Its been so long since i blogged. Probably one of the highlights these few days is TAG. I mean i understand why its called TAG, because we literally tag around. =P
I was attached to Singapore Cancer Society,a volunteer welfare and self-funded group. My mentor's called Wan Hua, the head nurse or something like that. I cant really remember her post.
Anyway, it was an eyeopener for us. Us referring to iggy, serene and linli =) had loads of fun during the attachment, doing silly stuff as well as meaningful ones. SCS is actually non government aided, yet they still provide hospice service free of charge as they hope to provide support and medicinal care for the cancer patients who are facing a monolithic ordeal in their lives.
One of the most interesting person i encountered on this trip was Mr Chan, the chairman of the New Voice Club (one of the support gps). He had throat cancer and had to have his larynx surgically removed. He obviously does not have a voice box anymore and so he cant speak. However, he has acquired a technique known as oesophagus speech, using airflow from stomach and the oesophagus to speak. Its is very tiring and difficult to grasp. Many of the members there still cant speak after 1 yr of practice. In fact, they could use Senrox, this voice vibrator that they place at the throat to produce alien-like projections of their "voices". However, it is virtually ImPOSSIBLe for them to use it in public lest they scare off ignorant people. Therefore despite all the difficulties they have in learnign to speak with their new voices, they only have Hobson's choice to simply keep trying.
Oh. Did i mention that they dont breathe through their nose? Their noses becomes dysfunctional after the operation so they breathe through an artificial nose (which is an opening in the neck). Its scary! Mr Chan didn want to show us his "new nose" because he recalled that some students fainted when they saw the wound some years back.
We have been going around on home visits as well. And i really learnt the importance of treasuring one's health. Though cliche, there is probably nothing truer than "Prevention is better than cure". LOok at all the cancer patients who have survived the cancer, stablised their condition and have so-called recovered. NONE of them probably weighs more than 40 kg i think. This 90 yr old granny should have been the epitome of the phrase "only skin and bones". We have been to visit so far a bedridden 77 yr old granny, a CAnto-speaking Mr Lee, a Mr Muhammad suffering from CA stomach, a Miss Wan suffering from lymphoma, and an Indian lady.
Tomorrows gonna be my last day ( 4 days long attacment)and we are preparing cards for our mentors
Factsheet
Colorectal cancer is the most common in Singapore.
Figures
We did christmas decorations today for their upcoming christmas party on 3rd Dec, wrapped 59 presents, and the day before packed 1000 set of FOBT test kits and probably 100 mails.=D
Yea gotta go sleep now! Tanjong Pagar again tmr ! =))
