Smooth Morning

This morning, I went to the Selayang Hospital to get my medical report rectified. The traffic condition was rather bad. After arriving at the hospital, I noticed that every service road leading to and by the side of the hospital are fully parked on both sides of the road. I managed to get a parking space after 15 minutes of circulating the hospital. Had to walk 15 minutes to get to the main block. Anyway, I met the supervisor at the Medical Records Department and explained to her that Employees Provident Fund (EPF) requires my medical report to be signed by a specialist, preferably the Consultant Urologist that treated me. The supervisor was very helpful, made a phone call and then took my medical report personally to see the specialist. Half an hour later, she came back with the signed report. It was also my luck that the doctor who treated me was in clinic today. I have forgotten on which days my urologist comes to the hospital for consultation because the last time I met him was in October 2009. However, what I don't understand was that the supervisor is aware that EPF requires the medical report to be signed by a specialist but in my case, it was not done. Still, I am grateful that I was able to get it sorted out in just one trip. The supervisor could have just collected my report and asked me to come back another day. Actually, I am quite impressed with Selayang Hospital. It is definitely one of the better Government hospitals that I have visited. So far, my interaction with them was good. The service is quite good, staff responsive and doctors are also very courteous, at least at the Urology Department.

I have not been sleeping well for the last few days. Yesterday, I slept past 2am but woke up at 4.30am and after that could not fall back asleep. After coming back from Selayang Hospital, I was feeling very tired and also sleepy. This morning, I also felt some pain on my chest area. It felt tight and I also experienced slow breathing. I will take some rest after lunch.

Cancer Metastasis
I read something interesting on preventing cancer from spreading and thought I share it with you.

Scientists have discovered that a protein called JAK triggers contractions in tumors which allows cancer cells to squeeze though tiny spaces and spread, in research published in Cancer Cell. Tumors consist of cancer cells, tumor-associated healthy cells and scaffolding that sticks everything together called the cell matrix. Cancer cells spread by moving from the tumor, through this matrix, to new locations.

When cancers spread, a process known as metastasis, they become more difficult to treat, as secondary tumors tend to be more aggressive. It is thought that 90% of cancer-related deaths occur after metastasis.

JAK is not a new culprit in cancer. It has been linked to leukemia, so some drugs are already being developed which target the protein. Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK's director of cancer information, said: "A huge challenge in successfully treating cancer is stopping it from spreading around the body, and keeping cancer that has already spread at bay."

If the doctors are able to develop a drug to keep the cancer from spreading, then survival rates from cancer treatment will improve drastically.