DeScenDanTs of the CanCers

It's been some time since I last wrote a blog. Was msn-ing my friend yesterday and she was saying that I can write anything, even if it is not related to me. Just whether readers will be bored or not, as readers are more curious about your happening. Very true.
Anyway, I decided to search the web for information on tongue cancer and brain tumors to put in this piece of blog.

What is tongue cancer?
There are two parts to your tongue, the oral tongue and the base of the tongue. Cancer can develop in either part. The oral tongue is the part you see when you ‘poke your tongue out’ at someone. This is the front two thirds of your tongue. Cancers that develop in this part of the tongue come under a group of cancers called mouth (oral) cancer. The base of the tongue is the back third of the tongue. This part is very near your throat (pharynx). Cancers that develop in this part are called oropharyngeal cancers (pronounced oar-o-farin-gee-al). ~ Think she got it at the base of the tongue?

Types of tongue cancer
The most common type of tongue cancer is squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA). Squamous cells are the flat, skin-like cells that cover the lining of the mouth, nose, larynx, thyroid and throat. Squamous cell carcinoma is the name given to a cancer that starts in these cells.

Symptoms
The symptoms of tongue cancer may include:
· A red or white patch on the tongue, that will not go away
· A sore throat that does not go away
· A sore spot on the tongue that does not go away
· Pain when swallowing
· Numbness in the mouth that will not go away
· Unexplained bleeding from the tongue (that is, not caused by biting your tongue or other injury)
· Pain in the ear (rare)

Causes
We don’t know the exact causes of most head and neck cancers, but several risk factors have been identified. Smoking tobacco (cigarettes, cigars and pipes) and drinking a lot of alcohol are the main risk factors for cancers of the head and neck in the western world. Chewing tobacco or betal quid with tobacco is very common in parts of Asia and is known to be a main cause of mouth (including tongue), gullet (oesophageal) and throat (pharyngeal) cancers in these countries. Other definite risk factors include:
- Poor diet
- Having a weakened immune system
- Being exposed to some chemicals
· Viruses
· Acid reflux
- Sunlight

Treatment
As with many types of cancer, diagnosing your cancer early means it will be easier to control and possibly cure it. ~ Haahaahaa...
Treating tongue cancer will depend on the size of the cancer and whether or not it has spread to the lymph nodes in your neck. You may have:
· Surgery
· Radiotherapy
· Chemotherapy

You may have one of these or a combination of treatments. The best treatment for very small tongue cancers is surgery. For larger tumours that have spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, you will most likely have a combination of surgery and radiotheraphy. This means having an operation to remove the cancer from your tongue and the lymph nodes in your neck. You may need to have all the nodes on one or both sides of your neck removed. You may hear your doctor call this operation a radical neck dissection. It lowers the risk of your cancer coming back in the future. You will then have a course of radiotherapy to help get rid of any cancer cells left behind.If your cancer has grown so big that it affects most of your tongue, you may need to have an operation to remove your tongue (glossectomy). This is a big operation and many doctors may suggest that you first try radiotherapy and chemotherapy to shrink the cancer. If this works, you may not need such major surgery.If you do have this operation, it will permanently change your ability to speak and swallow. It will also affect the way you look. This is very hard to cope with and you are likely to need a lot of support and help following your operation. ~ She went for minor surgery and radiotherapy with 95% recovery. Got a relapse within a year (talking about recovery!) and got to remove half her tongue and whole of left nodes removed and radiotherapy again for fear of spreading. Got great difficulty speaking, eating and even drinking after that! Still didn't make it after going through so much agony. Is there any point in undergoing treatments?
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Facts about Brain Tumors
Metastatic brain tumors, cancer that spreads from other parts of the body to the brain, are the most common types of brain tumors. They occur in 10-15% of people with cancer. Primary brain tumors generally do not metastasize to other parts of the body. ~ Well, he got the latter uncommon one. Got 2 somemore.

There are over 120 different types of brain tumors, which make effective treatment complicated. They can be malignant or non-malignant (benign), and in either case, can be just as injurious or life threatening. At present, the standard treatments for brain tumors include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. These may be used either individually or in combination. ~ Malignant and is recommended to go for the chemotherapy before deciding if have to go for the radiation therapy (which might cause brain damage and/or mental problems).

