the surgeries, the seemingly endless days of profound chemotherapy induced illness and the rehabilitation. Armstrong guts it out on the pages of his book. You can feel his will. This same will is most certainly what has made him a world class athlete, but applied to cancer, it will inspire even those with no athletic ambitions.
The beginning of the book is filled out with Lance's recollections of his formative years, his indomitable single mother's unstinting efforts to improve their lot as well as Armstrong's early days of racing. We meet his agents, his international cast of friends and colleagues. Armstrong even offers some tantalizing hints at the fierce chess-like moves required of riders and agents in the heady echelons of world class racing. For those who don't follow the sport closely, this peek behind the scenes of international bike racing is enough. The main event in this book is the fight for life.
The most telling chapters are about chemotherapy. In these chapters, Armstrong lays it out for the uninitiated. He pretends no heroics, he tells it exactly as a patient sees it. The cure is horrific, make no mistake. But there is heroism in the telling. There is a wonderfully drawn portrait of his oncology nurse, LaTrice Haney. Lance banters and jokes with her when he can talk at all, he tells her about his bike and she allows him to be human in the midst of his pain. Hers is the best kind of nursing. We meet Jim Ochowicz, Lance's friend who tirelessly tries to distract him during the chemo marathons in the hospital. Heroes abound in this book. If we need to be taught about friendship and compassion, these are the teaching chapters.
Then there is life. In Armstrong's case, his cancer was gone after a year. He could start to rebuild and recondition himself for the road ahead. He attacks the project with the style of the athlete he is. He suffers the post-cancer existential survivor questions and rides through them. He begins a new relationship, falls in love with Kik, his future wife and acts like a guy again. In the pursuit of normalcy he is also one of us. The wedding, the longed for baby and the triumphs follow, but Lance Armstrong will never forget where he has been.
I will always carry the lesson of cancer with me and feel that I'm a member of the cancer community. Anyone who has heard the words You have cancer and thought, 'Oh my God, I'm going to die,' is a member of it. If you've ever belonged, you never leave.
It's Not About the Bike is non-fiction and not for everyone. If you have an interest in the spirit and resiliency of the human mind, read it. You will learn something. If you have a friend or a loved one who is touched by cancer, read it. There is comfort here and hope. If you have cancer, read it. It will give you a light for your heart.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Day +245 : Healed
I am fine today, I feel my foot and hand numbness is increasing, make me slightly discomfort.
To share my progress with family members and friend, I decided to setup a blog. This is useful because during transplant, I need to minimise the contact with outsider to avoid infections. Thus, the best way to keep them informed of my daily progress was to post my progress through this blog. I name my blog kcfoo96-healed.blogspot. The word healed represent my strong desired getting healed. July marked my 8 months of transplant.
I have started work since May 09 ( after 180 days of transplant), and I feel wonderful.
To share my progress with family members and friend, I decided to setup a blog. This is useful because during transplant, I need to minimise the contact with outsider to avoid infections. Thus, the best way to keep them informed of my daily progress was to post my progress through this blog. I name my blog kcfoo96-healed.blogspot. The word healed represent my strong desired getting healed. July marked my 8 months of transplant.
I have started work since May 09 ( after 180 days of transplant), and I feel wonderful.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Day +243 : A youth story
I am fine today, just feel a bit tired. May be due to the hot weather.
Few days a go, Sin Chew reported a story about a youth having the aggressive lymphoma, Mr Tan , an undergraduate was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2007, after 8 cycle of chemo, he went for bone marrow transplant in Oct 2008, the donor was from his sister. The disease came back after three months. He suffering serious gums bleeding.
Today, the new said Mr Tan have passed away due to complications. My deep condolences to his family.
My type of lymphoma is also aggressive, the relapse percentage is high as well. So, can't think much about the future, I have learned to appreciate what I have currently.
Few days a go, Sin Chew reported a story about a youth having the aggressive lymphoma, Mr Tan , an undergraduate was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2007, after 8 cycle of chemo, he went for bone marrow transplant in Oct 2008, the donor was from his sister. The disease came back after three months. He suffering serious gums bleeding.
Today, the new said Mr Tan have passed away due to complications. My deep condolences to his family.
My type of lymphoma is also aggressive, the relapse percentage is high as well. So, can't think much about the future, I have learned to appreciate what I have currently.
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