MY TENTH CHEMO

My tenth chemo

Grace to everyone,

I am so blessed to be able to celebrate Chinese New Year with my beloved family members. PTL.

However, I have to be at the hospital today for my 10th chemotherapy. After this, I have to more treatments to complete. I am really looking forward to it.

Hopefully, it will give me a new lease of life. No more fortnightly treatments at the hospital. Hurrah. From now I would be looking forward to marking my calendar every day until the third week of March. How I wish the days will pass as fast as lightning.

After my treatment, the side effects worsened. I really had no appetite to eat though I longed to eat all the Chinese New Year delicacies. I couldn't only see others enjoying them but I am constantly assuring myself that this condition is only temporary. Come the next Chinese I will be relishing all these yummy food. As a result, I lost 200g of weight(59.6 kg to 59.4kg).

As I suffered from swelling on my legs and peeling skin, I found it very difficult to continue with my hiking, jungle trekking and qigong. Therefore I had to temporarily suspend all these activities and at the same time source for alternative activities. As I mentioned earlier one of my friend took me to immerse myself in the natural hot springs. I felt so wonderful sweating out the toxins in my body. I heard that soaking in the hot springs also has some beneficial healing properties.

The side effects of chemotherapy increased in intensity as the treatment progressed. I have prepared myself to some extent for the more intense side effects. Hope you all will upload me in your prayers and pray that I will be able to counter them.

From my ninth chemotherapy, I suffered numbness in my limbs as well as experienced severe Diarrhoea for the last two consecutive days of the treatment. I was prescribed some cream to apply to avoid dryness of my skin. Please God be compassionate to me and please give the strength to overcome all these side effects.

My oncologist has no objection to the hot spring treatment that I prescribed for myself. He now insists that I take 6 tablets a day for a fortnight unless I can find a valid reason not to.

As usual, my youngest brother dropped me at the hospital on his way to work.

After registration, they conducted mandatory blood test and the usual routine tests. Fortunately, my blood test was good enough for me to proceed with my treatment.

After that, I consulted with my oncologist and then checked into my room. I was assigned a two bedded room(9/15A) in the same building as my oncologist consultation suite.

I have been forewarned that this treatment would be more challenging, unexpected and uncertain as new cumulative side effects may develop.

I have endured a lot since I started treatment. I believe I can do it with God's compassion and mercies. Once again please remember me in your prayers. Thank you, everyone.

With unconditional love,

James Oh