Letter No.9 October/November 2000

Dear friends,

It was almost 11 p.m. Thursday 21 September 2000 when Chris had a phone call from his nephew. The news: Granny passed away, meaning, Chris' mother's heart had just stopped beating. A loving mother had just died. The news shattered Chris for a moment but he was happy and grateful that mother went away without suffering or pain. Apparently, from sister's account it might be due to a mild heart attack. Mother is 82 years old.

Such is life. When there is a birth there must be a death. When there is joy there must be sorrow. Eventually, death will visit each of us - uninvited and unannounced. Are you prepared for it? Do you ever ask where you would go after that? One of Chris' students told him once: Oh, I'm so scared even to think about death. Friends, fear or not, death will come to each of us as surely as darkness follows daylight. So there is nothing to fear about death, if you are prepared for it. What are more fearful is life itself and the challenge to live a meaningful and happy life.

We drove home to Kelantan the next morning. Before that we had to sort a few things out. Yes, it is in these matters that, again we experienced the hand of the Almighty leading us in this time of grief. At almost mid-night we contacted KL to ask if Patrick could come to Penang to take over the Friday and Sunday sessions here. That would give us the peace of mind that cancer patients who come are taken care of while we are away. Then, Khadijah told Chris that Jee Sun was in Penang too. In fact,Patrick was already in Penang. Indeed, in such a time of desperate need, we had both Jee Sun and Patrick already in Penang - who sent these "two spare tyres"? Thank God - He obviously arranged this.

To think of it, the timing of mother's death is also well chosen - looking at Chris' tight speaking schedule, that weekend was the only weekend he was free - if it were on other weekends, there would be more problems for everyone.

Indeed, we must look at the positive side of life. From the above experience, we know that in matters of Cancer Care, God always take care of us and ensures that things just go on right - we only need to trust Him. Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.

The morning of the funeral day had an overcast sky and we were all protected from the heat of the sun. Thank you again Lord, for such a fine gesture.

We should not fear death, for only in death will there be the start of a new life. Mother has left us but one day we know we will meet her again. Till we meet again mother, may your frail and weary body rest in peace.

As we have said earlier, where there is happiness there must be sorrow, and where there is joy, there must also be disappointment. Allow us to share Chris' anger and sense of frustration as well.

We came back from the cemetery at about 12 noon and were physically and emotionally drained. After a light lunch, Chris went upstairs to take a rest. At about 2.30 p.m. someone from KL, who happened to be in Kelantan, came to the house and insisted that Chris we awakened from his nap because she wanted to consult him about her husband's cancer. The children tried to wake their father twice, but he was just too tired to wake up…the third time he relented and woke up to talk to the lady. This was not a life-and-death case. The husband who had cancer, had already spoken to Chris about his case earlier. It appeared that he wanted Chris to send him the herbs directly to KL instead of collecting them at the KL centre. Chris had explained to him that it would be better for him to collect the herbs from KL, but he did not do that. Now, the wife came. For what?

What is most "objectionable" is the lack of sensitivity and the lack of common sense and decency on the part of "the so-called sick" people who cannot think of others but only of themselves. Perhaps, if the sick is at the point of death or dying, Chris could understand the situation and would be too glad to be of help, but where is the urgency here? We have just buried our mother only three hours ago - can't we be left alone for a while?

This is our appeal to all cancer people (their friends and relatives included) - please be more reasonable. We are aware that we are door mats…to be used and abused, but there are times that we hope everyone knows the limit.

Take care and God bless.

Im and Chris

The Joy of Healing

Case 1. Breast Cancer - Two Years and Still Doing Fine

OLS-742, female, 42 years. Sometime in December 1997, she felt lumps in both the left and right breast. The doctor suspected cancer and did a biopsy.
16 December 1997
The report was as follows:

1. Right breast lump - fibrioadenosis
2. Left breast lump - fibrioadenosis with focal area of atypical ductular hyperplasia extending very close to one edge of the biopsy specimen.
   
   

July 1998 The left breast swelled and there were lumps. The doctor in AH did a mastectomy.

