.....Useful Medical Terms To Know.....

DIAGNOSIS
Identification of disease or condition by scientific evaluation of physical signs, symptoms, history, lab test results and procedures.

PROGNOSIS
A prediction of the probable outcome of the disease.

ACUTE
Description of a disease or its beginning abruptly with marked intensity or sharpness, and then subsiding after a relatively short period.

CHRONIC
Something that has persisted for a long time, often over a person's lifetime.

BENIGN
Usually refers to a tumour that is non-cancerous and therefore not an immediate threat.

MALIGNANT
Tending to become worse and to cause death, usually in reference to cancer.

TUMOUR
A new growth of tissue characterised by progressive, uncontrolled growth of cells, swelling or enlargement occurring in inflammatory condition.

METASTASIS
The process in which tumour cells spread to distant parts of the body.

ABCESS
A cavity containing pus and surrounded inflamed tissue.

HYPERTENSION
Commonly called High Blood Pressure, which is characterised by elevated blood pressure persistently exceeding 140/90mm Hg.

BIOPSY
Removal of a small piece of living tissue from an organ or other part of the body, for microscopic examination.

ULTRASOUND
A test using sound waves to take pictures of internal organs. It can be used for almost any area of the body, including chest, abdomen, pelvis, neck, eye and other extremities.

CT SCAN
Same as CAT scan. It is an X-ray test which can show the internal organs. Any part of the body can be scanned. A computer is used to translate the intricate readings into multiple cross sectional images.

X-RAY
Radiograph image often used to diagnose broken bones, joint problems, tumours and many other diseases.

MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a test that does not use X-ray. Instead, it uses intense magnetic field producing three-dimensional images as well as cross-sectional images like the CT scan. This process reacts to metals and is not recommended for patients who have metal within their body like pacemakers and some metallic prosthesis.

LOCAL ANESTHESTIC
Pain killer that works to  where it is applied only as opposed to something which is 'imported'.

.....The Dance.....

 

 

 

 



With CA came the darkness
That brought me to my knees
Then, darkness took me by the hand
It said, " Come dance with me."

As we danced,  I felt such sadness 
As we danced, I felt such fear
As we danced, I felt such weakness
As we danced, I cried such tears.

Suddenly, my eyes were blinded
By an incredibly brilliant light
While dancing in CA's silence
Darkness led me to its light.

Then light took me in its arms
It said, "Let me lead the way."
I'll show you CA's gifts
They're in each moment of everyday.

As we danced, I saw such joy
As we danced, I saw such hope
As we danced, I felt the strength
Light gave me, to carry on.

EXPRESSIONS OF A CA JOURNEY.

 

 

P.S

I 'borrowed' this poem which was framed, and hung on the wall in the Onco Department, HSIJB, way back in 2009. 



.....What's In A Name?.....

 

 

*While there are 'those people', at one end, there are also those who bring comfort in times of need. God sends messages in the strangest of ways. At a time when life seemed so bleak, who would have thought those silly bumper stickers could make an impact on yourself.

 

"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade", "Life is a bowl of cherries, if you learn to swallow the pits". Corny? Without a doubt! Cliched? Most definitely!

 

But the thing is, they worked for me.  They became something to ponder on and get a grip on life. By God, if  this is my barrel of lemons, let's make the best lemonade in town and even throw the best party anyone has ever seen!

 

It's funny how with acceptance, doors seem to open, and help and options seem to come stumbling in to make everything alright for you. It's as though with acceptance , the Universe is there to let good things come your way.

 

After that, it seems as if there's a corny line to fit every experience I'm going through.

 

My journey is never a bed of roses, but life is like that. "I will survive", with its opening line: First I was afraid, I was petrified....." YES, I WAS PETRIFIED! NOW, I WILL SURVIVE!

 

I still don't find certain terms and phrases funny, but the sting is less painful.

 

My point? Let the names and labels wash over you, accept them, and move on. As Shakespeare wrote in Romeo And Juliet: "What's in a name? That which we call Rose, by any other name, would smell just as sweet."*

 

 

(This article was written by Juneita Johari, in The New Sunday Times, on 05/12/10)

 

.....It's Okay Not To Be Perfect.....

 

 

A lot of us hit bumps on the road of life. We make mistakes. We worry that our lives aren't perfect, that we're not doing what we should do. We look at other people and feel we've failed in some way. Yet the truth is that it's okay to have a messy life and get things wrong. it's okay to go after something and fail. And we shouldn't be afraid  of not being perfect or fear the failure. 

 

 

.....The Gift Of A Real Friend.....

 

 

 

 

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. A friend is a living treasure, and if you have one, you have one of the most valuable gifts in life.

 



 

 

I'm blessed to have Mrs Doris Boo as my BFF. She's an individual who really understands me, inside out, and who can tolerate all my idiosyncracies! Gracias, Doris!





.....Vivid Recollections.....

 

 

 

 

 

The following article was written on 3/5/2010. I'm reproducing this as a major throwback in my life.

 

 

"In February 2009, whilst showering, I couldn't help but notice the difference in my LB, as compared to my RB. It seemed to be harder! Chills ran down my spine, but I just couldn't make myself believe that I might be the latest statistic in the BC phenomenon. Trauma with a Capital T ruled over me during the next few months. I knew that I shouldn't  delay taking the necessary action, but then.....that was just what I did! I kept  praying constantly that it was nothing, and that I would wake up in the morning to find that 'IT' had gone with the wind! However, with each passing day, 'IT' was still there, as large as life, itself.

 

On 3/5/2009, sad and teary-eyed, I opened   myself up to my family doctor, and ever so gently, he asked me to go for a mammogram at JSH, and see the gynae/specialist there for a thorough check-up. STILL, I could afford to delay things further. Finally, after confiding in my youngest sibling, I embarked on my CA journey on 26/6/2009. My sibling was my pillar of strength, who saw me go through the various stages of treatment, (M, CT, RT) and the ensuing review visits at PSHJB and HSIJB. 

 

This year, 2018 sees me going through my ninth year of being a CA Survivor. Syukur Alhamdulillah. Ameen....."