Breast cancer incidences now the most common…

Breast cancer incidences now the most common…

Cancer (Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com)

Breast cancer – the most common cancer worldwide and leading cause of cancer death among women – disproportionately affects individuals in low- and middle-income countries. Breast cancer 5-year survival rates in high-income countries exceeds 90%, compared with 66% in India and 40% in South Africa.

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The most common NEW cases were breast cancer (2.26 millions)! It has overtaken lung cancer’s place!

New cases of lung cancer is in the second place (2.21 million cases), followed by colon and rectum (1.93 million cases); prostate; skin (non-melanoma); and stomach (1.09 million cases).

Cervical cancer is not in this top list. It used to be higher than breast cancer decades ago. Have systematic screenings and HPV vaccination played a big role?

*****

The most common causes of cancer DEATH in 2020 were: lung (1.80 million deaths); colon and rectum; liver ; stomach; and then breast (685 000 deaths).

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Breast cancer incidences is now the most common… displacing lung cancer.

Have increased awareness and early screenings increase the number?

Have these strategies conversely lower the number of breast cancer deaths, as compared to the other cancers?

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Houses on tall tilts or float…

Houses on tall tilts or float…

For years, I read about flood, evacuation from homes, cleaning up post flood, families staying at allocated centres.

I wonder if architecture of houses should emulate the olden days when houses on tall tilts were built to avoid wild animals or enemies.

Or

Houses on float that would adapt to rise or fall of water levels.

Innovation- House on float?

Fun- oblivions of danger during an impending flood

Houses in a flood

*******

Flood are ‘acts of God,’ but flood losses are largely acts of man. –Gilbert_F_White

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Leadership matters… for the sake of our future generations

This message was forwarded to me through social media. I can’t help agreeing that leadership matters…. at least for the sake of a country and our future generations!

Leadership matters…

… SINGAPORE 4th PM

Singapore has chosen its 4th PM.
After 4 years of strict, tedious filtering & performance index review applied on 4 outstanding candidates. Finally, Mr. Lawrence Wong was chosen to take the responsibility as the 4th PM Singapore.

Mr.Wong a Double Degree & PhD holder from Harvard University in Economics was selected after he received the highest score in Character, Perfomance, Integrity, Quality & job KPI.

Mr. Lawrence Wong scored ZERO in ; Failures, Defaults, Accuses, Warnings or Penalty on criterias as follows;

Example of some KPI…

1. Public Complaints.
2. Police Traffic Summons.
3. Public Summon.
4. Racial hatred Statements.
5. Corruption / Bribery.
6. Legal Court cases.
7. Tax fraudulent.
8. Public Votes.
9. Physical fitness.
10. Personal Life.
11. Abuse of Power.
12. FBI, CIA, Interpol checks.
13. World Leaders popularity.
14. Political Achievements.
15. Public or Media speech.

In an official statement current PM Lee has already started handing over duties & soon to vacate his position as Prime Minister.

Currently Singapore is Ranked a Developed Country / Nation with Excellent GDP plus Gold reserve of over 3 Trillion Dollars. All achieved with just 3 Prime Ministers Performances since breaking away from Malaysia

~ THE END ~

Lawrence is originally from Ipoh Malaysia
Migrate to Singapore and now a Singaporean

Malaysia lost another talented person.

Now is the time to come…

I like this front page picture… The two visitors look very much a part of the bill board!

Weaker ringgit, a draw in tourism..

While the locals moan

a weaker buying power of our ringgit,

foreigners seem to enjoy

a greater spending value

of their countries’ dollar

in Malaysia!

Heritage Malacca, Malaysia

Heritage Malacca, Malaysia

We arrived at Malacca, where Portuguese, Dutch, English and Japanese had claimed this land before, historically. The famous general Cheng Ho’s legacy was sighted even on shops’ signage!

Staying inside an old heritage building is a novelty.  It was reassuring to see nice modern interior designs with second generation fire sprinklers and smoke detector in the room. There are many windows that opens out to the exteriors.

And… Malacca people are spoilt for choice with cheap delicious food!

