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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 24 February 2015

Choo Mei Sze from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia surprised doctors with her condition and then even more with her fighting spirit. The TV host/columnist/blogger/emcee shares her tips for coming back stronger than ever. 

Please tell us a bit about your condition.

I had stage 1b/2 colon cancer. The tumour was 1/3 the size of my colon and I had to remove 2/3 of my rectum and 12 cm of my colon, total of 18 lymph nodes. I had complications during the surgery as I had low blood pressure, and my surgeon had to put a colostomy bag for me. I had that for 1 ½ months before re-attaching my colon.

When were you diagnosed?

I was diagnosed on June 20th 2014 at the age of 27. At that time, I was the youngest patient in the hospital to be diagnosed with colon cancer.

What were the early symptoms? 

A year before diagnosis, I had loose stools about once a month. I attributed it to a sensitive stomach since coming back from the US, and didn’t think too much about it. I had fatigue too. Sometimes by mid-day, I would be completely drained. The last straw was when I had what I assumed to be diarrhoea for 3 weeks, and that’s when my dad insisted I see a specialist.

Is there a history of colon cancer in your family? 

No, there isn’t.

Any other cancers in your family?

Yes, my two grandfathers had prostate cancer and liver cancer. One was due to old age and the other had a problem with drinking.

What is your present condition?

I am just recovering from surgery. I have side effects from it, such that on bad days, I go to the toilet to poop 10-15 times a day; those are the days I don’t go out. Sometimes I am constipated and don’t go at all, but it all depends on my diet, which I monitor very carefully.

Please describe your experience of managing colon cancer.

I would say the year 2014 was a whirlwind year. What was meant to be a routine colonoscopy turned into a nightmare when the doctor rushed in looking at his chart, speaking really quickly and he mentioned the word biopsy. I then knew how serious it was. I cried the first few days, but after that, I just wanted to solve the problem and get rid of this disease in my body. 

I had two surgeries, 1 ½ months apart. One was a colon resection surgery, which lasted 4 ½ hours, but due to low blood pressure, the doctor couldn’t rejoin it because it would take longer. So, I needed to have a temporary colostomy. The second surgery was to join the intestines back.

My doctor told me I recovered really quickly after both surgeries, and I believe it was because I willed my body too. During this past half a year, it’s learning to accept I had cancer, then learning to live with an entire new system as I have hardly any rectum left. 

For me, it’s always staying positive and knowing I will be better and stronger each day!

What medications are you on?

I am not on any medications.

What were some of the challenges you faced and what is your advice to patients who face similar challenges?

Definitely, it was living with a colostomy bag, which was the worst for me because I wasn’t prepared for it. My skin was very sensitive, so the adhesive on the bag wouldn’t stick to my skin and I had rashes around the organ. I would wake up with faeces all over my bed sometimes because it leaked out from the bag. That was very demoralising. 

I also tried getting in touch with others my age who had had my experience, but there was no one, which made things harder. A colostomy nurse helped me through it, giving me things to ease the rash. That helped a lot.

The other challenge I faced was insurance. You don’t want to deal with money issues when you are faced with something more daunting. My advice is always to be prepared and read up.

Have you learnt anything in managing in your condition that you wish you knew before? 

Not really, I am just a lot more cautious with my diet now and have started exercising.

What kind of specialists do you consult and how often?

I see a Gastrointestinal specialist once every 3 months.

What resources are available to you in your city (KL) to help you manage the condition?

I googled everything basically and a colostomy nurse who came directly to my house really helped.

Have you had to make some changes to your lifestyle because of your condition?

Yes, the food I take, supplements and exercise. One main thing, letting go of stress.

My diet consists of sweet potato and tapioca in the morning. I eat out for lunch but I go to places I know, and it’s usually organic or vegetarian. Dinner is home-cooked and I don’t eat rice anymore. I replace the rice with spinach and other vegetables, chicken and fish.

Have you tried complementary medicine or therapies, like homeopathy or yoga?

Yes, I take supplements prescribed by a nutritionist, and am on Tom Wu’s diet, and Young Living Essential Oils to help with my side effects. 

Tom Wu’s diet is a blend of 15 ingredients from seeds to vegetables and fruits. It basically energises me and it has a lot of antioxidants. As for Young Living Essential Oils, I rub it over my tummy after I shower, peppermint - to reduce gas and constipation. Furthermore, the lavender oil helps me in sleeping.

Has it been difficult emotionally to cope with your condition?

Not really. Every time I start crying, I tell myself… enough, tomorrow you will be stronger!

How has your family supported you?

Tremendously, the love and care they have given me is immeasurable. It helps with the healing process.

How are you coping with school now? 

I am putting my PhD on hold for a while as I know it’s a strong stressor for me.

Are you working? How do you cope given your condition? 

Yes, I have my own social media company, and I am a TV host/columnist/blogger and emcee. I stopped all work for 4-5 months, but now I am picking up again, going for meetings, emceeing events and writing. I cope by doing everything at a leisurely pace, not rushing around anymore.

How did your friends treat you? Were you isolated? 

No, they were very supportive and when I shared my story, the outpouring of love was amazing.

How is your immunity now? Do you do anything to avoid infections or strengthen immunity?

Yes, I am trying to strengthen my immunity now through supplements and exercise.

Please tell us about your exercise regimen? At one point, you couldn’t even sit up. 

I run 3-4 times a week. I started walking slowly first around the park, 1 round. After that, I increased the rounds I walked, followed by mild jogging, and now am running 3km 3-4 times a week. My aim is to achieve 5km. Every time when I find it difficult, I aim for the 5km mark and know I can do it!

You can follow her on :

http://meisze.com/
https://www.facebook.com/choomeisze

 

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