8 July 1998 The pathological report stated:
Infiltrating duct carcinoma of the breast.
Grade 3.

20 July 1998 Another pathological report stated:

1. infiltrating duct carcinoma of the breast, noncomado type, histological grade 2 with cancerisation of the lobules and extension up the subareolar ducts. Residual tumour in the breast. Resected margins are clear.
2. Axillary lymph node - sinus histiocytosis (5/5)
   
   

7 August 1998 She started chemotherapy and suffered bad side-effects:
a) she vomited for five days and nights
b) she could not eat or drink at all
c) she had headache
d) she had nausea

28 August 1998 She came to Cancer Care and presented as follows:

• there was pus and wound at the operation site and she had pain
• she felt tired
• she could not sleep
• she had no appetite
• her blood count was low
  
  

She was prescribed Capsule A, POR-tea, Pain Tea and Chemo-Tea.

4 September 1998 She came to Cancer Care and reported the following:
there was no more pain

• she was able to sleep
• her appetite had improved and she could eat
• she was not tired any more
• her blood count was within normal limits
  
  

16 December 1998 She came to Cancer Care and reported the following:

• she had undergone the sixth chemotherapy
• after taking the Chemo-Tea she did not vomit at all. Also, after chemotherapy she was able to eat and drink. She only felt "heaviness" in the head, otherwise she was alright.
• after taking the POR-tea (everyday), the blood count was within normal limits.
  
  

17 October 1999 She finished with all her medical treatments - 12 times chemotherapy, and 2 times radiotherapy. She felt alright and had no complaints.

24 September 2000. It has been 2 years and 1 month since she came to Cancer Care and she was doing just great. She is still taking the herbs. She went for routine medical check up with her doctor - everything is just fine.

Case 2. Breast Cancer - ONLY ON HERBS.

LGK-421, female, 54 years old. Sometime in 1994, she had a lump on the right breast. She opted for traditional medicine instead of modern medicine. She tried all kinds of herb that people recommended. In spite of that, two more lumps appeared in the breast. Fortunately, she did not experience any pain.

5 September 1997 LGK came to Cancer Care. This is a lady with a mind of her own and she knows what she wants. We suggested that she go to the doctor and have the lumps removed. Her answer was: if I wanted to get the doctor to operate on me, I would have done that long time ago and I would not have come to see you. I don’t believe in medical treatment.

LGK presented her conditions as follows:

• She had pain in the right hand
• She could not sleep. This was related to a high blood pressure that caused heart palpitation
• When she had heart palpitation, she felt tired.
• Only one lump in the right breast seemed to swell.
  
  

LGK was given Capsule A and deTox tea.

12 September 1997 She reported the following, after taking the herbs:

• She felt tired.
• She had pain in the breast.
  
  

26 September 1997.

• The pain in the hand had improved.
• The lump in the breast became soft and some it hardened again depending on the time of the day.
  
  

We prescribed another different herb: GP-herbs.

10 October 1997 After taking the GP-herbs for five times, she reported the following:

• There was no more pain in the hand.
• She passed out more gas.
• The lump in the breast felt itchy.
• She felt itchiness all over the body.
  
  

31 October 1997 We prescribed WP-herb to be boiled with some meat.

21 November 1997

• This week she had pain in the hand twice.
• The lump in the breast was smaller. Previously the lump was loose and now it had grown tighter. Sometime it became soft and sometime it became hard.
  
  

19 March 1999 The lump in LGK’s breast is still there. She was put on Capsule A. In our effort to help LGK we searched the literature and came up with Breast L and M herbs.

9 May 1999 LGK felt better after taking Breast L and M. Sometime, she felt pain in the lump.

10 December 1999 Responding to our repeated suggestion, LGK agreed that she opted for surgery, at least to remove the lump in the breast. So she underwent mastectomy. The pathological report dated 11 December 1999 is as follows:

Right breast specimen with overlying skin and nipple weighing 500 g and measuring 18.5 x 13.0 x 5.0 cm. The large breast tumour exhibited extensive central cystic change and old haemorrhage together with presence of several large and small lakes of mucin over the peripheral region. The mucinous lakes contained multiple small papillae and vesicular in nature. The cytoplasm was moderate and oesinophilic in appearance. The surrounding breast tissue revealed features of fibroadenosis and found to be infiltrated in areas by collections of neoplastic acini and papillae. The overlyng skin and nipple were free from any tumour invasion.