Severely disableds ’empowered’ as avatar robots!

Severely disableds ’empowered’ as avatar robots!

This is a smart idea! Empowering bedridden and severely disabled to operate robots, from a distance.

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“They heal others, who heals them? “

“They heal others, who heals them? “

****

In an environment

of healing,

is a “hurting” culture!

****

How can bulliers ( supervising medical officers) be healers?

Parkinson’s disease: Three steps forwards and two steps back

Parkinson’s disease: Three steps forwards and two steps back

Old man walking (Photo by Safa Baku0131rcu0131 on Pexels.com)

When I was a student, I met a male nurse walking a patient with Parkinson’s disease to the toilet.

“He is taking ages at the rate he is walking! It’s like taking three steps forward and two steps backward! I told him it would be faster for him to use a urinal on his bed!” Mr. Lee kept quiet at that remark. His mask-like face showed no expression. With a flexed body, he shuffled in a frustratingly slow, yet festinating gait. His thumb and forefinger rubbed in a pin-rolling tremor.

He never wet because he would request to go to the toilet earlier to avoid losing control of his bladder.

A senior walking pass, “Mr. Lee, I see you are walking and exercising. Very good, keep it up!”

Later the senior called a few of us aside, “be careful what you say! For a headmaster, to lose control over his movements can be a depressing condition. He may keep quiet, but he is sharp. He understood what you said! We need to treat patients with dignity and respect!”

****************************************

Not long ago, I met a male retired banker in a pottery class with me.

“I have Parkinson’s disease. That’s why I am here!” He was trying to slow down the progression of motor disability. And he was very creative and tidy in his pottery work!

********************************

Research and management of people with Parkinson’s disease have improved a lot since.

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pottery work (Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com)

Oh, my kids’ English! – Bananas

Oh, my kids’ English! – Bananas

I grew up in a family where all my siblings were Chinese-educated. But my children grew up speaking English, Malay and Chinese dialect (Hokkien). I started reading the “Peter and Jane” series to them at the age of two. Oh, my kids’ English is about some of the amusing words they used as kids!

Bananas (Photo by Daniel Dan on Pexels.com)

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“Mum, mum! Are these bananas cooked?” as they ran in after the evening outdoor games with their neighbours.

“Yes, dear. The bananas are ripe!”

“Dinner will be ready soon. The rice is cooked!”

*************************************

Learning English is like duck takes to water for them. They usually scored distinction, even my youngest and special child!

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Oesophageal cancer: “… wanting a taste of food.”

Oesophageal cancer: “… wanting a taste of food.”

Tasting food (Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com)

*****

I read “The Taste Of Chocolate (Flash Fiction #35)” by Haoyando. It reminds me of a person with oesophageal cancer who suffered from dysphagia and could not swallow food.

A feeding tube was inserted through the nose straight to the stomach. Liquid food was fed several times a day.

Sometimes, the carer would feed him small spoonfuls of porridge with fish or minced meat. Slowly he would chew and roll the food inside his mouth with his tongue. Then he would spit the chewed food into a bowl.

The carer would strain this mushy food through a siever. This was mixed with the remaining liquid and fed through the naso- gastric tube.

That way he got to masticate the meat with his teeth, stimulated the taste buds on his tongue, and mixed the food with his oral salivary enzymes.

We must grateful for the ability to savour the little moments of joys satiating food!

*****

Quotes:-

Food is not just eating energy. It’s an experience. – Emoovio

*****

Big pie, small pie matters…economically

Mum, I want a piece of the pie, too!

Big pie, small pie matters…economically

In a Town A, there were five bakers. Each employed five apprentices. So there were twenty five apprentices in employment.

Two bakers were not happy with the town mayor’s new rules and taxation policy. They decided to go to another town B to set up their business. So there was less opportunity for employment in town A.

Now in town B, there are eight bakers, creating more job opportunities there! So the youths from town A moved to town B to seek employment.

This is a simple analogy of businesses, job opportunities for the youths, and supplies meeting demands economically.

Don’t kill the geese that lay the golden eggs, then there will always be enough pies to go around for everyone!

Keeping a promise

Keeping a promise.