There are currently no known causes of brain tumors, however, epidemiological studies are ongoing. Complete and accurate data on all primary brain tumors is needed to provide the foundation for investigations of its causes and research leading to improved diagnosis and treatment. ~ Ya lor, doctors have been unable to say the cause of it and is saying he might be just plain unlucky. Hahaha... Funny that the word "unlucky" came out from them.

Brain tumors have no socio-economic boundaries and do not discriminate among gender or ethnicity.
The cure rate for most brain tumors is significantly lower than that for many other types of cancer. ~ Approximately 3years if undergo successful treatments. Estimated 8 sessions. Half to a year if untreated.

Grade - benign or malignant?
Brain tumours are put into groups according to how fast they are likely to grow. There are 4 groups called grades 1-4. The cells are examined under a microscope. The more normal they look, the more slowly the brain tumour is likely to develop and the lower the grade. The more abnormal the cells look, the more quickly the brain tumour is likely to grow and the higher the grade. Low grade gliomas (grade 1 and grade 2) are the slowest growing brain tumours. You may have been told you have a benign tumour or a malignant tumour. As a rule of thumb, low grade tumours are regarded as benign and high grade as malignant.
By benign, we generally mean
· The tumour is relatively slow growing
· It is less likely to come back if it is completely removed
· It is not likely to spread to other parts of the brain or spinal cord
· It may just need surgery and not radiotherapy or chemotherapy as well

By malignant, we generally mean
· The tumour is relatively fast growing
· It is likely to come back after surgery, even if completely removed
· It may spread to other parts of the brain or spinal cord
· It cannot just be treated with surgery and will need radiotherapy or chemotherapy to try to stop it from coming back.
With other types of cancer, these black and white explanations of benign and malignant work well. But with brain tumours, there are a lot of grey areas.

Wow... this is a very long blog....

BIRTHDAY - SURPRISES

It's the day of the year again. MY DAY. Always thought it's just like any other day, nothing special. BUT, somehow, this year is different! Full of surprises and "kinder bueno"!

1. Had a surprise from office colleagues. They did a joint celebration for me and my other colleague whose bday is 3 days earlier than mine. Boss called both of us in to the meeting room for a discussion (it is actually a cover-up!). After about 3min, he told us that we can open the door liao, we opened and found the office with lights switched off a a birthday cake with lighted candles awaiting! They sang bday song, we cut cake and took pics of us - a very FAT me in pic!



2. Heavenly RETREAT for me. My friend brought me to a SPA! Jacuzzi overseeing the sea...Swedish massage...Felt just like going away on holiday. Ooohoo... BUT, it's expensive!
Just as I thought we were leaving after the tea, but the masseur went and came with a cake! Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Heehee....

3. Kinder Bueno Surprise! Courier came to office with a bouquet of flowers meant for me. I was wondering whom the sender would be...Opened the card, it's from my giggling gfs! Read the message in the card, and I can't stop myself from smiling ear-to-ear after that. =)
They had also bought a "purse" for me, I felt so touched and guilty of them spending so much...



4. uZAP - I finally got it! I am on my way to slimming down! hopefully...
Had confirmed that I put on 4KG earlier! Waist-hip ratio also almost exceeded the norm. I am really getting FAT. NO! I DUN WAN! I DUN WAN!

5. Celebrated the night at KTV (actually went 3x! Fri night, Sat afternoon & Sat night!) Really touched that so many people came... Got NGB colleagues and AP ex-colleagues. Luckily they'd booked a large room. But, think it's too big liao? Haahaa... AP people bought a wallet for me (after going thru' diffcult choices). I got the same as SW! Hope she don't mind (think she dun mind, as she is present to buy it! Haa...) Think this wallet exceeded their budget, I am so sorry... 真不好意思。。。 I've got a pair of golf shoes too! Hmmm....Wonder when then got chance to wear.... After ktv, went for mj and end up being the big loser (think bec it's passed my day liao?) Haahaa.....But enjoyed the session can liao la, isn't it? It's the process, rather than the result that matters, isn't it? *winks*

I wanna THANK everyone for putting in so much effort to making this day so great and wonderful! THANK YOU so much!

