The New Millennium.....Five years ago
(July 2000), I was diagnosed with fourth-stage kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) – it had spread to my lungs.  My oncologist at Stanford University Hospital pronounced a grave prognosis – only a 10% chance I would be alive in five years.....My left kidney was removed, followed three weeks later by surgery on both lungs.

A month later, back in Singapore, I had another operation – my small bowel was obstructed due to adhesions from the kidney surgery. I felt hard done by....this op had nothing even to do with cancer! What next?! The surgeon tried to be kind - he would attempt to locate the blockage via laparoscopy, in which case the final incision would be about four inches.  If unsuccessful, I would wake up to a cut right down my belly. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the irony of his words....I already had 24 inches of "railway track" still fresh on my body. What difference was a few inches, more or less, going to make??  It was a low point.