What a Small World.

About a year ago, there was 1 lady (Puan R) came with her husband to my surgical clinic. She complained of swelling over the neck for 20 years, but recently the swelling got bigger. She also had difficulty in swallowing and mild shortness of breath.
My clinical examination revealed an enlarged hard thyroid gland. I did an urgent ultrasound and a biopsy.
Unfortunately, the biopsy was reported as thyroid cancer: the anaplastic type. This is the most aggressive type of thyroid cancer. Usually patient will die in a few months after the diagnosis made.
My boss asked me to do a CT scan of her neck and chest. To make it worse, the CT scan showed the cancer already spread to her lung.
I explained the situation to both of them (patient and her husband).
They seem understood the fact that the cancer already spread and it's can't be removed surgically. "She is terminal" i said.
We did discuss this case with the consultant oncologist (cancer expert) , kota kinabalu...and he suggested for radiotherapy to control the tumour.
In fact..this is the only treatment left that we can offer.
Both of them agree to have the treatment and we have to send the patient to Kota Kinabalu.
So far everything went smooth, appointment taken,,,MAS flight already booked (with 1 doctor escort) and the doctor in KK expecting the patient to come soon.
The patient fly over to KK...unfortunately when she arrived at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu she complained of difficulty in breathing. She was ventilated and repeat chest xray showed the cancer got bigger.
She died the next day.
The husband (in denial phase) got angry. He blame us (the sandakan doctor) for his wife death. He said we were slow in sending his wife to KK for treatment. And even worse..we received a death threat from the husband. The husband want to "cungkil" my eyes..
The news spread to whole Sabah and it does create tension among us.
Me and the other doctor who escorted her was really terrified. We didn't go out after 6 pm. We just stay in the house after working.

Now almost more than a year had passed we didn't hear any news from her husband. Our both eyes still safe and intact.


Five days ago I had a dinner (breaking fast) with my brother. He introduced me his girlfriend (Miss M). She is a very nice lady, i think reaching 30's.

We eat, chat ...gossips..then suddenly my heart beat start pounding..

Miss M is a Puan R younger sister.......