To be honest, I was apprehensive about the treatment. The pain and their side effects seem daunting to me at first. The treatment for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) consists of radiotherapy and possibly concurrent chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is targeting the cancerous growth with high-energy micro rays. As NPC is extremely sensitive to radiotherapy, it is the primarily treatment for all stages of NPC. For lower stage of NPC, radiotherapy is a curative attempt. In Hong Kong the radiotherapy takes approximate 33 sessions and depending on the stage and response from the treatment, additional sessions might be applied. Recently internal radiotherapy from a radioactive implant and concurrent chemo- and radiotherapy (CRT) are also very popular for NPC treatment.

I have had CRT as my treatment experience. The chemotherapy consists of weekly dosage of intravenous injections of a cytotoxic drug (in my case, cisplatin) which destroyed the cancer cells. As it is introduced into the blood stream, it reaches and hopefully destroys cancer cells all over the body. The injection were made in the same period as the radiotherapy sessions. The number of dosages you have will depend on your response to the drug. Blood tests will be taken prior to the long intravenous injection in order to ascertain the conditions of your health.

The treatment consists of many injections, endoscopies (putting an optical tube into your nostril for observation), blood tests and biopsies (taking some tissues for pathological testing). Yes, the treatment will be painful at times, but not unbearable because of the anaesthesia. You will get sick if you are on chemotherapy, because the drugs used are toxic. It will be uncomfortable at times, but remember they are using all available means to combat a very dangerous cancerous growth in your body.

I remembered what my friend Kevin said to me prior to my treatment "Look at the big picture, this uncomfortable period is only a small portion of your life." To think back, it was not the pain I remember. It was the dedications and the kindness of the people who treated me (in PWH of Shatin, Hong Kong) I remember. It was the tears from my friends Bill and Man when they learned about my fate I remember. It was the volume of get-well cards from friends I remember. It was the countless chicken soups from Man I remember. It was the courage of my wife (who carried me through my most difficult time) and the confidence of my 12-year-old son (who gave me a good reason to continue) I remember.

K T KO, Last updated: 7th September 2001