My short story...

Dec 2009 was a terrible time for me and my family. I had a few lumps behind my neck area for a few months. I did a blood test with cancer markers and they came back negative. I was really relieved with those results.

But a nagging feeling told me that all is not right and that I should see a specialist. I went to an ENT and he did a biopsy. It turned out to be cancer. I had no other symptoms except for the lumps. He immediately referred me a Hematologist. When the news hit, I thought to myself "It can't be happening to me". I am very careful with my food and I exercise 5 to 6 days a week. I do not smoke or drink. I keep to regular sleeping times. I shouldn't be having cancer. Besides I am only in late forties. I thought cancer only hit older people.

It took sometime for the news to sink in. Thank GOD my wife was with me and I called my best friend and he thought I was pulling a fast one on him (that is usual, we play pranks on one another).

The ENT also thought I caught it early so I should be okay. The Hematologist took a CTScan and bone marrow biopsy. I was still in the hospital and the worst news came. The cancer had spread to my abdomen. I had Stage 3 cancer. It was at that moment that my whole world collapse. My mind went blank. Fear just swept through me. To make the situation worst, my wife was not with me at that time - I was alone when the Hematologist told me the news (which he should not have).

Tons of things went through my head. My thoughts were really unusual. They were focused on my family. There were so many things I had not done or completed for my family. One of my biggest worry was was financial implications I had to quickly resolve.

My wife finally showed up at the hospital and I then told her the news. For the first time, I cried for myself. I held my wife for the longest time.

The Next Day
The Hematologist came and discussed options. Basically, there were none except one - Chemotherapy. Surgery and radiation was not on the table. And in his opinion I had to do 16 sessions over 8 months.

I have heard stories about chemotherapy but I didn't think much about it. I thought it cannot be as bad as people make it out to be.

I was readmitted into the hospital for a couple of days to put a Chemo port into my chest area for the Chemo. It was recommended since I had to do so many Chemo sessions and it will save my arm blood vessels.

I was still in pretty good positive spirits considering the bad news I had.

One Week Later
All this time, my mother was in and out of hospital and we decided not to tell her. A day before my first Chemo, the bad news came. My mum passed away.

Dealing with my own situation was bad enough but when my mum's passing came, I was totally in a daze. My days were like a dream state. So many things were happening all at the same time. My siblings were superb people, they took care of mum's arrangements and kept me out of it. Many people chipped in the help in whatever ways they could.

3 Chemos Later
I was able to cope with the first three chemos. When the forth one came, I became very ill. I started to vomit and feeling rotten in my stomach for days after the chemo session. It would take about 10days before I got back to some normalcy. Basically, I had 4 good days and then it starts all over again for 12 times.

As the chemo treatment went on, the after effects got worst and it took more time for me to recover.

After 8 long months.
It was a hellish time for me but with my wife, Prema as the primary care giver, friend's and family's support from all over the world, I managed to get through all the treatments and came out of victorious. Now, I have take special care so that the cancer will not relapse.

I have learn a lot from the experience and this is the reason for this book - To beat cancer in the first place. I will touch on several topics - diets, natural preventive foods, lifestyle regime, exercise, relaxation and spirituality. I hope what I share here will be of benefit to someone.

Thank you for reading.