Tuesday, September 4, 2012

RFA

I went for early admission on Aug 21, a day after the Hari Raya holiday. The hospital was efficient, I was in the ward shortly after submitting the registration papers.

I was pushed around 11.30am to the CT scan room where the procedure was to be performed. Light anesthesia was applied around 12noon, the doctor assured me I would be awoke within 1 hr. The radiologist came and explained the procedure, and I signed the paper. He mentioned that from the PET scan there is no tumor, but the procedure would be preventive.

By 12.50pm I was awoke, feeling nausea the few hours after, which  I slept  through most of the time. I felt no pain, though painkiller was given for the next 18 hrs. The procedure involved inserting a needle through the stomach wall into the liver, guided by CT scan. High Frequency electricity was applied to generate heat to burn off any cells/tumors that were undesirable. The night sleep was interrupted with constant monitoring of blood pressure........

The oncologist did his round early the next morning, arriving at the ward at 7.30am. He mentioned all was well. The nurse had earlier removed the gauze measuring around 6" by 6", and replaced with a small plaster. When the oncologist checked the size of the wound, he immediately said get discharged. He mentioned all was well, and encouraged me with the experience of another patient. So I was discharged early. Only after reaching home did I felt some slight pain around the area, which did not bother me too much.

The billing was efficient too, the biz associate came to ask me to sign off the bill before the discharge. It came up to a significant 4-digit sum, to my surprise. I was grateful that this was paid by the insurance policy which I purchased (Integrated Medishield Plan, the premium is paid using CPF fund). Also the chemo sessions did not come cheap, each at a 5-digit sum. Since there have been multiple sessions, the sum quickly added up. I saw how a friend struggled financially when his cancer-stricken wife had to foregone some treatment..... So it is imperative to have sufficient insurance coverage, hopefully there is no need to be used at all .....



Glad to report that the side effects from the recent round of chemo are much reduced. Try to do more exercise to stay fitter. Thank God and praise Him for answering our prayers.......


Psalm 121


5
The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm
    he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

诗篇121:5-8  保护你的是耶和华;耶和华在你右边荫庇你。 
 白日,太阳必不伤你;夜间,月亮必不害你。 
 耶和华要保护你,免受一切的灾害;他要保护你的性命。 
 你出你入,耶和华要保护你,从今时直到永远。 



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