Cancer Research UK

As an occupational therapist, I get to work with various caseloads where my role is to essentially help patients to become independent so that they can go home, stay home and never come back (ideally I'd like to never see them again unless they come in as visitors). My work with oncology/palliative patients is quite similiar in the sense that I get them home as soon as possible and I try to maximise their independence at home. The only difference is, I'm getting them home so that they can die at home. But the worst part of living with terminal cancer does not start here.

It starts with the doctor telling them that their prognosis is not good, that treatment is not a guarantee, that it may prolong their time but at the cost of their quality of life. No matter how you look at it. It's not good. In any case, it then starts with hospital visits for symptom management. Short and sporadic vists which eventually turn into longer and more frequent hospital stays. Pain. Nausea. Loss of appetite. And the fatigue that comes with it! Hospital stays are never pleasant, there are so many pills, so many tests and so many health professionals to deal with. The worst is when they begin to lose their independence. Suddenly something that used to be so simple, like walking to the toilet, is like running a marathon. Through all of this, their family is suffering too. Then they meet me. I help the family to set up their home, I teach their family how to use the equipment and give advice to help them cope with caring for their loved one during their final days. Another person loses the battle to cancer. This happens way too often.

Wouldn't it be better if we could just find a prevention or cure to avoid all of this?
Which is what Cancer Research UK is all about - finding new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer to save more lives.

I have lost both my grandma and uncle to this disease. I am so sure that if not you directly, you will have known someone who is either living with it, passed away from it, is being affected by it or has been affected by it. Afterall, cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide (WHO 2004). So everyone please reach into your pockets and sponsor me by donating your money to Cancer Research UK.

Please click on the link below to sposnsor me:
http://www.run10ksponsorme.org/minhtran

Thank you Auntie

I used to call her Auntie every time I came around to hang with Jenny Tham and every time I did come - she would, without a doubt, be happy, cheery and always so welcome. Now that she is gone, all I could think about was how much I wish I had taken that extra step to get past that superficial chit chat, to be able to appreciate all the things that people have said about her, to really have just gotten to know her. But then I thought to myself, well…hang on a minute. Actually I do know her, I know her really well, I know her because I can see her in Jenny and Lisa Tham.

Those values and personality characteristics both women exhibit ? … family oriented, loving, caring, considerate, kind hearted, generous, easy going and many more… That was you Auntie. All of it. I just want you to know that you have left an incredible legacy behind. Not one, but two living and breathing representations of how a lot of us should be but are not. But that’s not all, you left us with one more gift - a reminder for us all to learn not to take our loved ones for granted, that time is not indefinite, to appreciate all that life has to offer and to love everything in it.

So thank you Auntie. You have left an amazing legacy behind, your two beautiful daughters. Through them you will always be remembered.

Chapter 3: Happy as a Chappy.

Ok so moving on from the setting up stage and moving even further past the making friends bit and getting me some moola. Where am I now? Well…my gorgeous room will no longer be affordable, I am slightly less friendless and I'm on holiday until further notice.

Gorgeous room becoming a bit of a high maintenance girlfriend
Sam, our questionable landlord, decided to drop in last Sunday. Thought he’d stop by to say hello and ramble on about his younger years and how awesome he was. Amidst all that useless chatter (and us kissing his butt so that he would extend our lease) he also briefly mentioned that the rent would increase an extra 115 pounds per person. I looked at Thuy and she looked back at me - I knew that look. We were both punching Sam in the face. Only in our minds though. Damn him. Time to house hunt again.

Just when I started to make it homey too

I’m only slightly less friendless
Making friends is hard work. I’d like to think of it as a three part process, quite similar to how men pick up women. Some boys label each stage as the “start game, middle game and end game“, which I think perfectly describes the process of friendship making. lol

Start game: This is where you either make or break. Your potential friendship heavily relies on this initial contact. Generally you would start socializing in a group. You would target the ones who you find interesting. Then, you need to make a good impression by conversing appropriately, maintaining their interest, looking like you’re interested, being funny, having a good fake laugh so that they think they’re funny, avoiding looking too eager, but most importantly being cool. Being very cool. No pressure at all. I think I have this stage down pat. I’m really good at it especially when I’m drunk. Although people do tell me that when you’re drunk your perception is greatly distorted. Ohhh maybe that’s why I never get past this stage Oh! So that's why Carmela never got back to me.

Middle game: This is where you move in for the kill. They’re interested, you’re interested. It’s time to build a foundation for the friendship to build. I think it’s at this stage you start to discuss interests and hobbies and find common ground so that you can connect without having to rely on the person who introduced you or on the group. Yes. kinda like making the cream between two biscuit bits to make a cookie. Like I said, I rarely get to this stage.

End game: Well according to boys this may mean sex is involved or getting a number. This is also the same for friendship making. Oh. Except for the sex. Have I been successful in friendship making? The answer is yes. Once. I have a friend from London and more importantly, she still is my friend today. What did I tell you? I’m only slightly less friendless.

You’re stuck now wing Lau.

On Holiday until further notice.

So my era of denying really old frail people wheelchairs is at end at the wheelchair service. Such a shame because I was, I feel, at the peak of my reign here. What? Don’t look at me like I’m cruel - you’d think that by their age (especially those 107 yr olds) they’d have learnt how to walk on their hands by now! So asking for a wheelchair is a bit much, don’t you think? Lol. I am so going to hell.

Ok, on a more serious note though. I was really lucky to have stayed here for so long. Generally, locum positions don’t last longer than 4 - 6 weeks and I was here for 4 whole months. A real blessing for my finances but damn it really sucks when you have to move on (especially when you actually start to like the people you work with). Give me enough time in a place and emotional attachment is bound to happen with me. Yuck. So… finding another locum position does not look too easy at the moment - the job market here for locums have slowed right down. Something to do with budget cuts and lack of finances - usual shit. Next plan of action? Well.. Because I have a shopping problem and because I am a bit of a pansy when I work in a place long enough, I have decided to opt for a permanent position as it will best meet my needs.

Well then. I guess I am on holiday until further notice

In summary…
I may be back in square 1 (jobless and soon to be homeless) but life has never been better :)