Shocking News

It's been a couple of days since I heard the bad news; I guess I'm feeling a bit better now...

While she was mopping the floor two nights ago, my mum casually informed me that she has cancer.

What......?

"Don't worry lah, even I'm not worried", she continued cheerfully in a matter-of-fact voice.

How not to be worried??!! I knew something was wrong when she complained of blood when sneezing, but still, the news came as a shock. But dear mum seems to be taking it all in her stride, saying that all she needs is a 6-week course of radiotherapy and then she'll be ok.

She hasn't seen the specialist yet so we don't know the prognosis and when she does I'll be in Taiwan. Why do I have to leave just then? But I can't postpone the thing anymore with all the arrangements done.

I have to keep myself busy so that I don't have time to think about bad things, trying my best to go on with life as normal, but sometimes it's very difficult. I used to be angry with my dad for not telling me about his illness years ago. But now I realise that he has my interests at heart...it is really very devastating to find out that your loved one is struck with such an illness.

Anyway, the fanciful name for the one that struck mum is "Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma". I did some reading up on the Internet to try and understand what the results of the preliminary test meant. Seems like things aren't too bad...Treatment is supposed to be most effective when the thing is non-keratinizing and least so when differentiated. The results indicated "Non-keratinizing and undifferentiated", so I am hopeful.

I hope to have good news on 9 Feb...Meanwhile, I just have to carry on, and think positive. First up, to settle my presentation for next week and to finish the stuff that I have promised I will get done by weekend...