歌曲：暧昧 歌手：杨丞琳

暧昧让人受尽委屈
找不到相爱的证据
何时该前进何时该放弃
连拥抱都没有勇气。。。

只能陪你到这里
毕竟有些事不可以
超过了友情还不到爱情
远方就要下雨的风景

到底该不该哭泣
想太多是我还想你
我很不服气
也开始怀疑
眼前的人是不是同一个真实的你

[ 暧昧让人受尽委屈
找不到相爱的证据
何时该前进何时该放弃
连拥抱都没有勇气
暧昧让人变得贪心
直到等待失去意义
无奈我和你写不出结局
放遗憾的美丽
停在这里 ] x2

NEW JOB - NEW CHALLENGE

Started working liao... Back to I.T. Something I should be familiar with, yet it seems so distant now. Is marketing what I really wanted? Or I am better off doing something else? But what??

It's so stressful....Am I setting too high a standard that I cant breathe yet cant relax fearing cant achieve? I dunno.... I must really do my best. I got nothing to complain, got good bosses, good colleagues, but I feel that I am stagnant. Moving way too slowly. Seems like I am of not much help. I cant let them down. - STRESS

"You cannot plough a field by turning it over your mind." - am I plain turning in my mind then?

Stop thinking so negatively and lowly of myself! Be Positive! Be Positive! Go! Go! Go!

2006 ReSoLuTioN
I. SliM DowN!
II. FiNd JOb
III.Be DeCiSive
IV.PEACE


TAURUS.. .. ..Careers and you
[ You are reliable and loyal, easy to get along with and a good team player. You are also practical and grounded, as befits an Earth Sign. You are the Mr-Fix-It of the zodiac. You can be a bit lazy to get going, but once you are up and running, look out! There's a focus and single-mindedness of purpose there that can come in very handy. You can be strong-willed, so it's a good idea for colleagues to lay down the law first - you will follow their lead and work hard. While you do well in business, an artistic streak is also present. More apparent, though, can be your frequent stubborn streaks, which can defeat a lot of hard work. And that temper! It's mercifully swift. If you can keep your focus on the steady accumulation of material goods and an occasional dose of earthy, sensual pleasures, life will be grand. ]

nEw LiFe...lObO-inG...

TiMe really FliEs! This is aLrEAdy the 3rd wEEk that I haVe left AP... Fast huh? Was really LaZy and reLAxeD for the 1st 2 wEEkS (now still very nUa) that I hAd not bEEn seNding resUMes....and eNd up nO intERviEWs. Like that hOw to gEt jObs?!?! Told mySelf that $$$ is drYing sooN, gOtta bUck up and be mOre eAger in appLying, so maNaGed to foRce mySelf to seNd soMe this wEek. FreNs haVe bEen reCommenDing jObs to Me & I tHaNk tHeM fOr tHat! HoPeFullY I wiLL wOrk and gEt pAiD wiTh whAt I wAnt sOOn.

sO, hOw haVe I bEEn spEndinG mY tiMe?
I haVe bEEn trYing tO cAtcH uP wiTh thOse FreNs whOm I'D leFt ouT whEn buSying iN AP. bEEn taNNing a lOt wiTh tHeM (nOw daRk daRk - ppLe sAy i lOOk liKe aFriCan kiD); caTchiNg mOvieS, waTchinG VCDs (cAn reaLLy sAve whEn i cOOp mYself aT hOMe) & slEEpiNg! heehee....beaUty sLeeP (but mY piMpLes aRe stiLL poPPing liKe nO nEEd $$$ leh! tOt sLeeP iS beaUty bEcauSe cAn cLeaR aLL thAt? b*llsH*t?). I tHinK I aM a MJ freaK. YeaH.... liMiTed reSourCes liaO, stiLL cAn plAy...SiGh...
cOOking? neH...tOO teDious liAo...wAiTiNg fOr a kiNd soUL tO dO thAt. AnY taKerS?

LasT dAy

Today is my last day with the company... A bit at a loss of how to react....Will I cry later? Mixed feelings.....Sigh.......People are good, environment not that bad, then why the hell am I still leaving??!! Just feel that it's time to move on (to dunno where) and get out ba....Feel injustified maybe?
4 years+.......say long, not long; say short, not short......how could I be so firm to insist in leaving? I haven found a job....No huge savings to last me to idle....I have nothing....
Please lead me a way....

CONFIDENCE is .....

mOving oN . . . . .

It's time to move on from where I am.... Learnt quite a lot these 4 years plus.....BUT, guess I just feel that it's no longer worth "slogging" any further. All efforts being denied of so easily....and no one defended me. So HURTing... If I had really not done well, please don't bother to keep me. Spare me your "maganimous", please. You will be able to find someone easily because who can be worse than one who don't do well? Definitely not those who know how to PR with the "important" people.

