Madam Lee Poo Leong has colorectal cancer. Last November, the 59–year–old housewife was diagnosed with stage three of the cancer, which means the tumour had spread to nearby lymph nodes but not to any other organs.
Madam Lee was 64kg at the time of her diagnosis but three months after that her weight had dropped to 59kg. Her son Ivan Lim said her weight loss was noticeable. She had lost her appetite and she refused to eat fish and pork.
"She was even sick of eating rice and that was all that was keeping her full," recalled the 35–year–old salesman. She was also listless, and would lie in bed all day.
She was hospitalised for a week in early February because she was not eating. Her doctor told the family she was dehydrated and lacking nutrients. He had earlier warned Mr Lim that the cancer treatments would cause weight loss and curb her appetite. As her caregiver, Mr Lim monitors her weight carefully.
Doctors decided to stop the chemotherapy for a couple of weeks. While his mother was in hospital, Mr Lim came across a brochure for a nutritional drink, ProSure®, whose makers claimed it helps cancer patients with weight control.
He said: "I called the hotline on the brochure because I was so desperate and willing to try anything to prevent her losing more weight."
With her doctor's approval he convinced his mum to take the drink. Madam Lee started on two cans of ProSure® – which cost $7 each – a day as well as trying to eat food.
Within two weeks, she was up to 60.5kg and at the end of last week she was 64.7kg. The chemotherapy has been resumed but she has been switched to the oral rather than the injected type, which she is tolerating well. Her son says she has more energy now and looks much healthier. And she can actually go out for a walk.
Most importantly, her appetite is back.
"She eats everything now," said Mr Lim, "including pork and fish, and no longer has a phobia of foods." Her nutrient levels have improved, which is a great relief to Mr Lim.
He said: "The doctor can only do so much, so we have to monitor her condition and give feedback to the doctor. We have to do our part."
– ELAINE YOUNG
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