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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - </TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF noWrap align=right width="1%">From: </TD><TD class=msgFname noWrap width="68%">Toby Kuntakinte (PouletGeorge) <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate noWrap align=right width="30%">6:05 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT noWrap align=right width="1%" height=20>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname noWrap width="68%">ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 1) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%" rowSpan=4> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>53634.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt id=msgtxt_1>[FONT=Comic Sans MS,Sans-Serif]Yep, better to die in Singapore than terminally ill, Khaw Boon Wan and Lim Hng Kiang can attest to this. See the last paragraph in RED, it reaffirms this belief. Thank you, Alvin.[/FONT]
Spotting cancer early is easier said than done
<!--start of story text-->ACCORDING to Dr Wong Chiung Ing ('Cancer is a word, not a sentence'; Mind Your Body, June 16), once cancer is diagnosed early, the disease is no longer a death sentence. Herein lies the nexus of the conundrum: timely diagnosis.
Cancer is not an illness that lends itself easily to early diagnosis. Symptoms do not necessarily manifest early. On the contrary, they can show up at quite a late stage, by which time the cancer would already have spread.
Emerging symptoms can also be quite innocuous. Who would think that a simple headache could mark the beginning of a brain tumour or nose cancer, or that constipation could be a precursor to colorectal cancer?
Investigative procedures and health screening for cancer are not infallible. Depending on the location of the suspected cancer in the body, a biopsy is not always possible. Even the most sophisticated scans can throw up false positives or false negatives.
There is also the question of cost and affordability. Not many of us are in a position to pay for high-tech scans or comprehensive cancer screening.
On occasion, detection can be an act of serendipity. Even if caught early and treated, there is no guarantee that cancer would not recur.
The word 'remission' has often been construed as 'cured', when all it means is that the disease is under control or that no further cancer activity has been detected.
We should take all the preventive measures possible to stave off cancer. Then, we should also take up adequate insurance to cover contingencies.
In the event that one is unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with this dreaded disease, one should treat the illness seriously. Make an informed decision on the treatment options, arm oneself with resilience coupled with resignation, and brace oneself for a roller-coaster ride during treatment.
Finally, be realistic. If the disease has become terminal, then it may be better to avoid impoverishing the family if all forms of treatment can bring about only a couple more months of existence characterised by low quality of life.
Alvin Choo
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Spotting cancer early is easier said than done
<!--start of story text-->ACCORDING to Dr Wong Chiung Ing ('Cancer is a word, not a sentence'; Mind Your Body, June 16), once cancer is diagnosed early, the disease is no longer a death sentence. Herein lies the nexus of the conundrum: timely diagnosis.
Cancer is not an illness that lends itself easily to early diagnosis. Symptoms do not necessarily manifest early. On the contrary, they can show up at quite a late stage, by which time the cancer would already have spread.
Emerging symptoms can also be quite innocuous. Who would think that a simple headache could mark the beginning of a brain tumour or nose cancer, or that constipation could be a precursor to colorectal cancer?
Investigative procedures and health screening for cancer are not infallible. Depending on the location of the suspected cancer in the body, a biopsy is not always possible. Even the most sophisticated scans can throw up false positives or false negatives.
There is also the question of cost and affordability. Not many of us are in a position to pay for high-tech scans or comprehensive cancer screening.
On occasion, detection can be an act of serendipity. Even if caught early and treated, there is no guarantee that cancer would not recur.
The word 'remission' has often been construed as 'cured', when all it means is that the disease is under control or that no further cancer activity has been detected.
We should take all the preventive measures possible to stave off cancer. Then, we should also take up adequate insurance to cover contingencies.
In the event that one is unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with this dreaded disease, one should treat the illness seriously. Make an informed decision on the treatment options, arm oneself with resilience coupled with resignation, and brace oneself for a roller-coaster ride during treatment.
Finally, be realistic. If the disease has become terminal, then it may be better to avoid impoverishing the family if all forms of treatment can bring about only a couple more months of existence characterised by low quality of life.
Alvin Choo
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