Year of the Ox!

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A Great Start to the New Year!

A Great Lunch Gathering on 3 January 2009

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The radiation therapy (RT) treatment Edmund was prescribed was a 3D conformal radiation (3DCRT), i.e best for patient with conditions requiring treatments that can be extended to a margin around the tumor bed to account for microscopic traces of tumor cells. To ensure that the beams would target on the right position, Edmund has to wear a plastic mask with pre-designated mappings during the treatment. The radiation is very much akin to three or four flashlights pointed from different directions onto the same target, i.e. when the beams converged over the tumor bed, they would be added up to enough dosage to kill the tumor cells. During the RT treatment, the beam would be active only when the machine is switched on. As soon as the beam is off, the radiation is gone. The RT will not make the patient radioactive. This means that even immediately after the daily RT treatment, the patient can be near to children, pregnant women, and pets safely, without restriction. Fatigue, partial hair loss, skin irritation are the common side effects of the RT.Edmund was also prescribed with the radiosensitizer drug – Temozolomide alongside with the RT treatment. When combined together, the effect of RT & chemo-drug are greater than the sum of their parts and would kill tumor cells more effectively. Although the chemo-drug is often well tolerated, it could require close monitoring of fatigue, nausea, vomiting & blood counts while taking this drug.

In the beginning of the chemoirradiation treatment, Edmund had a low grade fever of 38.5 degree Celsius and he was often tired and needed to take short naps. After three days, he was getting used to the treatment and the fever had gone by then. So far, Edmund has been coping well with the RT and the side effect of the chemo-drug on him was tolerating.

On Wednesday, Edmund had taken a blood test as it had been 2 weeks since the start of his treatment at QMH. Edmund had seen the Doctor on the following day on 8 January 09. The oncologist was pleased with the blood test results and his treatment progress. This means that Edmund will continue on his current course of treatment for another 2 weeks and see the oncologist again for continuation of the treatment.

Edmund’s chauffeur departed Hong Kong on 9 January 2009 with a ease of mind after spending three whole weeks supporting Edmund and monitoring on Edmund’s reaction to the treatment. Without a chauffeur, Edmund is planning to take public transportation to the hospital for his future treatment in the following weeks.

Edmund is keeping himself healthy, he eats & sleeps well. He is very thankful for all your support especially the tremendous encouragement given & the valuable healthy tips/recipes you sent. He is moving on in his path of recuperation.

Happy New Year 2009 to you

"For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Happy New Year to you all!

Edmund has started his new therapy work on 26 December for his chemoirradiation treatment at the Oncology Department of Queen Mary Hospital. Edmund has to attend the therapy on a daily basis for six weeks - he has almost gone through one-third of the treatment. Despite the time taken to commute between home to hospital and back and the heavy road traffic, he is coping with the treatment gradually. At first, he had a fever & an uneasy feeling for the first few treatments, however, he is now getting used to the routine.

Edmund was able to overcome travelling the long distance to the hospital in his own car driven by his chauffeur - his son & daughter-in-law, Chester & Kaka who stopped by Hong Kong on their way back to Sydney after their two years of missionary work in South Africa. This has saved him the hassle of making his own transportation arrangements to the hospital.