A brush with Cancer leads to life’s discoveries

Look at Mr Peter Tang and he is just another happy Singaporean. But many did not know that he was diagnosed with second stage of nasopharyngeal cancer 15 years ago.

Nasopharyngeal cancer is predominantly an Asian disease, common in South China, and the Cantonese and in Indonesia.

When Mr Tang was diagnosed with cancer, he found it unbelievable because he had been keeping healthy by exercising regularly. He was an optimist, he accepted the diagnosis and began to accept radiotherapy.

After having gone through 6-7 weeks of radiotherapy, he still had to bear with the side effects. Initially, he found himself alone in his journey to combat cancer. He could not find anyone to share similar experiences.

Today, It is different.. The 49-year-old investment consultant with 3 children aged 21, 17 and 14 years old, has set up the nasopharyngeal cancer support group at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. To date, it has 30 nasopharyngeal patient-members. They regularly exchange tips on recuperating, talk about healing and hope, discuss day-to-day struggles and how to lead a productive life.

If patient’s mouth is full of ulcers after radiotherapy, the patient could take honey to relieve the symptoms. If there is black pigmentation around the lower jaw area, one could use aloe vera to treat it. All these are tips shared by the members who have also invited specialists to give talks so that they could understand more about nasopharyngeal cancer medically.

Mr Tang attributed his success in fighting cancer to many factors. Besides his faith in God, Mr Tang said, “I believe in being optimistic about life and living in a less stressful environment. Cancer is really a gift because it has allowed me to meet many wonderful people who have shown me that all of us ARE BIGGER than cancer.” Three mornings each week he jogs at East Coast Park. Life is in a different lane, not quite the fast lane.