Interpretation: mucinous carcinoma.

14 July 2000 LGK is still alive and doing fine! She reported her conditions as follow:

• There is no pain, she had good appetite, not tired, no swelling and urination and bowel movement were normal.
• The long standing problem of heart palpitation is still there and she is still on doctor’s medication for that problem. At times she is not able to sleep because of this.
• The doctor suggested that she go for both chemotherapy and radiotherapy but she flatly declined.
• She told us that she is not afraid to die. In fact she did not feel sad at all and walked her healing journey in good stride. She reminded Chris that when she first came to Cancer Care, about three years ago, there were two other persons who had breast cancer that night. These two other persons who took the herbs for a while but dropped out had since passed away. LGK reminded Chris that she is still alive and well and did not have to experience such “sufferings” by doing things her way. She also told Chris that if she were to die today she is satisfied and would not blame us. She remained grateful for all what we have done for her.
• LGK told us that her doctor was surprised to remove the tumour that size – half a kilogram - she should have been dead a long time ago. (Indeed, we are also baffled - given the long-standing problem – six years since the lumps appeared – the pathological report said that the overlying skin and nipple were free from any tumour invasion! Also, this breast cancer report seems to be “different” from the one we use to see!)
• We suggested that LGK go for a blood test and at the same time continue to take the herbs.
• The blood test results on 17 July 2000 is as follows:
  1. full blood picture - all parameters are within normal limits.
  2. ESR = 2 mm/hr (0-20)
  3. CEA = 0.5 ng/ml (0-5)
• We reminded LGK that the battle is not over yet. We still have a long way to go. Nevertheless, we are glad to see her doing well and free from all problems of pain and anxiety over the lump in the breast.
• How long she will live and remain well is anybody’s guess.
  
  

REMINDER !
The question that many would like to ask is this: is she cured of her cancer? No body knows! As much as we would like her to be cancer-free, there is nothing much we can do anyway. What is important is that LGK leads a healthy, quality life. This no one could deny.
Would undergoing follow-up chemotherapy or radiotherapy guarantees that she is going to be “cured”? No mortal could answer that either. Please get us right: we are not against any one going for chemotherapy or radiotherapy. If you think that these treatments would help you - go ahead. It must be your choice and your own decision.

But to say that the chemo-radiation ways are the only way to curing is definitely wishful thinking. LGK came to Cancer Care very regularly – over the three years she knew and had seen with her own eyes what were the odds against her. And she made her decision accordingly. Again, we would however, like to stress here that we are not trying to imply or indirectly tell you or encourage you not to go to your doctor and follow what he has in store for you. LGK is an exceptional patient and we respect her strong determination to get well following her own healing path. Not many patients can ever measure up to LGK in terms of determination. Nevertheless, we urge you to take charge of your sickness, and be responsible for it. Remember, you come into this world alone, and when you die you also die alone. The battle against cancer is also yours - alone. Love ones can only lend support.

Case 3. Rectum Cancer - He Refused Surgery

Boon A-796, male, 54 years old. His problem started sometime in 1997 when he passed out mucus in the stool. For about one and a half years he took herbs from various sources. His condition did not improve. In fact, it deteriorated when the stool had streaks of blood. He then went to the General Hospital. The doctor told him that he had cancer and wanted to operate on him. He refused.

He was on herbs again for another six months. This time he went to a Chinese sinseh. The result of the herbal treatment was more pain. Boon switched to another sinseh and took his prescribed herbs for about two months and quit as well after that. A friend told him of some herbal preparations from Japan. He paid RM3000 for a month's supply. The Japanese herbs made him feel better but he was unable to continue with it due to lack of money.

5 May 2000 Boon came to Cancer Care for help and presented as follows:

• He had severe pain and he had to bang his head against the wall or floor until unconscious to sleep. There was pain everyday and the pain would last for many hours or even throughout the day.
• He told his mother that he wanted to die but his mother urged him not to give up hope.
• He was not able to sleep if there was pain.
• He had good appetite.
• He was not tired.
• He was not able to sit down flat on his bottom because of the tumour and pain.
  
  

He was prescribed Capsule A, GI, C-Tea and Pain Tea.

