Cancer Part 4: Check-Up & Surgery

My father-in-law did not have a good night’s sleep, before visiting the urologist, at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur, on 23 May 1996. Putting on his gloves, the doctor initially checked the prostate by inserting his finger into the rectum, which was close to the prostate. The urologist sensed that the patient’s prostate appeared to be harder than normal. Immediately, a blood sample was taken for further analysis. Even though the PSA result was to be made known the day after, the doctor indicated, it was likely to be prostate cancer. No one would hope it would be true.

The next day, the urologist revealed to the patient and his family members that, as expected, the blood test result showed that it was cancer. His PSA reached as high as 613.8 μg/l compared to the normal level of 4 μg/l, more than 100 times higher. The patient and his family members were shocked. The family was devastated.

He was going to die in the near future. His immediate family members, also did not have peace of mind.

My father-in-law was 62 years old in 1996. Never in his life, did he expect cancer would come into his life. He was not prepared for it. Neither were we. He was in fact horrified, helpless and lost his direction in life. It was difficult to accept the prediction, that his days were numbered, because of a disease called cancer. “Why did cancer target me?” “What have I done wrong?” “Why did heaven treat me in this manner?” “Of all the people, why did cancer choose me?” All these unanswered questions troubled him, day and night. He had no answer. He could not sleep well. He no longer had peace of mind. He worried, that he might die earlier than expected.

In the meantime, the doctor advised, that the patient needed to undergo a surgery immediately, to remove the hard portion in the prostate. Such an advice also indicated the seriousness of his prostate disease. We had heard of cancer patients suffering physically and mentally, after surgery and medical treatment. Would that happen to him?

The night before the surgery, we decided to tell the patient, the seriousness of his health problem. He was still unable to face the reality. It was difficult for him. He did not have any bad habits such as consuming alcohol and smoking. He had good health and a harmonious family. All his four children had grown up and engaged in various occupations. Why was cancer targeting him? Why was he the unlucky one? He felt as though the end of the world was not far away. He was going to die. The doctor had declared his doom day. He became a cancer patient and he had to face it, accept it and find a way to overcome it.

We later came to know that the surgical procedure employed, is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for treating BPH. The procedure, done under anaesthesia, involves inserting an instrument called resectoscope through the penis to allow the urologist to see and remove any tissue blocking the uretha and bladder. Fluid is passed through the instrument to flush the bladder clean. In addition, since the cancerous cells had spread to the scrotum, it was also removed during the operation.

After the surgery, the doctor told him that the tumour was removed but it did not mean he had fully recovered. On the contrary, the cancerous cells had spread to other parts of the body. He had to consume western medicine, to check the spread of the cancerous cells. The medical cost of RM400 per month could help lengthen his life for a maximum period of three years. The doctor’s explanation was clear. Cancer could not be cured.

My father-in-law became aimless, after leaving the clinic. His family members were equally worried. He had only a maximum of three years to live. Was this predestined? Could we not do something about it? Did he have to wait for death to come? Some friends suggested, it was best to take both western medicine and Chinese medicine to fight cancer. We heard of cases, where cancer patients survived a few more years, by trying various types of medicines. Others passed away sooner. The cancer patients’ families, have to face the struggle between life and death of their afflicted ones.

The fight began, after we advised my father-in-law, to temporarily, take unpaid leave from the association in Taiping, and to stay with us in Kuala Lumpur. After some hesitation, realizing that his life could be at stake, he agreed. He needed the moral and family support, to fight cancer, and our home appeared to be the most suitable place. While staying with us, both my parents-in-law could help take care of our daughter, while we were at work. The patient and his wife, had been living separately for almost a year. It was time for us to compensate them, for their sacrifice in taking care of our new- born daughter. We had to find ways and means to save him.