Tuesday 5 March 2013

Second day at Ampang Hospital

There is no private wing here. We are currently warded in a 3rd class 4 bedded ward. No complains, though it would be nice to have a single room once he starts treatment (better rest and a perceived cleaner environment).

But staying in a shared ward is a different experience altogether. The other patients are all elderly and so we are forced to speak mandarin or BM. The uncles are undergoing chemo as well, and the aunties are their faithful wives who never seem to leave their side. They are really friendly.

A Dr Jerome, who reports to Dr Chang, now oversees Min Ser. Treatment for chemo will only begin next week after a PET + CT Scan is done in Putrajaya Hospital (he will get to ride in an ambulance). His blood samples will also be sent to SGH for mutation studies.

Dr Jerome explained that good mutations has a lower chance of relapse and will be easier to undergo a bone marrow transplant (or may even not need a transplant). Bad mutations will definitely require a bone marrow transplant. All in all mutation studies will be useful in the future as it will help to detract any early signs of relapse with even just 0.01% abnormality in the blood stream.

Min Ser is well. Albeit more tired then usual, uncomfortable muscle ache on his left shoulder and back, and slight blurry vision (dot in the middle) in his right eye. He saw an optomologist yesterday, who says it's not connected to leukemia and probably stress induced. He is prescribed eye drops and vision is expected to recover in a few weeks.

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for all the effort to keep us updated.

    My personal suggestion is make sure all the food/drink he receives are "neutropenic diet" once the chemo is started regardless of the neutrophil count result.(to be safe) (http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/cancer/pages/neutropenic-diet.aspx) But that depends on doctor.


    Can I know the treatment regimen as well?
    High-dose cytarabine combined with idarubicin or daunorubicin or other regimen?

    Thanks and God bless.

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  2. We & our cell group are constantly praying Min Ser, u & family. Take care.

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  3. Jen Ling, thank you for this blog. Our thoughts are with Min Ser, you and the family. Please let him know that all of us in Perth are constantly thinking about him and wish him a speedy recovery.

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  4. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.
    Xin Rong, we've yet to know the drugs, but we have noted on the diet. Thanks.

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  5. Thanks for sharing. Will be praying

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  6. Hi, my husband is undergoing chemo for AML at Penang GH. Hope for the best to your family too.

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