Friday, October 29, 2010

What To Do When You Have a Cancer Patient At Home.

The word Cancer is extremely common today that it scares me. Having been a survivor, and losing both my parents to it, I am, without a doubt, no stranger to this disease. While I did lose my mother to breast cancer, it was my dad's battle with stomach cancer that really taught me what I am about to write today.

When cancer strikes, it does not only affect the patient, but also family members of the patient. Dealing with the disease as a family member do not make it easier than dealing with it as a patient. Having fought alongside dad for exactly one year, here is what I have learnt:-

The Do's:
  • Know your stuffs - if not as much as the doctor, enough to let the doctors know that you had done your research on the sickness and you know enough to make sure they do their job well and without malpractice. It saves my dad three times, and prolonged his life span and most importantly, it gave us more time together.
  • Eat healthy alongside the patient - As a patient, he / she are naturally not allowed to consume the yummy greasy food that we are used to. In order to encourage them to stick to the healthy diet provided by the nutritionists or doctor, eat the food that they eat! Trust me, it is a lot of encouragement and you get a healthier, better lifestyle.
  • Enrol in a gym or Work-out - my dad had always been my hero, and I was extremely close and attached to him after losing my mom at the age of 1. He was the only one I always look up to. Needless to say that when he was diagnosed with cancer, it hit me really badly. I enrolled myself in a gym, and I find that working out keeps me sane and focused. Whatever pent up frustrations I had, I lashed it out on the treadmill and in Body Combat classes.
  • Cry, when given a chance - You are sad, and pent-up. Angry at life, at your family, at God. So cry! Crying serves as an instant relief and it lessens the stress in you.
Of course, the crux of it all is:
  • Spend as much time as you possibly can with your love one - Time is of essence here.. There are chances that with the right form of treatment, patient may go into remission. At the same time, bear in mind that at the moment, there are no permanent cure to this disease. So please, I implore you, to try your level best to spend as much quality time as you can with the patient. I tried my level best to be with my dad every single day for the past one year, and even then, I did not feel as though it was sufficient, and every single day, I wished I could turn back time, and spend even more time with him.
These points listed above are by no means my own personal point of view and experience. While I was in a state of depression upon finding out that dad was diagnosed with cancer, I realized I had no where to go to emotionally. I did not know where to look for assistance. I did not know what to do. Simply put, I was totally lost. Thus, I hope this article, will assist you, if not all, but some, and help you find your footing in dealing with having a cancer patient at home. 

Always bear in mind, in order for the patient to believe in living, YOU have to remain hopeful. Take care of your emotions, and you will be emotionally strong enough to support and encourage the patient to keep living. For them to fight the war, YOU need to fight WITH them. 

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

You're Funny.

When I first posted the Formspring.me box on the right corner of my blog, I would have expected all sorts of questions coming my way.. This morning, what is funny is that I got a question from an "anonymous" person asking me extremely personal things about my personal life rather rudely, which was surprising, as apparently, this person is apparently "Educated".

Woman, you bring a whole new meaning to the word Educated. Perhaps, word of the day may be Lack of Mannerism. Its no surprise. It's probably the way you were being brought up with.

It makes me laugh how a person drops by my blog, Reads my stuffs, pry into my life, and then gets jealous at me.

Woman, Jealousy is a double edged sword. Be careful or you may just cut yourself too deep.
I've been quiet for a long enough time even when you have condemned my father, who is now in peace. Coming from a "Woman of God" as you openly proclaimed, that is just hyprocrital!

Oh yes, I'm talking about you. And yes, I am most definitely better than you because I said So. Well, at least I'm no liar. You are.

Monday, October 18, 2010

It is Easy to Love

Just this morning at work, while I had a little free time on hand, I decided to browse through the "Notes" section on Facebook and came across this, posted by a dear old friend of mine, the beautiful Jaymie Barbie .
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Why do people make love so complicated? Its easy to love really, its easy to lend a hand, accept someone for their faults and differences. Why put a boundary on love and not let that emotion in? Why judge and accuse someone of loving too much, when all this world really needs is a little more of that four letter word. Love has dissapeared because everyone tries to give it a definition, tries to chop it up, and give their own meaning to how they feel love should be, so much that they make it impossible TO love

Give it up, dont be afraid to admit when you love, Never feel guilty for it. Every single person in this world wants to feel love, when they dont have it, they criticize it, when they have it, theyre blinded to their kind of love, you will probably love differently than the next, but dont ever let anyone stand in your way and tell you HOW to love or what love really is, because only you feel love the way you do.


If you were placed in my life and ive given you a moment of my time, ive loved you, maybe even for the simple fact that you took the time to talk to me, to listen to what I had to say, maybe it goes deeper than a you’ve always been there for me, the people I put in my life ive fallen in love with them for many different reasons whether its a simple reason, or a complicated one. Im not afraid to admit that every one has made their way into my heart a little, and im sending you my love in hopes that you accept your love, whatever it may be
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This brings me back to an old post of mine, Love is Like Narcotic , where I was asking myself, if I, like every other person, have the capacity to love.

I now know, I do, if not equally as much, maybe more than I used to Ü

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Formspring.me - Ask me Anything

What's your favourite song to dance to when your legs are aching?

That Thing You Do by The Wonders. This song always gets me Pumpin' and Groovin' regardless of the situation!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Birthday.

Your Birthday is Silver





You are the shy type. You get so lost in your own thoughts that you sometimes forget to interact with other people.

You are clever and bright. You find learning and thinking to be very easy.

What you find difficult is relationships. You have never been able to understand people.

You find both friendships and love to be difficult. It's hard for you to communicate your needs, hopes, and fears effectively.

I find the first part thoroughly true but seriously doubt the second part as people close to me would know that I communicate my needs, hopes, and feelings, always. The core key to my belief in maintaining a good, strong bond would be Communication. Although i do not communicate my Fears overtly open, i still try to let the people I love know what makes me scared:- Losing them.

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On another note, It's my late dad's birthday today.

Papa, it has been 10 months now since we lost you, and it has been 10 months since the world lost one of its sunshine. I know, where ever you are, whether you're with Elvis in Heaven's Graceland, or soaring with the Angel's of Heaven, you're looking down on us, and on me. We missed you dearly. I know we will meet again. Someday.

Happy Birthday Papa. Remembrance of you everlasting.
(12th October 1947- 31st December 2009)


Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Formspring.me

If you could change one thing that happened last year what would it be?

Not spending enough time with Papa. I was so caught up with my job and feeling stressed out. I should have just let loose and enjoy every single balance minute I have with Papa. What's done cannot be undone, but I still wish it is something I can change.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Monday Talks ♥

What would you do if you are out grocery shopping at Tesco and you chanced upon a weighing machine? I do not know about you, but I took the chance to weigh myself and thanks to home cooked dishes most of the night, I packed on 3 KGs! Imagine the horror... There goes my weight-loss efforts and diligent run on the treadmill. I am too much of a glutton to let home cooked dishes pass without taking a whack at it and the result is indeed prominent, as everyone seemed to note on the "chubby-er" side of me. Ö


I guess I should hit the treadmill again, eh?


Motto for the week:


Run healthy, Eat lightly, and for goodness sake, Lose some weight, Cindy! ;)


Have a happy Monday all. Pardon for the lack of post, I have so much to blog about but so little time! (heh... 'twas an excuse). I'll be blogging soon! :D