I woke up one morning,

to find him

waiting outside my door.

Keeping a promise. (Photo by Victoria Borodinova on Pexels.com)

“Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?”

“You promised,

to take me out for breakfast today!”

He never forgets!

Never make one with him.

I kept forgetting!

He won’t accept a ‘no’.

So I dragged myself out reluctantly

to a ‘get set’ and ‘go’!

Another day began,

keeping in pace with him!

****

An aging carer ponders;

‘my mind wants,

as I used to,

but, will my body will it

in years to come?’

I must remember

not to over-promise

to avoid disappointing him.

Differently-abled person(s)

may have different thresholds

to contain disappointment.

****

“Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep.” — Anonymous

****

Change Your Vision|بینش خود را تغییر دهید — A Voice from Iran

“92nd story” First published: May.23.2019   Once upon a time in a kingdom, the king suffered pain in his eyes. Many different doctors visited him but none of them were able to cure the king’s pain.   The King’s right-hand minister suggested: “There is a wise man in the Kingdom who knows everything, let him […]

Change Your Vision|بینش خود را تغییر دهید — A Voice from Iran

Are you listening?

Are you listening?
http://Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Are you listening?

Are you listening to one's endless nagging? 
Is it because one can't seem to get through to you?

Will the list of complaints gets longer 
if one cannot find their solutions soon?

Are there hidden messages 
that were missed in seemingly 'empty' talks?

Are you listening, listening...
before the sinking, sinking... hand disappears under?

Some people may have the knowledge, 
but it takes great patience, efforts, energy and compassion to listen.

It requires knowing 
when to step out of the shoe after stepping into it.
 
And listening in silence is a skill, 
interrupting hinders those much awaited expressions and words 
that were just coming through...

That is why we have two ears but only one mouth!

A carer for cancer patients once said, 'one must be kind to oneself in order to be kind to others.' 

This is because listening 
drains one emotionally if one does not recharge oneself in between.

So are you listening?

Quote:-

“Sometimes all a person wants is an empathetic ear; all he or she needs is to talk it out. Just offering a listening ear and an understanding heart for his or her suffering can be a big comfort.” ― Roy T. Bennett

Is she breathing?

Is she breathing?

This anecdote is a continuation of “Pressure rising, a wake-up call and my three angels“.

After that blood-pressure rising episode, the three angels went on to take my pulse and respiration rate. I was pleased that they took my blood -pressure correctly. Looking at them smilingly, I turned to look at my table planner. I reminisced the times when I practiced holding my breath under-water.

They shook their watches several times and glanced at each other. Now, they all bent nearer, peering closely at my chest… scratching their heads.

“Yes, finished?” still holding my breath as much as possible.

“Your pulse rate is 80 per minute, but, but… your respiration rate is only four per minute!”

I laughed softly, “ok, ok, I was just pulling your legs! Now I will breathe normally!” They heaved a sigh of relief, completed their tasks, and got my initial into their log books. Teaching can be fun, too!

Can teaching be fun? [Photo by Katerina Holmes on Pexels.com]

These PNC student-nurses had to learn how to take vital signs among themselves, on their seniors, and then, on their lecturers. Only when they had completed that log, were they allowed to do on the patients in the wards.

Decades later, I don’t remember now who they are, but I enjoyed that life-enlightening morning episode.

Thank you, girls!

Quote:-

“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” —Dalai Lama

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” —Robert Brault

****

An irretrievable click!

An irretrievable click!

Click a button (Photo by Hitarth Jadhav on Pexels.com)

An arrow released,

cannot be retrieved.

A harsh word said,

cannot be forgotten.

A button pressed,

or even autocorrected,

is irretrievable!

*****

*****

How humorous and courageous can one be?

How humorous and courageous can one be?

Ballet (Photo by Tim Gouw on Pexels.com)

A group of elderly senior surgeons put up
a courageous and entertaining show
for fundraising… Good idea!

With exposed hairy chests
and ballet-like costumes
they skipped in a row
as they pointed their shoes.

With a tap, tap here,
and a tap, tap there!
Here tap, there tap!
Turnaround tap, tap!

