This post is on Healthwise
APRIL 15 — While Parliament was in session last week debating the differing opinions over the introduction of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) and the Sedition Act amendments, my REDs (yes, the Bruce Willis title) lunch topic was on another kind of opinion.
Gentleman Tan Sri Chan Sau Lai, a developer of high-end properties, hosted the meal last Friday and here are the instructive tales.
Robert Cheong’s great escape
Turning 59 in 2006, corporate lawyer Robert Cheong Eng Tick decided to do a cancer marker check as he felt a distinct discomfort during bowel movements.
The cancer marker read 380. The rest of ours are supposed to read five or below.
Just a month earlier, he had a wonderful holiday with his family in Las Vegas. It was the Christmas season. And he played great golf with son Jin Cheong.
He managed to secure an early appointment with a most reputable colon-rectal surgeon based in a large private hospital. Upon examination, Robert was told he had advanced stage rectal cancer. It must be operated on within days. The whole rectum had to be removed pronto.
That was a Monday and the surgeon fixed Friday for the operation.
It was the dumps to have this terminal ailment but luckily, there’s still a chance to beat it.
Relatives and friends rallied and someone suggested seeking a second opinion from his university alumnus who was then CEO of a top private hospital in Singapore. He got the appointment for Tuesday. Robert had studied law there and was familiar with the environment.
Two colon-rectal surgeons cum oncologist attended to him. They asked to study the scan which was not done by the first specialist. Both concurred no surgery must be conducted on examining the imaging done.
Instead, a chemo course was to be the treatment — once every three weeks. After four months, the cancer marker read five and the tumour shrank to just a scar. He was in remission.
By the way, they also detected an advanced stage liver cancer during the same scan done in Singapore. Robert looked like he was booked on a one-way ticket to meet his maker! The specialists recommended a New York-based surgeon. The cancerous part was removed successfully. The NY surgeon told him he would have died within three months if the operation to remove the whole rectum had proceeded.
His one-way ticket couldn’t be used as yet. He had to endure earthly existence a little longer.
In 2010, a small dot came back to the same area. The cancer marker read 20 plus. He went through the same chemo treatment in the same hospital in Singapore. Three months later, it read five.
In January 2015, he had a reading of 9.6. Again, he underwent the same course and his reading last week was three.
Robert Cheong and Angie Kwong during their tour to India last year. — File picRobert’s advice — it is not a death sentence. It will already be extremely difficult for the caregiver, so please stay 100 per cent positive. His wife, Angie Kwong, was his angel on earth.
His doctors said he could do what healthy 68-year-olds do. Just avoid red meat.
RT and his 'paralysis'
It was sometime in 2010. Then, 60-year-old RT was trying to retrieve a difficult tennis shot and felt a sharp pain between his shoulder and the neck. Later whenever he moved his arm, the sharp pain acted up.
Upon his return from Sydney, he instantly sought treatment with a private hospital recommended by a sports enthusiast friend.
It was a Friday morning. The attending doctor explained the scan and advised an immediate operation or “the bone can poke some nerves” and he risked being paralysed. A metal plate would have to be implanted. RT felt lucky that he could be scheduled in for the next day. The doctor gave him a short tour of the suites and facilities. He duly signed an agreement proffered.
Concerned that he may be out of commission for some weeks, he hurriedly fixed lunch with all he could muster to relate his predicament.
Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek was one of those who could make it. Upon hearing from RT, he insisted a second opinion must be sought and recommended a good friend. RT skipped the usual coffee after lunch and practically lunged to the appointment.
This orthopaedic surgeon examined without a scan and told him he will be fine after some medication and prescribed physiotherapy. Three weeks later, he was without any pain.
He wonders constantly what could have happened if he had gone under the knife? Would the airport security metal sensor detect? Does it mean he will have to explain each time the sensor buzzes? Even in extreme anxiety, RT could be funny.
Now RT’s motto is to always get a second opinion. Then I asked what if the first opinion didn’t tell of a serious condition? He said then we have time but we must still seek the second opinion if the trouble persists.
Postscript
Another lunch member, Datuk SL Low who is 75, was urged to undergo an angioplasty without delay after a heart scan reading recently. In a second opinion sought, he was told prescribed medication would suffice. The doctor explained why the single blockage reading level was not to be considered critical.
In Cheong’s case, his entire treatment amounted to about RM1 million. It was fully borne by his employer, Tan Sri Danny Tan. I asked if he’s ever considered why he was singled out to stay.
RT, the chairman of a successful business-consulting group would have to pay RM20,000, excluding the post-operation suite stay.
We can question our lawyers and accountants and even architects, but where and how do we begin to do the same with medical specialists?
Through the second (or third) opinion!
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/second-opinion-mandatory-lee-yew-mengGo to Healthwise for more articles
