PETALING JAYA: When Matthew Wu was 60, he experienced subtle symptoms like fatigue and constipation. The former bank staff member initially brushed them off as signs of ageing.
However, a persistent feeling gnawed at him, and with his wife’s encouragement, he decided to seek medical advice.
Wu, from Taiping, Perak, said that the decision saved his life.
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His doctor recommended a colonoscopy, which revealed the presence of colorectal cancer.
“I was told it was advancing to stage two. I was shocked and scared.
“At that moment, you realise how crucial it is not to ignore what your body is telling you,” said Wu, now aged 68 and a grandfather of three, in an interview yesterday.
Following his diagnosis, Wu went through surgery to remove the affected section of his colon.
“It was tough, waking up and realising that a part of me was gone. But I was determined to fight,” he said, adding that he had eight weeks of chemotherapy at a hospital.
Wu had been given a clean bill of health in his follow-up sessions until two years ago.
“The doctor detected a relapse of the cancer and I took the decision to go under the knife again,” he said, adding that the surgery left him with only about 8cm of colon remaining.
Despite this setback, Wu approached his second battle with the same determination and resilience.
“I knew what I was up against, and I wasn’t going to let it beat me,” Wu said, adding that he became even more mindful of what he eats.
Now living without active cancer treatment but continuing to manage his health with medication, Wu stressed the importance of early detection and regular health screenings.
“If there’s one piece of advice I can give, it’s this: never ignore any changes in your daily habits.
“What might seem minor could be a sign of something serious.
“Seek medical advice when something seems off. It’s not worth risking your life by waiting,” said Wu.
Kak Yong, 50, from Shah Alam, continues to have chemotherapy after having her entire colon removed due to cancer.
Despite the challenges, she remains resilient, adapting to life with a stoma bag.
“It started in 2010 when an 8cm tumour was removed, initially curing my stage three cancer.
“However, the cancer returned last year, marked by symptoms like constipation and bloody stools,” she said.
Doctors found a 4cm tumour, leading to the removal of the remaining part of her colon.
“Last December, my entire colon had to be removed to save my life.”
Kak Yong underwent 25 radiotherapy sessions and is completing further chemotherapy.
“The side effects include nausea and discomfort,” she said.
Though still adjusting to a stoma bag, she finds it easier than her previous struggles of having difficulty controlling her bowel movements.
“Cleaning the bag regularly is manageable; I’m relieved to be free from the pain of abnormal bowel movements,” Kak Yong said.