And they flap their ‘wings’
and disappeared behind the stage.
Only to come back again
to take a grand bow
to a thunderous applaud!

When fund-raising is fun raising, indeed! 

***

One, Two Buckle My Shoes!

One, Two Buckle My Shoes! (Poem, a tercet)

One, Two Buckle My Shoes! (Photo by Allan Mas on Pexels.com)

One, two, buckle my shoes 
the day has yet to come through 
a second more, let me snooze! 

Three, four, open the door 
slumped with backpack on the floor 
legs out-stretched to the fore 

Five, six, pick up stick 
left, right, which is which? 
putting them on without a hitch 

****

At what age, do most kids learn to tie their own shoelaces? 

My kids made it at about six to eight years of age.

Velco shoes were an easy alternative!

******

Viewers versus players

Viewers versus players (a Senryū)

In front of the box,

screaming in frenzy, but you

are not the players!

Viewers versus players (Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com)

This Senryu observes the frenzied enthusiasm displayed more so by viewers than the player themselves.

*****

Quotes:

1. “In a world full of spectators, be the player.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson, Song of a Nature Lover
2. “Train like you are the worst player, play like you are the best player.” ― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words

*****

The sixth sense of a mother towards a newborn in need.

The sixth sense of a mother towards a newborn in need.

A mother has sixth sense to a child’s cries? (Photo by Sarah Chai on Pexels.com)

*****

The hall was full

of chatters and laughters.

“Shhh…shhh!”

” What.. what happens?”

*****

They watched the new mother

walked slowly up the stairs,

with index finger on her lip.

*****

Next, she ran up quickly!

She opened the bedroom door.

Her pint-sized darling newborn,

was screaming his lungs out!

****

Was it the high-pitched squeals

or her increased sensitivity to sound?

How many decibels

can a newborn’s cries hit?

*****

Marriage: For better or for worse

Marriage: For better or for worse

This picture is a reminder about the wow married couples make during their D-day!

How fragile can a marriage be?

An educational psychologist illustrated the second quote below that how one squeezes a toothpaste tube (in the middle) became the triggering point for a divorce!

Squeezing the anger … (Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com)

Quote:-

1. Dave Meurer: “A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.”
2. Don’t hang on to small annoyances. So many marriages have slowly deteriorated over the smallest, silliest things. Lisa Jacobson

My first night duty as a nurse

My first night duty as a nurse

One of the questions asked by an interviewer, a FMM nun was, ” … nurses have to do night duty. Do you think you can do it?”

Night (Photo by Rok Romih on Pexels.com)

Before my first night duty,

my sister gave me a ‘talisman‘.

“put inside your pocket,

but don’t go under

any clothes lines!

****

My seniors told me

timely ghost stories, including

a patient on hip-spica

who crawled all the way

to the nurses counter;

never forget to this day.

***

We even went to mortuary.

” … remember feet first.

Otherwise the head

will remember and

follow you back!”

***

There are three lights;

one on each shoulder,

and one on the forehead.

“Don’t look left or

right over your shoulder!”

They will be wiped off,…wisp!”

Comb your bangs up!

Keep your forehead clear (and shining brightly)!

****

The ward was so busy.

We had no time to

think about the hip-spica man,

or those lights!

I had been fortunate

to be able to sleep well

during the day- time.

****

Happy night duties!

****

Reflecting: Que Sera Sera

Reflecting: Que Sera Sera

Que sera sera (Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com)

I met many of my former students on the social media. A lot of reflections in our chats, as we reminisced the past years. I usually have to make the first move to connect to them whenever I see their pictures appearing on my site. Many are mothers of teenaged children!

******

“…ah, I remember you. You were so timid those days! Now you are teaching the other nurses! Excellent!’

******

“… You own two renal dialysis centers? So enterprising!”

*****

“.. you are a CEO of a cancer hospital! I remember you used to be the top few most of the time!”

*****

“you are a full-time house wife and mother? But you used to be very good in your studies!”

“So, how are you? Your kids are so big already! How time flies!”

