A colourful Relay for Life 2019

it is wonderful to see a colourful row of Ribbons- to acknowledge the different types of cancer.

Relay For Life Kuala Lumpur 2019

 Mungkinkah Ini Pesanan Saya Yang Terakhir.

I was listening to this ceramah by Ustaz Hanafiah Bin Abdul Malek , which he did on July 8th, 2019.

He was diagnosed with Lymphoma on 31st January 2107 and was given one year to live . Alhamdullilah he is able to make this ceramah 21/2 years on , to give me this reminder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhPpTKAwwdM

It touched me deeply because he and I,  went through pretty much the same experience.

He gave 4 main lessons here:

1. Always say Alhamdullilah

2. Always qada your solat

3. Always give Sadaqah

4. Always ziarah the sick

I have included the link here so I can always listen to it anytime.



18.07.2019

SYMPTOMS OF LYMPHOMA

T


In the UK, lymphoma is ranked the Fifth highest cancer prevalence, in Malaysia is the Seventh highest ( reported in 2011).

Honestly, I have not seen any posters or announcements like this ,anywhere, ever.
In October 2016, when I was diagnosed ,I have 3 of the 5 mentioned above -

•  Lump in my armpit ( which got investigated with a mammogram & dismissed as non cancerous)
• Excessive sweating (i was 53 and it was dismissed as menopausal symptoms)
• feeling worn-out ( i was 53, working on 2 jobs & dismissed as old & weary)

I also had gastric & black stool ( which the doctor thought was stomach ulcer, pending investigation)

& i had a distended belly ( which I thought was central obesity)

Each symptom on its own did not suggest lymphoma BUT when pieced  TOGETHER,  it pointed to 

Lymphoma   Loud & Clear.

Unfortunately, I have never seen any public poster like the one above ( have you?)

16.07.2019

Why NOT PINK & PERKY

Whenever  the word C-A-N-C-E-R is mentioned, that Pink Ribbon will flash in my head. Almost always, I think of breast cancer. I am sure 90% of people think the same. That's because the pink ribbon campaign is sooooooo successful.

BUT

Not all cancers are Breast Cancer. There are so many others-

 I had Burkitts Lymphoma, 

my friend Dr Ila has colon cancer & liver cancer, 

my friends Frankie & John has nose cancer, 

LCW had nose cancer, 

Saadiah has ovarian cancer, 

Calysta had Leukemia, 

the late Mrs Hamzah had Multiple Myeloma, 

Alex & Steven & Peter has prostate cancer,

 The late Salmah had Acute Myeloid Lymphoma,

 Lena, Joni, Mel have DBLCL, 

Mukh too had DBLCL so did Redza.

 These are all my friends - they all have or had cancer which is not breast cancer.

Just like me, most of them caught the cancer late because they were unaware of the symptoms. Why were they (and me) unaware , because in Malaysia except for breast cancer there is hardly any nationwide campaign for the other cancers.

I shall start the ball rolling by raising awareness on Lymphoma/Leukemia because I am familiar with it.

Why am I familiar with it - it is because in October 2016 ,I was diagnosed with STAGE 4A Burkitts Lymphoma a type of Non- Hodgkins Lymphoma.

 how about Perky - it is a word used by the Breast Surgeon who performed lumpectomy on me.
I find it catchy -" PINK & PERKY".

15.07.2019

Not All Cancers Are Pink and Perky

 Not all cancers are Pink & Perky

15.07.2019 

Deeply moved by a these words from a poem by Maya Angelou

" I was poisoned to live,

I was not poisoned to simply exist"

There and then , I decided I have to raise awareness on other types or cancers, especially Lymphoma but why do I just see PINK RIBBONS everywhere . 

My radar , my antenna went active looking around for people who can help me - i went through my whatsapp contacts - some agreed to help but no action. I shouted out to the resource & wellness centre of National Cancer Society Malaysia & will be meeting the Education Executive on Friday.

A further search on google brought me to an article in Sept 2011 that was 8 years ago!! I couldn't find anything more recent . 

This is the link to that article. https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2011/09/18/getting-to-know-lymphoma/

September 15th is World Lymphoma Awareness Day and I can't let 15th September 2019 to pass without any awareness raised, even if I have to do it ALL BY MYSELF.