DK is an Indonesian. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer by a doctor in Penang. From Penang, he went to Singapore seeking for a second opinion. He got the same advice. After surgery, he needs chemotherapy. There is no two ways about it.

In Singapore, the operation would cost SGD60,000 while the follow up chemotherapy cost SGD40,000. That makes a total of about SGD100,000.

In early August 2017, DK came back  to another private hospital in Penang and decided to an undergo an operation here. His whole stomach was removed (picture below). The same surgery cost RM50,000. He stayed in the hospital for about ten days.

The histopathology report indicated a well differentiated intestinal-type adenocarcinoma. T3N1Mx, at least Stage 3A.

After surgery, DK was referred to the oncologist who told him that he needed eight cycles of chemotherapy. The drugs to be used are: infusion of Oxaliplatin plus oral TS-One. The total cost of the treatment is around RM50,000  (the total cost of surgery and chemotherapy in Penang is three times cheaper than Singapore).

The Penang oncologist told him, No problem. Chemo can cure! But if you don’t do chemo, the cancer can recur.

DK came to see us and was started on the herbs for about two weeks.

We did not get to see him again after that.

After some months, in January 2018, DK came back to see us again.

What happened? We were told that DK stopped taking our herbs. He went for chemotherapy instead. This was in the  months of November to December 2017. After two cycles, DK decided to stop chemotherapy and switched to our herbs again.

DK’s case was out of my radar for a while until September/November 2018 when his wife and daughter came to report on DK’s progress. I really did not know why he decided to switch treatment half way like that. Do you want to know? Listen to his wife’s explanation.

After taking herbs for about two weeks he opted for chemotherapy. Why? It was not due to the bitter taste or awful smell of the herbs. It was about food. Following our therapy means he has to take care of his diet. He cannot eat what he likes anymore. That restriction did not go well with him. If he goes for chemo, doctor says he can eat what he likes. Great!

After two shots of chemo, he decided to switch to herbs again. Why? As most people know, chemo has too much severe side effects. He could not take it. So he had to kuai-kuai (good naturedly) come back to herbs again.

After taking our herbs for about a year, is he okay? So far so good.

While on our herbs, is he taking care of his diet? This is a million dollar question. Her daughter just smiled when I asked her this question. Yes, at home, his wife makes sure he eat correctly. But he goes out with friends everyday – what he does no one knows.

What do you think is going to happen to him?  Your guess is just as good as mine.  And I have a story to share with you.

Not long ago, I have a patient. Let’s call him Jim. He also had stomach cancer. I asked him to remove his cancerous stomach, which he did. He decided not to undergo chemotherapy and came to me for herbs. Jim is a nice and friendly man. Whenever he came to our centre we always had a long chat like old friends. We talked about everything. At one time, he said he wanted to write a book about his life story. I encouraged him to do so and offered to help him edit the script. We started that project … yes, chapter one was done!

For one year, Jim was doing very well on our herbs. He looked great and he felt great. Jim used to tell me that his appetite had increased twice as much compared to the time before he had cancer. And remember, he has no more stomach!

Then one day, Jim had stomach pain. I asked him to go back to his surgeon (who is also his friend) and find out what happen. His intestine was so packed up with undigested food. Jim needed a surgery immediately.

After surgery, Jim was back to our centre again. He looked thin and lost a lot “oomph” of life. Unfortunately, Jim did not last long. Some months later he died. I have lost a good friend and a patient so soon.

Some weeks later, Jim’s daughter came to our centre. We sat down and shared our sorrow. My question — did Jim really take care of his diet? With tears in her eyes, Jim’s daughter replied, NO. I could sense the frustration in her.

Let the truth be told. No, Jim did not take care of his diet since day one! After he recovered from his first surgery, he would go out with his friends (yes, being a jovial man that he is, he has many friends!) and they would go out to eat what they like. No wonder his small intestine had turned into a “well packed sausage” that had to be removed.

Then Jim’s daughter added that even after his second surgery, her father did not learn his lesson. After he recovered from that surgery, again he went out with friends to various places in Penang where there is good food.

I felt sad to hear this story. But that is the way it is. So if you ask me again, what can happen to DK. I would say, I hope the ending is not going to be like Jim. But right down in me, I know that the chances of the making another Jim’s story  is very high indeed.

Good luck, DK.