****

After some time on the chat, one of them said, “… remember the songs you used to make us sing to improve our English? The song…

Que Sera Sera, whatever will be, will be…”

*****

Quote:-

We know what we are, but know not what we may be.- William Shakespeare

Have you seen the moon?

Have you seen the moon?

Have you seen the moon? (Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com)

I read from others’ posts about the pink super moon. So I was looking for it since yesterday. But the sky is still cloudy! This poem is inspired by the song “Have you ever seen the rain?“

Someone told me yesterday
about the pink and super moon

I know! I’ve been looking for some time

The sky is dark and so cloudy
I can’t see the super moon
You know! The big and pink super moon?

I want to know!
Have you ever seen the moon?
the big and pink super moon!

Yea, I want to know
if it’ll come out tonight
the big and pink super moon!

Balancing delicately between the two evils…

Balancing delicately between the two evils…

Photo by Jess Loiterton on Pexels.com

Lockdown is on!

Lockdown is off!

Not because it is safe now.

It’s to prevent the economy

from diving under!

****

Thousands throng the beach,

and camp near waterfalls,

while hospitals continue to battle virus

and vans with caskets lined up

near burial grounds.

Many shudder at the ignorance

“Are lives so insignificant?”

****

What will it take

for reality to sink-in

to convince them?

Or has a sense of hopelessness

breeds insensitivity

to block out fear and pain?

****

Safety and health

or economy?

It’s a delicate balancing act!

*****

When three generations fire fireworks

When three generations fire fireworks

Fireworks (Photo by rovenimages.com on Pexels.com)

Seems like only ‘yesterday’

I was the one lighting

under your guidance

*****

today ‘we’ together,

are guiding my youngs.

.. three generations

firing a firework.

*****

It sparkles and crackles

Shooting up, up, up…

lighting up the sky!

Faces beamed in delight

putting memories of COVID-19 behind

*****

Happy Chinese New Year!

*****

Hidup adalah perjalanan sementara

Hidup adalah perjalanan sementara. Sebilangan besar pesakit barah mengaitkan barah dengan prospek kematian. Tetapi sama ada seseorang itu menghidap barah, penyakit lain (Covid-19, serangan jantung, strok, dan lain-lain) atau kecederaan yang tidak disengajakan, hidup adalah sesuatu perjalanan. Menurut Tuan Allan, hidup adalah perjalanan sementara.

Saya berjumpa dengan Tuan Allan di sebuah hospital awam dua dekad yang lalu, ketika saya seorang jururawat muda. Salah satu soalan yang saya ajukan adalah, “bagaimana perasaan anda tentang penyakit anda?”. Sambil mendengarkannya, dia berusaha mencari jalan untuk menjelaskannya kepada saya.

Ini adalah salah satu jawapan paling tenang yang saya dapat ketika itu. – Serena Chen

“Lihat kabel elektrik ini di sini. Ia terpasang pada sumber di dinding. Kehidupan adalah perjalanan sementara (dia menunjuk sepanjang wayar). Menghidap barah hanyalah sebahagian dari perjalanan saya. Tidak lama lagi saya akan kembali ke tempat asal saya. (menunjuk sumber di dinding) – kembali kepada Tuhan, kembali ke syurga. “– Encik Allan

Electric cable (Photo by Mike on Pexels.com)

Adakah pandangan ini sama untuk agama lain?

2 Corinthians 4:18

[sementara kita tidak melihat perkara-perkara yang dilihat, tetapi pada perkara-perkara yang tidak dilihat; kerana perkara-perkara yang dilihat bersifat sementara, tetapi perkara yang tidak dilihat itu kekal. Google translated] . while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

This Life is But a journey. 

[“Jadilah di dunia ini seolah-olah anda orang asing atau pengembara.” (Nabi Muhammad) -google translated]. “in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller.” (The Prophet Muhammad)

Dalai Lama says:-

[ “Kami adalah pelawat di planet ini. Kami berada di sini selama seratus tahun paling banyak. Dalam tempoh itu, kita mesti berusaha melakukan sesuatu yang baik, sesuatu yang bermanfaat, dengan kehidupan kita. jika anda menyumbang kepada kebahagiaan orang lain, anda akan menemui erti kehidupan yang sebenarnya. ” – Dalai Lama – google translated]. “We are visitors on this planet. We are here for one hundred years at the very most. During that period we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. if you contribute to other people’s happiness, you will find the true meaning of life.” – Dalai Lama

Laughter as a universal language.

