Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
Source: Irwin’s Instagram
How He Found Out
The first time I felt the pain, it was gym day. I did a full-body workout, and at first, I ignored the pain and went home—I thought nothing of it.
Then I went to the gym again; I continued with my workout, but the pain returned, and I thought, “Okay, there must be something wrong.”
It was super painful. After the gym, my muscles would get swollen and inflamed, but after a while, that pain would subside.
“So I went to get an x-ray, and that’s when they found I had a lump that was the size of a mango!”
When they found the mass, they didn’t know if it was a tumour, if it was cancerous or not. So after the x-ray, I had to get a CT scan to determine what kind of tumour it was.
The Lump Turned Out To be Lymphoma Cancer
So there, they discovered that it was lymphoma, which is prevalent in cancer patients. It can grow and spread.
Mine was stage 2. It had only spread to my lymph node, and the lymph node actually has to do with our immune system.
Cancer would grow from the cell there, so thank God I discovered it early, even though it was accidental.
Then I thought, okay, I’ll just go all the way with my treatment.
Source: Irwin’s Instagram
At first, I went to KPJ Hospital, which is a private hospital, to get diagnosed and everything.
Then I scheduled an appointment with the specialist centre at the University Malaya.
Still, the pain worsened a few days before that, and my left arm started to kebas like a numbing sensation all over. Then I went to the public one at Hospital Ampang because they’re actually the cancer centre of Malaysia, so they specialised in chemotherapy and such. So, I thought I could get the best treatment there, and I did! I went all the way with the treatment there.
The Treatment
“Since I go to a public hospital, I only need to pay RM150 per chemotherapy treatment. If it’s private, the same treatment would be RM3000-RM5000.”
I have insurance, but they require me to pay the fees first. How will I be able to cough out that much money? That’s standard treatment too. So, I went to a government hospital, and I’m grateful that our country is doing well enough to provide affordable treatments to people like us.
Source: Irwin’s Instagram
I’ll be okay if I continue with my treatment. Since this is stage 2, it is still considered curable. I’ve had friends who were at stage 4, and they are also cured. But, since theirs is stage 4, their cancer has spread, and they would need to continue their cycle even after they are “cured” to kill off all the cancer cells.
I’m grateful that my cancer hasn’t affected any vital organs. I’m glad we found it early and that I could seek treatment as early as I did.
My mom knows about my condition, and whenever I feel like I’m in a critical situation, she calls. If not, she usually comes every two weeks or so.
And when it comes to chemotherapy, it’s actually okay. I was briefed about all kinds of solutions before I went for chemotherapy.
During the session itself, I would feel a little hot all over. [The doctors] would give me medication after the sessions to help with the side effects of chemotherapy like vomiting, nausea, and such.
But I don’t get affected by it—it could be because of how well the medication works on me.
Severe Side Effects From Taking Immunite Boosters!
I would take 11 pills in the morning and 5 more at night. They also had to inject me with an immune booster that was given to me in multiple cycles.
In the first cycle, I actually had severe side effects. I couldn’t sleep, and I was vomiting a lot.
In the second cycle, I got this side effect called a fistula where my butt muscles cramped up and my butthole started to develop pus. Of all the places…! I couldn’t even sit down.
At first, I went to KPJ to get that checked, and they scanned it too. They didn’t find any pus, but I sat down on the third day and felt it was wet. I went to the toilet and extracted it for 30 minutes! It just kept coming out.
I returned to the hospital, and they made an incision to clean it up. I had to soak myself in a salt bath. I even had to wear a woman’s pad.
All of these were just side effects of the immune booster!
I also lost my sense of taste and smell for the first and second cycles. So usually, when I eat salty foods, they are too salty, and anything soy-based tastes metallic. Right now, after my third cycle, my sense of taste is less affected. I even had a wonderful meal earlier.
So, I heard from other cancer patients that our bodies would get used to the medications; they would adjust, and we would feel normal. My body is getting used to it, but I still feel weird at certain hours of the day.
My Diet Now
My theory is that cancer loves sugar. I think my sugar intake is what caused my problem… I used to be a teh tarik junkie. I’m doing my best to consume less sugar in my foods and drinks now.
I’m thinner now. My lowest weight was 64kg, and I used to be 70 kg or more. My muscles have definitely shrunk. I believe this is because of chemotherapy since it kills off even the good cells.
Living Life To The FULLEST
I am definitely going through a transformation.
Source: Irwin’s Instagram
“I used to be such a homebody because I’m naturally introverted. But now, I’m reaching out and reconnecting with friends, and it makes me feel better. It makes me feel so blessed.”
There is a blessing that came from this. I feel braver about recording myself in public. I’d upload those videos to YouTube, get no views, and it’d be fine!
I’m working from home for now. I do digital marketing.
I read more books now. I started writing and journaling.
I express myself better, which is something I love doing.
I would just go out to the park. I would watch people and their doggos.
I went on a shopping spree, and now I’m deciding on getting a drone.
And after all of this is done, I’m thinking of dressing up as Saitama (One Punch Man).
Source: Irwin’s Instagram
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