Efficient, hardworking people are always penalized - taken for granted. Those whom always slack will be viewed as normal since they have been this way all the while. Expectations low. Important/ Urgent tasks will not be handed to the latter. "Only babies who cry will get the milk" - this is very true lor... Quietly doing the tough tasks won't beat bragging/ complaining the simple tasks being assigned. Anyway, nothing beats the POWER of PR.

I don't blame anyone. It's my own decision. I am not those type whom will go around demoralising people, so PLEASE don't let me hear of me going to affect people's morale lar, me ingrateful lar....whatever.....

I'LL Be FiRm....Be sTronG.....

For those who dont read the papers....
there is this article which is quite true:
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When Mr Right comes at the wrong time. Timing is everything, even in love. And when you are not ready to commit, you could end up regretting it
By Janice Wong

SOMETIMES, timing rather than love decides who we end up being with - or without.
Only some lucky people marry the loves of their lives. The rest marry the most suitable person who comes along when they are ready to settle down.

A friend in his 20s came to this conclusion after confiding in me that he had recently met a woman who is more attractive than his wife, and so occupies his thoughts more often than his wife does.
'If only I had met her before I got married,' he said wistfully.
But I think even if the love of one's life appears when one is single, one may not be in the right frame of mind to recognise him or her as such.

And then love passes by.

Life is littered with near misses and lost opportunities.

I attended my ex-boyfriend's wedding last month, which triggered many memories.
We met five years ago when I was 23 and he 31. It was love at first sight.
He had an established career, was down-to-earth and steadfastly religious.
I was then working as an air stewardess and my head was - literally and metaphorically - in the clouds.
I was also - well, let's put it this way - not religious.
Despite our differences, we were soulmates. We had the same quirky sense of humour and shared long, intense overnight conversations.
But human nature is perverse. When someone is excessively nice to us, we start taking things for granted, instead of appreciating them even more.
My ex sent me to the airport, fixed my PC, reminded me to take health supplements - and go to church.
He had everything I could want in a husband - except that I was not looking for one. A boyfriend was all I could cope with then.
I loved fast cars, danced wildly at Zouk and took off on shopping holidays at a whim. My life revolved around I, me and myself.
In the six months that we were together, he popped the question several times and talked ad nauseam about having children. He wanted us to enrol for a Christian marriage preparation course.
Yes, I did often fantasise about a Vera Wang wedding gown, but I was at that stage of my life when I was more interested in Guess than Baby Guess.
And where - dare I admit it? - I still wanted to meet other men.
So I was a 23-year-old with the emotional maturity of a 13-year-old. Responsibility? Wasn't that for adults?
In short, I met Mr Right at the wrong time.
The more he talked about marriage and religion, the more I felt pressured and the more pressured I felt, the more irritable I became.
I was too impatient to compromise. Every trivial matter blew up as a big deal. My mood obliterated the good in our relationship and reached a point where I just wanted out.
He was heartbroken; I was sad but relieved. He still called me regularly, beseeching me to change my mind.
The calls stopped finally after a year. Now and then, we say 'Hi' via e-mail.
I had a few painful relationships after that. Served me right, as those rude wake-up calls were necessary for me to realise the meaninglessness of my hedonistic high life.
I missed the tenderness of my ex and began having second thoughts.
Perhaps I also felt more urgency to find someone marriageable before my biological clock reached zero hour. It dawned on me that I am not a pixie like Peter Pan who can flit around forever. One day, I'd wake up sick and alone when my fair weather friends flit away.
But I was too proud and too unsure of my ex's reaction to call him until last year.
The first thing he told me excitedly was that he had found The One. My heart tumbled to my feet. So, that's Fate.
If only I could turn back time. If only I had met him later. If only... what feeble words.
These days, I am more circumspect. I have come to terms with my loss. There is nothing I can do about timing, but I can do everything about my choices.
Sometimes, when the nights get lonely, I toy with the idea of marrying a platonic friend of mine, who often assures me earnestly that, if the worst comes to the worst, he'd be willing to marry me.
But I always dismiss that. I have already made one mistake. I should not make another by settling for second best merely for the sake of getting hitched - only to regret it soon after, as the guy who confided in me did.
Hopefully, the best is not over but yet to be.