My Worst Nightmare – throat cancer 我最差的惡夢 – 喉癌

Cancer is not a deadly decease, but when it happened at vital organ, the loss can be serious. I had it at my throat unfortunately and I had to give up my throat to save my life.

癌症已不是死症，但當它發生在重要器官位置，損失是極嚴重的。我就是患了喉癌引致要割除喉嚨來保命。

It happened during the treatment of my TB. I had a laryngoscopy at the end of May 2009 in Grantham Hospital and it was confirmed that one side of the larynx was suppressed by the lymphocyte. Therefore, it is assumed that the lymphocyte might be affected by the TB. During June and July, my breathing was not good and it was also assumed that lung had been seriously harmed by the germs. Until Aug. 4, 2009, after several nights without sleep, I told the doctor in
the clinic about this, he ordered an ambulance for taking me to Grantham Hospital for medical check up. Before answering a couple of questions, I was passed out. When I woke up, I was already in the ICU of Queen Mary Hospital.

它發生於我正在處理肺結核的時間。在2009年5月底我在葛量洪醫院有一次胃鏡證明了有一邊的聲帶被淋巴線壓著。所以假設是肺結核的影響。在6月及7月間，我有呼吸方面的困難也認為是肺部受損的結果。至8月4日，因有幾晚不能睡，我向診所醫生求坐，他立即安排救護車預算送我到葛量洪醫院檢查。未能回答救護員的問題前，我已昏倒了。醒來時已是在瑪麗醫院的深徹治療部ICU了。

Later, I was told that the medical stuff reported that my lung was full of carbon dioxide and they had to rush me to Queen Mary Hospital for emergency rescue.

之後才獲悉那位救護員稱我的肺部完全是二氧化炭，所以他們要即時送我到瑪麗醫院急救。

I was transferred to Grantham Hospital in a few days to continue the TB treatment. On May 18, 2009, a new advisory doctor did not accept that my voice problem’s assumption and ordered an immediate laryngoscopy. Thanks to his judgment, they saw three pieces of tumor sitting on top of the throat. So they sent me back to Queen Mary Hospital and asked the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) section to follow up. They also had a doctor taking the photo and note to accompany me for the ride and handed over to the houseman. The ENT doctor ordered a bedside laryngoscopy and confirmed that if the tumors continued to expand, I might be dead in a day or two. Therefore an immediate operation was arranged to open a hole in the neck for breathing and getting some pieces of tumors for analysis.

之後我被轉到葛量洪醫院繼續處理肺結核。在8月18日一位新到的顧問醫生並不接受我聱線問題的假設，他立即安排胃鏡再檢查。多得他的判斷，他們發現在喉嚨位置出現了三個腫瘤物體。所以立即送我回瑪麗醫院及通知耳鼻喉科。更派一位醫生帶同照片及資料與我一起到瑪麗交給當值醫生。耳鼻喉科的醫生要即時在床邊的胃鏡，確定如果腫瘤繼續擴大，我將有生命危險。所以要立即進行手術在頸部開孔呼吸及取腫瘤樣本進行化驗。

Later, it was confirmed that the tumors were cancer and the throat might need to remove completely. Of course, a PET scan at my own cost was arranged to confirm all. The result indicated that the cancer had spread to the lymphocyte nodes of both sides of the neck.

之後化驗證實了是癌症可能需要割除整個喉嚨。當然需要一個自費的正電子掃描來確定各方面的資料。結果指癌症有擴散到頸部兩邊的淋巴腺位置。

There was no other choice but to give up the throat, a surgery was arranged in Sep. 28, 2009, followed by radiation therapy from November 2009.

因此只有放棄喉嚨，割除手術訂在9月28日之後是由2009年11月起的電療。

I have been told that there would be several side effect for radiation therapy including dry mouth, difficulty to swallow and it is not possible to brush the teeth etc. But this time, I refused the accompanying chemotherapy. I had been asked several times by doctors about my reason to reject. Of course, they might suppose that it was good to have chemotherapy to avoid future recurring. Basing on my understanding and some other ones' cases, the chemotherapy is not always success. Of course, if I do not have the decision to have Chinese herbal medicine, I might be better to take such risk. Also basing on the advice from my Chinese Medical Doctor, it is good for me to have Dendrobium faulhaberianum Schlecht tea daily to counter the radiation side effect. I did and now after having the eighteenth treatment, I still be able to eat and brush my teeth. After the surgery, my weight was down to 108 lbs. almost 30 lbs less than a year ago. Now I have gained ten pounds and have to eat less to avoid the problem with the face mode for radiation treatment.

我聽到有關電療的副作用包括口乾，吞嚥困難及不能刷牙等問題。這次我拒絕了同時安排的化療。曾經有幾個醫生問我為什麼不做化療。當然他們是相信化療是會預防將來複發的機會。根據我的意識及一些人的經歷，化療並不是每次都成功。當然如果我不是已決定同時採用中藥，我也許會接受化療之事。我的中醫提議我每天飲石斛水來淡化電療的副作用。我當然依足他建議。昨天是我第十八次的電療，我仍然可以進食及每天刷牙。手術後我的體重下降至108磅，比一年前足足少了30磅。我已重了十磅，但要吃少一些避免為電療做的面模出現問題。

It may be too early to say whether I am right to reject the chemotherapy and to take the Chinese herbal medicine. It is like gambling. Before it happens, no one can be sure of anything. Yet as everyone would understand, living happily and have a healthy body is always good. This is the guidance for my extended life.

要證明我放棄化療採用中醫方式是否正確是言之過早。有如賭博一樣。未有結果前，沒有人可以知道的。但是每個人都會明白生活得快樂及有健康的身體永遠都是件好事。這是我延長壽命的指引。