Face the pain

Accept the pain, Future will be fruitful

There will be always reason for that pain

So face the pain, For the pain you face

There will be definitely happiness ahead

Don't ask for a lighter load,

But pray to God for a stronger back!

Menopause symptoms

“ .......we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)

When I undergone hysterectomy (total) surgery due to my ovarian cancer in Oct 2008, I expected myself to experience severe menopause symptoms due to the sudden and big drop in hormones production in my body post-operation.

Last 3 weeks these symptoms have become very pronounced and occurred every day. They can be depression, poor concentration, sleep disorder, memory lapse, anxiety, headaches, hot flashes, irregular heartbeat, panic ,night sweats etc( website states at least 34 symptoms). However, the most unbearable symptoms for me are depression and sleep disorder. For example, I can become depressed and sad even when I half-way reading newspapers. Also, I can suddenly wake up at night sweating as though I just have a nightmare. On the average, I only sleep about 4 to 5 hours.

My friend told me that her mother had such symptoms till the day she died. Her cousin overcomes by exercise every day. I now try to do more outdoor exercises like brisk walking. I hope to see some results in 2 weeks time or so. Medication is my last resort as drugs deal with hormones-control can be undesirable for my type of cancer. Even for natural remedies that may be helpful like ginseng, Dan Quai and evening primrose, I will avoid them because they have hormones stimulant properties.

I wonder how older generation of women managed these symptoms. May be they are too busy to think about them or they are expected to suffer in silence. People often lament that women after 50s tend to be cranky and difficult to get along with. There are reasons behind these at least from the medical point of view. I hope more will sympathize and understand us.

Innovative way to get your BBQ done!

Should women go for CA-125 test regularly?

"Man springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure....his days are determined; you(God) have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.(Job 14: 2-5)"

A friend recently sent me an article written by an ovarian cancer patient. What she encountered almost identical to what I went through myself. The cancer is difficult to detect early and often mis-diagnosed even by specialists, left alone the general practitioners.By the time symptoms appeared, it is already in advanced stage, so fatality is very high. Also it is very aggressive cancer that develops very fast in a short span of time. From my personal experience,ultra-sound is not accurate, blood test is a better choice and it is affordable.

Breast cancer by far is the most common cancer amongst women. In National Cancer Centre,there are a dozen of very good chemotologists while for female reproductive system-related cancers, there are only two.

Below is an excerpt what she wrote:

"As many of you know, I have Primary Peritoneal Cancer. This cancer
has only recently been identified as its OWN type of cancer, but it is
essentially Ovarian Cancer.

Both types of cancer are diagnosed in the same way, with the
'tumor marker' CA-125 BLOOD TEST, and they are treated in the same
way - surgery to remove the primary tumor and then chemotherapy
with Taxol and Carboplatin.

Having gone through this ordeal, I want to save others from the same
fate. That is why I am sending this message to you and hope you will
print it and give it or send it via E-mail to everybody you know.

One thing I have learned is that each of us must take TOTAL
responsibility for our own health care. I thought I had done that
because I always had an annual physical and PAP smear, did a
monthly Self-Breast Exam, went to the dentist at least twice a
year, etc. I even insisted on a sigmoidoscopy and a bone density test
last year. When I had a total hysterectomy in 1993, I thought that I did
not have to worry about getting any of the female reproductive organ
cancers.

LITTLE DID I KNOW. I don't have ovaries (and they were HEALTHY
when they were removed), but I have what is essentially ovarian
cancer. Strange, isn't it?

These are just SOME of the things our Doctors never tell us: ONE
out of every 55 women will get OVARIAN or PRIMARY PERITONEAL
CANCER.

