If you are diagnosed to have NPC, prepare yourself mentally and physically for the treatment! Mentally, prepare yourself that your life will change forever by the NCP and its treatments. Accept them as part of your fate with grace and dignity. Your adaptability will allow a good quality of life despite of the changes. Stay optimistic because there is no other way you should look at life now. Let your friends and colleagues know about your fate and show your determination of returning to a full routine upon the end of treatment.

Physically, remains fit and strong; if you take part in regular exercises, keep to the regime and listen to your body for signs of tiredness. If you have not been exercise, it might be a good idea to take some time off with your companion for a leisurely daily walk. If conditions allow, take some sick leave from your work. You need the time off to rest and to relax. However it is not unheard of, patients continuing their work while attending early or late sessions of radiotherapy in the hospital. Eat sensibly, maintain a balanced diet of vegetables, fruit, rice, meat and fish. You will prefer a more liquid diet as your mouth gets dry. You might also find food tasteless as you lose the taste buds. Tell yourself that you are eating for the nutrition to fight a large battle inside your body. If you are feeling tired, take as much rest as possible.

You should also get to the treatment as soon as feasible. There is normally a long queue for radiotherapy machines in major hospitals. Take the earliest available date, there is no point in waiting because nobody can predict the rate of growth of your cancer. In Hong Kong, all the major public hospitals have their oncology team specialising in the treatment of NPC. They are some of the most experienced teams in the world.

Lastly, you should also make some arrangements on the possibility of your departure. A will should be drafted in order to avoid any delay and inconveniences. Financial details should be documented and updated: house deeds, bank accounts, investment accounts, superannuation benefits. Although one wishes that these arrangements are unnecessary, the benefits of leaving a tidy financial arrangement to your family will make the job worthwhile. Be aware of the sensitivities of your partner / companions, they are normally as shocked as (if not more than) you are. Talk to them, one should hope that talking about it would relieve some of the associate anguishes and stresses.

K T KO, Last updated: 5th September 2001