+ Parents | Stage 3

Took leave off work today to accompany my Dad for consultation at SGH Clinic D with Dr. Ooi Boon Swee, the Colorectal Consultant and Surgeon.

My brother-in-law fetched him from Woodlands, while Mom stayed home. My wife and I met them at Clinic D. The appointment was at 10:05am, but we got our turn to see him at 11:10am in Room 1. Our queue number was 1009.

The review went well for my Dad's recovery as the surgery wounds have healed nicely and Dad's bowel movement were back to normal since he was discharged from hospital.

While he was laying on the examination table waiting for the Dr. Ooi to examine, I asked him the result of the biopsy done on the tumor.

It was cancer at stage 3 or T3 as it was termed. The cancer has penetrated the wall of the colon into the abdominal cavity and invaded his lymph nodes.

Treatment cannot be done to him due to his age. He is 79, the common mode of treatment was to go for chemotherapy and drugs, but Dr. Ooi figured that he would be worst off as the side effects of the treatment on his old body will make him even sicker than he is now.

No drug or suppressant to slow down or eliminate recurrence. Just let him live his life to the fullest and be healthy. Eating healthy food, avoiding especially red meat and barbecued or grilled food.

He is at his critical 3 years of a recurrence of a tumor growth. Since there is usually no symptoms, the only detection early enough is a monthly blood test to detect cancer presence in his blood.

If all is good for 3 months, the blood test will be spaced to between 6 months apart and eventually to once a year. After 5 years with no traces, he should be cured off cancer.

Half of the patient after surgical removal of the cancer will have a recurrence because there would be cancer cells still present that are too small to be detected, and those that are outside the colon walls where no test are currently available.

Survival rate of Stage 3 Cancer patients with no treatment given is about 60% who survived to 5 years and beyond. Many patients have lived beyond 5 years.

Dad and Mom are not being told of Dad's condition. We as their children have decided to spare them the anxiety and burden if they knew, but to focus on living their lives with us to the fullest.

We will be there every step of the way and make their lives both meaningful and happy as humanly possible, as the time has way passed for us to take care of them.

We will be with you Dad and Mom, all the way! You can count on your children, guaranteed! We love you Dad and Mom.

May Allah bless you both for the wonderful things you have given to us and the sacrifices that you have made for us.