The 'CLASSIC' symptoms are an ABDOMEN that rather SUDDENLY
ENLARGES and CONSTIPATION and/or DIARRHEA.
I had these classic symptoms and went to the doctor. Because these
symptoms seemed to be 'abdominal', I went to a gastroenterologist.
He ran tests that were designed to determine whether there was a
bacteria infection; these tests were negative, and I was diagnosed
with 'Irritable Bowel Syndrome'. I guess I would have accepted this
diagnosis had it not been for my enlarged abdomen. I swear to you,
it looked like I was 4-5 months pregnant! I therefore insisted on more
tests

They took an X-ray of my abdomen; it was negative. I was again
assured that I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome and was encouraged to
go on my scheduled month-long trip to Europe . I couldn't wear any
of my slacks or shorts because I couldn't get them buttoned, and
I KNEW something was radically wrong. I INSISTED on more tests,
and they reluctantly) scheduled me for a CT-Scan (just to shut me
up, I think). This is what I mean by 'taking charge of our own health
care.'

The CT-Scan showed a lot of fluid in my abdomen (NOT normal).
Needless to say, I had to cancel my trip and have FIVE POUNDS of
fluid drawn off at the hospital (not a pleasant experience I assure you),
but NOTHING compared to what was ahead of me.

Tests revealed cancer cells in the fluid. Finally, finally, finally, the
doctor ran a CA-125 blood test, and I was properly diagnosed.

I HAD THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS FOR OVARIAN CANCER, AND YET
THIS SIMPLE CA-125 BLOOD TEST HAD NEVER BEEN RUN ON ME,
not as part of my annual physical exam and not when I was symptomatic.
This is an inexpensive and simple blood test!

PLEASE, PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FEMALE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
TO INSIST ON A CA-125 BLOOD TEST EVERY YEAR AS PART OF THEIR
ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMS.

Be forewarned that their doctors might try to talk them out of it, saying,
'IT ISN'T NECESSARY.' Believe me, had I known then what I know now,
we would have caught my cancer much earlier (before it was a stage
3 cancer). Insist on the CA-125 BLOOD TEST; DO NOT take 'NO' for
an answer!

The normal range for a CA-125 BLOOD TEST is between zero and 35.
MINE WAS 754 (That's right, 754!). If the number is slightly above 35,
you can have another done in three or six months and keep a close
eye on it, just as women do when they have fibroid tumors or when
men have a slightly elevated PSA test (Prostatic Specific Antigens)
that helps diagnose prostate cancer.

Having the CA-125 test done annually can alert you early, and that's the
goal in diagnosing any type of cancer - catching it early.

Do you know 55 women? If so, at least one of them will have this VERY
AGGRESSIVE cancer. Please, go to your doctor and insist on a CA-125
test and have one EVERY YEAR for the rest of your life.

And forward this message to every woman you know, and tell all of your
female family members and friends. Though the median age for this
cancer is 56, (and, guess what, I'm exactly 56), women as young as 22
have it. Age is no factor."

My latest cancer marker test

"Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." (Job 1:21)
"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:14)

My cancer marker- CA125 (ovarian cancer) looks like has shown reversed trend since April this year. When I finished my chemo treatments in mid-May last year (2009), my reading was 10.2. It achieved the best reading on 12th April this year with a reading of 8.6. June’s marker is 10.5 and the most recent one on 10th August went up to 16.6. Within 2 months, it has gone up by 6 points, the highest jump in points so far. The doctor said it is still within acceptable range (max 34) and will monitor in 3 month’s time.

I pondered over this blood test result what God is trying to tell me. For one thing, He is the life giver and He can take away life. I must be prepared for that eventual day. Meanwhile, I remind myself to live one day at a time fruitfully to fulfil the tasks and responsibilities that God has entrusted me.

New 3Cs-my Singapore dream

Today Singapore celebrates 45th National Day. We are grateful to God for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon this nation. In terms of economic progress, we have achieved far ahead of our neighbouring countries. I hope this wealth effect triggers down to people from the lower strata of our society who find hard to catch up with high cost of living here. We also must be mindful not to become arrogant as a result of our success. (Psalm 75:7- It is God who judges; He brings one down, He exalts another)

People including our leaders are now trying to coin new Cs for ‘Singapore Dream’ to include some non-material goals in life such as consideration and charity. The current 5 Cs that the Singaporeans are familiar with are too 'materialistic' for one to utter aloud proudly.

