New will to live

Mr Kor found the determination to fight cancer after he was diagnosed with it in 2004

Mr Kor shows a family picture from his handphone, which shows all his three children in their graduation gowns. He attended the convocation ceremonies of two of them on the very day he started receiving chemotherapy.

He was a teetotaler, ate healthily, exercised diligently and never smoked a cigarette in his life. So when Mr Kor Liong Sing was diagnosed with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) or nose cancer, and given a 50 per cent chance of surviving two years ago, he was stunned with disbelief.

He sought second opinions from three hospitals; the reply from all the doctors was the same – cancer.

“I kept asking myself, why did this have to happen to me, what did I do wrong?” said Mr Kor. “I was prepared to die.”

But the 56-year-old owner of a chain of coffee shops, who had watched his father and two sisters die from cancer, found strength in his family. He was determined to fight.

“I wanted to see my children graduate from university. They told me ‘we want you to be at our graduation ceremony’. When I heard that, I was determined to do all I could to live,” said the father of three.

He had chanced upon a newspaper article on Parkway Cancer Centre and saw Dr Ang Peng Tiam, the centre’s Medical Director.

Recalling the case, Dr Ang said: “Mr Kor had a large mass in the neck. After seeing Dr Lee and me, we discussed his case and came up with a treatment plan, combining the chemotherapy and the radiation. Throughout the treatment, we monitored the progress – both physical and emotional.

“Mr Kor responded very well to treatment. Emotionally, he was coping well. Besides encouragement and kindness from the nurses, he did not require additional emotional support. If he did, we would have activated our CanHOPE nurses to offer additional support.

“Not everyone needs a nurse counsellor. Our integrated approach allows us to have immediate access to them for patients who have difficulty coping emotionally,” he said.

Another doctor who treated Mr Kor is Dr Lee Kim Shang, a radiation oncologist. He said the benefits of working together with a team of specialists is that “the treatment plan is laid out right at the beginning, ensuring that the best care option is given to the patient”.

“The constant interaction between specialists gives a better understanding of the treatment requirements… This helps in carrying out a continuous, seamless treatment care plan for patients,” Dr Lee added.

After the chemotherapy and radiation therapy, Mr Kor is now in remission.

Mr Kor said: “I didn’t have to go around looking for a surgeon and oncologist on my own. I felt very assured and knew that I was taken care of every step of the way.”

He makes it his mission now to encourage all cancer patients to fight on.

“I was given a 50-50 chance but I fought and made it. I want others to know that there is hope,” he said.