14 May 2000 One week on the herbs, he reported the following:

• He had less pain.
• He could sleep better now.
• The numbness in the leg had reduced.
• He complained of "wind" in the stomach.
  
  

Boon was prescribed an additional herb - Stomach Function, for his stomach wind.

25 August 2000 He came to Cancer Care and Chris video-taped an interview with him. He reported the following

• His condition had improved tremendously.
• He was able to sit down flat on his bottom - there is no more pain.
• He still suffer pain once a while, but it was very much reduced.
  
  

Boon felt he is doing well and is hopeful that he would continue doing so. He does not suffer any more as before. The video-interview of Boon in Hokkien is available – VHS tape or VCD/CD-ROM.

Nasi Lemak, Cerut and Seow Moi - Potent Recipe for Lung Cancer

KCH-A840, male, 67 years old, suffered from lung cancer. There was also a growth in the throat. The family members told us that the doctor gave him 4 to 6 months to live.

28 May 2000. KCH came to Cancer Care and presented as follows:

• He felt the chest was congested and had difficulty in breathing.
• He was a bit tired.
• He coughed producing white phlegm.
  
  

He was prescribed Cap. A, C-Tea, Lung, Throat & Oesophagus and Cough 5.

4 June 2000 He came to Cancer Care and reported that his conditions has improved after taking herbs for one week.

16 June 2000 He came to Cancer Care and reported the following:

• The feeling of congestion in the lungs had improved.
• He had more energy.
• The throat which caused him to have a tight feeling had improved.
• The cough has improved.
• Previously he felt cold and broke into cold sweat every evening. After taking the herbs he did not feel cold any more, but he still sweat.
  
  

7 July 2000 He came to Cancer Care and reported the following:

• His breathing had improved, further.
• There was no more sweating in the evening.
• His throat was alright now.
  
  

28 July 2000 He came to Cancer Care and reported the following:

• He had stomach discomfort due to "wind". This was because he started to take hawkers' food. He mentioned nasi lemak as one of them.
• He has been smoking for the last fifty plus years and could not "kick the habit". So he now resorted to smoking cerut (cigar).
  
  

After this visit, we had a phone call from the family that the patient had to be admitted to the hospital. His conditions had deteriorated.

13 September 2000. At about 11.30 a.m. the son came to Cancer Care and told us that his father had passed away. While in the hospital the patient was told that he was thin and did not look healthy. He should eat more and he can take any food he likes. He should not pantang or refrain from any food. The son said that his father's face "brighten up" upon hearing this advice. The next day, he took two pieces of seow mai (glutinous rice dish). Within half an hour upon the consumption of seow mai the father had difficulty breathing. He died on 4 September 2000.

This was what the son told Chris: Doctor, what you told us not to eat was correct. Then, the son added: Why don't you and doctors come to an agreement on what the cancer patient can eat and cannot eat - instead of giving us conflicting advices?

Well, friends - can you help us answer that question?

17 September 2000 My father has been taking your herbs medication with some of the western medicine …(as he is suffering from lung cancer). A family friend who is also an oncologist advised my father to undergo chemotherapy, which we are not feeling very comfortable with, as we have heard of all the bad side effects.
Moreover, within three weeks of taking the herbs, my father's x-ray result has shown a great improvement.

My father used to be the kind of person who "live to eat". Since on the herbs, my mother has been taking care of what he can and cannot eat. It is not an easy task since he does not appreciate home cooked food…my mother has tried to cook some of the recipe in your book with no success as he refused to have them……this afternoon we gave him a bit of food that we bought (about six spoon) since we felt sorry for his craving…………

Another thing that I would like to ask you is, my father is still coughing a lot. Especially at night……

19 September 2000 Just want to give another update…..At the moment he complains that he has problem trying to go to sleep since as soon as he lies down he feels like coughing. He also says that he feels in his left lung some fluttering feeling……..

20 September 2000 I still have more questions: Is it ok for my father to take some bird's nest? ……..One last question for today. Is it ok for him to eat vegetarian food such as the "mock meat"?

24 September 2000 We have followed your advice. He is now able to sleep lying down again. His cough has reduced substantially as well……..the good thing is, he said he does not feel the pain anymore today……..