As for myself, I do not want to aim for so many Cs in my life but just the 3Cs below will do:-

“Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into the temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” (I Timothy 6: 6-9)

CONTENTMENT

(Definition: pleased with situation, satisfied.)

One of the greatest evils in a materialistic society is the culture of greed. We can fall into the trap of non-ending wants in our lives that caused us unnecessary stresses and broken relationships. Contentment will free our energy and time from reckless worldly pursuits, and we will have more priceless peace and joy in our hearts.

”Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

COMPASSION
(Definition: A strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering of others and a desire to help them.)

Compassion is a natural progression from contentment. We can channel our time and energy free up once we are contented with lives, and to be compassionate towards others.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)

CARE

(Definition: The process of or responsibility for protecting and giving special attention to someone or something.)

Care for one another is the culminating effect when we have contentment and compassion. It represents the acting out part. We put our desires to help into practice by sharing with others rather than keep all blessings to ourselves.

Illiterate? Write for free help!

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother – which is the first commandment with a promise – that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Philippians 1:1-3)

My younger girl came home from her school (which is a band 1 school) yesterday and told us that a Sec 2 boy received canning during school assembly for stealing an i-phone despite received warning for his first attempt. My heart really sunk when I heard this.

Does this dream phone mean so much to this boy? Does he understand how his act has hurt his parents? What about the permanent scar that he has to bear throughout his life when he grows up? He will then realise the price he paid for idolising the brand ‘Apple’ is so foolish.

Materialism is so powerful in our society that parents are under immense pressure to give in to their kids. Hardship experience is hard to come by for our children barring unforeseen events happened to the families. So it is not surprise that my children are not interested to know my rubber plantation life when I was young. In Singapore, you have to create `hardship experience’ like school camp in Pulau Ubin or Outward Bound. But even then, they only ‘suffered’ for a few days, unless we can send them to Laos or Cambodia for volunteering work.

A friend recently shared with me how her relative’s teenage children talked to their mother. They conversed with her as though they know things better than her. It’s ironical that the mother, being a CEO of a big corporation, to get her been interviewed is hard to come by, and here we have un-appreciating children who do not give their mother due honour. What a sad thing. So it is a myth that better educated mothers will be able to close the generation gap with their children.

Awareness of nature

The heaven declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
(Psalm 19: 1)

Singaporeans finally get it after reading headline news that floods could occur in Orchard areas, that our climate is indeed changing and we get heavy rain even in those months that are supposed to be dry months. Chinese 7th month is coming next week and is always a very hot month. If it turns out otherwise, this is really going to be exceptional.

Will Singaporeans notice it even if it is exceptional? They dislike geography as a study subject. Even when they go holidays, they are more interested in confining themselves inside the tour coaches, and shopping. Our urban way of life has blunted our sensitivity towards nature. We are always in a hurry, wanting to do so many things in one go (but are they all worthwhile pursuits?) that we forget to slow down to take notice nature around us. Somebody once made this remark, no matter how marvellous a man-made work may be, it can never rival nature’s work. In a city like Singapore, most of us spend bulk of our time indoor. Air-conditioned environment is available everywhere (we are the big contributor towards greenhouse effect). We are oblivion to natural phenomenon outside.

My years of growing up in a rubber plantation may be tough, but it has enriched my life. Our daily livelihood then was closely intertwined with nature. Sitting leisurely along the veranda of the wooden house, I enjoyed watching how the rubber trees shed their old leaves and replaced with new, young leaves; the bursting of rubber seeds that rhythm with seasonal changes in weather. I learnt from my mother how to read weather which turned out quite accurately, just by observing the colour of the sky, stillness of the air and insects behaviours. Alas! Now years of staying in city has also dulled my senses towards nature.