Laughter as a universal language.

Laughter (Photo by Rodolfo Quiru00f3s on Pexels.com)

******

A group of tourists sat down to try a street food- steamboat. They watched a group on the next table. A local teenager picked up a button mushroom with a pair of chopsticks… slowly, slowly, … into his mouth!

This group decided to try it as a game among themselves. One button mushroom flew to the next table instead! Both groups broke out into laughter!

******

Laughter has no foreign accent. — Paul Lowney

****

Raising a different ability…

Raising a different ability…

Watching this blind person

playing musical instruments

with such lovely voice,

I can’t help

but admire the patience

of his parents or guardians

for successfully, turning him into

such a beautifully abled person!

********

Tamil new year!

Tamil new year!

5 tips to a long happy life

5 tips to a long happy life

"... a 100-year-old practicing medical doctor and neurologist and his five tips on how to stay healthy, happy and mentally sharp...

1. I don’t spend my days retired.
2. I don’t let myself get out of shape.
3. I don’t smoke.
4. I don’t restrict myself.
5. I don’t let my knowledge go to waste.

Photo by Safa Baku0131rcu0131 on Pexels.com

Quote:

When I was in high school in the 1930s, I told my father that I wanted to take up smoking. He said, “That’s alright with me. But why would anyone want to put anything but fresh air into his lungs when life is so short as it is?”

… I’ll have a martini and New York strip steak occasionally, but not every day.

Mandatory death sentence: God gives, and God shall take

Mandatory death sentence: God gives, and God shall take

I remember a Muslim breast cancer patient telling me, “doctor told me that I have advanced cancer, and that I have a few months more to live. But I believe in this… God gives, and only God shall decide when to take me!”

Recently, Malaysia's parliament has voted to remove the country's mandatory death penalty, potentially sparing more than 1,300 prisoners on death row.

With mandatory death penalty, prisoners stay longer in prison.

An alternate ‘job placement’ will ensure that the prisoners earn their food and upkeeps within the prison walls, and obtain decent salaries contributing to their families and society.

Quote:

…God gives, and only God shall decide when to take me!

… for every prisoner (who has deviated from life path) has a father, a mother, a wife, children, a family…

********

Share Market or Monkey Business

Once a man arrived at a village and announced that he would buy monkeys at 100 bucks each. Villagers were very happy, as they started catching monkeys from the nearby forest. The man, as promised gave them Rs 100 for every monkey. It was a good source of income for villagers. The man bought hundreds […]

Share Market or Monkey Business

Lovely!

Lovely!

Got this forwarded to me on Facebook. How else to describe this beautiful phenomenon?

How to Reverse Diabetes Naturally in 30 Days?

How to Reverse Diabetes Naturally in 30 Days? Diabetes is a rampant disease found across countries and communities. If you are suffering from Diabetes, you are probably taking oral medications at least 2-times day. Or you could even be using Insulin injections before meals. You are pretty much resigned to the idea of being dependant […]

How to Reverse Diabetes Naturally in 30 Days?

A Look At Life On Tonle Sap Cambodia – Photo Review

Tonle Sap (pronounced tone-lay sop) is the largest lake in Southeast Asia. The river that connects the lake to the Mekong River, the Tonle Sap River, has the distinction of being the world’s only river that reverses course twice each year flowing in opposite directions. In 2015, I spent a few days in Siem Reap, […]

A Look At Life On Tonle Sap Cambodia – Photo Review

If I would Be a Tree

If I were a tree,I could stand there still.I would sink deep into my roots andrest from the haste of life. I knowmy work is donebecause I was completely myself. I would know with intuitive certainty,I have grown, I have flowered and borne fruit.I would know about the big letting go before winter. I would […]

If I would Be a Tree