Can collect the slides of the biopsy

Dr Eugene text-messaged me this morning, he said the slides of the biopsy can be collected tomorrow. I don't know why he changed his mind about sending them to another pathologist at the University Hospital, I didn't ask.

Guess that means we can collect the slides and send to another pathologist at another hospital for second opinion. One of the reasons I could think of is: the other pathologists at the University Hospital didn't want to offend the first pathologist! But, that's just my random guess. :-)

The randomness of the big C

5th March 3008
-Consult Dr Eugene, the Obsterician & Gynaecologist-oncologist, ultra sound scan shows multiple cysts, schedule a surgery on 3rd April 2008.
- take blood for CA125 (cancer tumor marker test)

3rd April 2008
- CA125 comes back normal
-Start with a laparoscopic surgery but end up doing open surgery to remove the ovarian cysts because the doctor sees hard cell on the left ovary.
- Doctor takes out several bottles of stuffs, believe to be teratoma as they contain hairs.
- A biopsy of the hard cells on the left ovary

5th April 2008
- Discharged from hospital

12th April 2008
- Take out knot of the stitches
- Receive pathological report : cysts are benign, the biopsy express CEA and CK7 (cancer tumor markers)
- Take blood sample to send for more tumor marker tests (CA153, CA125, AFP, CEA)
-Schedule a CT scan on 16th April 2008.

16th April 2008
- CT scan doesn't show any malignant
- All CA153, CA125, AFP, CEA are normal. CA125 is 29, slightly raise from 19 before the surgery, but doctor says it's still within the normal range.
- Dr Eugene recommends removal of left ovary as diagnostic and preventive measure.

17th April 2008
- Come home to live at parents'.

18th April 2008
- Consult another gynae Dr Vishnu for second opinion.
- Consult Dr Chuah, the gastro specialist, schedule a coloscopy and gatroscopy on 22nd April 2008.

19th April 2008- Consult Dr Joel Nonis, a church brother who is an oncologist.
- He recommends further screening i.e. colonoscopy, mammography, beta-HCG

Both Dr Vishnu and Dr Nonis think it's a bit too drastic to remove the left ovary when there is no evidence of malignancy. They recommend further screening.

21st April 2008

- Preparing the digestive tract for colonoscopy and gastroscopy.

22nd April 2008

- Colonoscopy and gastroscopy, normal, no malignant.

- Schedule a mammograph and ultra sound of the breasts with Dr Nonis

23rd April 2008

-Mammograph and ultra sound of the breasts normal

-Take blood sample for beta-HCG test.

-Dr Eugene suggests sending the slides of the biopsy to another pathologist for second opinion.

24th April 2008

- Beta HCG test normal

25th April 2008

-Collect slides from Dr Eugene.

The certainty of death

Some said there are two things in life that you can be certain about : taxes and death!

Though all of us are destined to die the minute we are born (how ironic that can be!), facing death is not a skill that we have been taught by our parents nor trained in school.

We might be having a bad time or not so good time at this place that we are supposed to be pilgrims, but we don't want to leave yet, not yet!! We all have our fears and wrath about "why me"? We all have to come to our own senses and admit that: we do not determine life nor death, it's all in our creator's hands!

The unpredictables

Life is so unpredictable, there is nothing we plan that we can be 100% sure that it's going to happen on this day. Nonetheless, as a Christian, it's very reassuring that I know someone who does and He has control over all this unpredictabilities that I am experiencing.

It's like driving on a winding road, I cannot see very far what is ahead of me, I get a glimsp of the scene at every turn of the corner. But, my creator has the helicopter view, he can see what is ahead and every little corners that I am going to turn.

The random life

What happened in the last two weeks and the cancer scare that I am going through right now taught me that life is random and unpredictable. However, it's good to know that God is in control!

What may seem to be accidents to us, but they are not surprises to Him. Everything, good or bad, happens for a purpose and for a reason. The reason and purpose may not be known right now, but when we meet God, we can ask him. :-)