Greetings

 

Thank You Ambrose and Lily for your encouraging comments.

 

 

Allow me to share a little more on patients psychology.When i was a trainee specialist, i have this patient name John. He was diagnosed with nose cancer and had to undergo chemotherapy as part of the treatment regime.John was a very strong willed man and always believe that he is cured inspite of the fact that he didn't go through the whole chemo regime, on top of being diagnosed at an advanced stage cancer. He believes in alternative healing although he knows our conventional medical treatment has its proven treatment success statistically. John did went along with it although gave up half way citing the reasons that he can't tolerate the side effects of our conventional chemotherapy treatment...very much to my dissapointment then, since i believe he will reduce his chances of survival, "according to statistics"....but was proven otherwise.

 

 

 

One new and very popular alternative treatment at that time was the "magic" or goodness of wheat grass in treating cancer, which i saw not only John, but many others of my patients in the ward goes to the extend of planting the wheat grass plants under their bed in the hospital ward, much to my disbelieve. Anyway, i have always kept an open mind for my this group of patients,.. as i believe i should allow them to continue believing in the hope of living as long as they have the will to want to live.One of the very frequent and common question my patients or their relatives will always ask me is " Is it alright that i take this and that or do this and that as another form of alternative healing?" My answer to them will always be " If you believe that alternative form of treatment will help your recovery...by all means go ahead BUT never never forgo what treatment we have prescribe for you here today."

 

 

 

I guess through my training..i am still a believer in my conventional medicine, especially in those proven treatment that has research papers supporting its positive results, although i  must admit that conventional medicine also has many setbacks in unable to provide cure for many diseases.On the other hand, i have no objection to my patients who wants to add alternative treatments  as well, as long as they "think and believe" it will help in their recovery,whether it is through physical or true psychological. But We must  also remind ourselves that we have to be extremely weary of the many forms of alternative treatment available out there that are taking advantage of patient's desparation to look for a cure....sad to say.

 

 

 

Back to John...after defaulting on chemo treatment..he explored on the various alternative treatments and also spiritual healing being one of it.His faith was very strong at that point in time in the religion he newly followed, sharing with me all his experiences during each follow up i see him in the clinic.After completing my training and having posted out to another hospital 3 years later, John continued to follow up with me at my new work place although it was many times the distance he has to travel to see me. When i finally left public service 3 years later, John still continued to follow up with me at my private practise. Unfortunately.. John had a recurrence of his cancer spreading to the liver. Till the very last few months of his illness, he still have a very strong will to live, againts all odds he does not want to believe he is at terminal stage of his cancer.

 

 

One morning he called me and request i visit him at his home..which i agreed i will that evening. Seeing him in his state of deploring health, i have much empathy to feel for his suffering. At this moment, John actually told me he really feels the suffering and would wish to die soon to end the suffering.The outer part of me told him to be posiitive, as he has always been this past 6+ years, believing he is a survival because he wants to see his only child grew up ( his daughter was 8 yrs old at that time he was first diagnose) and although statistically for a stage 4 cancer survival to go beyond 5 years is < 30% with complete treatment taken but John made it more than that statistic proven survival time frame with incomplete treatment, i believe, as much as he believes for the simple reason, he knows he wants to live longer to see his daughter grow up.

 

 

He was one of my few patient who followed up with me throughout the different hospitals i was posted for the past many years while in public service, was probably also his believe that i was probably his only doctor he trusted would give him the support in his believe system in managing his this specific health condition.

 

 

After the evening of chatting with John...i could only wish John's suffering would be terminated as soon as he has wished for..He says he has work and left sufficient for his wife and daughter, who is now a little more grown up, and he is more at peace to detached and end his suffering. Two days later, i recieved a phone call form John's number..but it was his wife, who informed me John has pass away that morning in peace.

 

 

Is it not psychology a big player in our destiny....our health being one aspect of it?

 

 

May All Always Find Good Health

Dr. Wong Hsien Teik