Winning a painful battle
Former pastor David Ong had cancer of the plasma cell which is incurable. He tells his story on how close he was to giving up.
Mon, Jun 09, 2008
The Straits Times
Former pastor David Ong describes himself as a house husband.
When the 48-year-old leaves his house, it is to drive his seven-year-old son Joshua to and from school and to his enrichment classes.
His wife, Whee Ling, 43, is the financial controller of a software company.
As part of his daily routine, MrOng makes sure he and his son bond by swimming or reading together. In between, he also finds time to counsel and mentor youths.
| When plasma cells turn cancerous |
| Multiple myeloma occurs when there is an accidental mutation of the DNA of the plasma cells when they divide and multiply.
Plasma cells are normally found in the bone marrow and produce antibodies to help fight infection. When they turn cancerous, they occupy space in the bone marrow, leading to failure of blood production by the bone marrow and causing little 'holes' to form in the bone. As a result, bone pain and fractures become common. These cancerous cells also produce large quantities of useless antibodies which accumulate in the kidney and cause kidney failure and immune deficiency. There is no known cause for the cancer and it can strike anyone, even if the patient has no prior blood disorders or family history of myeloma or cancer. Multiple myeloma is considered an uncommon disease here and 30 to 50 Singaporeans are diagnosed with it every year. There is no cure for multiple myeloma and the disease can only be controlled. Treatment options range from taking simple drugs like steroids to a cocktail of drugs, chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Dr William Hwang, senior consultant in the department of haematology at Singapore General Hospital, said: 'Recently, there have been suggestions that transplanting blood stem cells from a sibling to the patient, after attaining good control of the disease, is beneficial. It is believed that this could even result in cure of the disease.' |
But the most important item on his schedule is time for rest and recuperation - for Mr Ong suffers from multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell for which there is no known cure. (See other story.)
He said: 'My wife has really sacrificed a lot. Joshua is also very sensitive. When he knows I'm tired, he tells me to go rest.'
Mr Ong has not always been housebound. He was a pastor at Faith Community Baptist Church until 2004 when he was struck down with multiple myeloma, a blood disorder where excessive abnormal plasma cells are found in the bone marrow.
Mr Ong had told a doctor friend about his persistent chest pains. He was urged to go for an X-ray, which showed three broken ribs.
Broken bones are among the common symptoms of multiple myeloma.
He was diagnosed with Stage 3 light chain multiple myeloma, which means there was a high number of myeloma cells in his body.
Mrs Ong recalled: 'I was shocked. Joshua was only four years old then. David and I were in tears when the doctor broke the news to us.'
Mr Ong then consulted Dr William Hwang, senior consultant at the Singapore General Hospital's department of haematology.
His treatment options included radiation, chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Two of Mr Ong's younger sisters turned out to be perfect matches for the transplant.
After some deliberation, Mr Ong opted for a stem cell transplant.
He said: 'It was not an easy decision as there was a high mortality rate for the recipient. I knew of people who died of complications from their transplants.'
But the love and support of his family and friends swayed his decision in favour of a transplant. Mr Ong recalled in particular something his son said to him.
'Joshua told me that I had to see him grow up, get married and have children.'
But Mr Ong came close to giving up his fight - before the transplant.
As he had to have the excessive plasma cells in his bone marrow sharply reduced first in order to increase the operation's success rate, he went through two rounds of chemotherapy and a full body radiation treatment.
He lost all his hair and vomited constantly. Also, the drugs he had to take gave him debilitating cramps and numbness in his fingers and toes.
The transplant itself in June 2005 was no easier on him. Mr Ong said: 'I felt a horrible itch as soon as it was over - as if an electric current was passing through me.
'The first few nights after the transplant were filled with pain, pain, pain.'
He said: 'I didn't want to pull my wife and son into my pain. Sometimes, when they were around and I just couldn't take the pain, I'd shut myself in the toilet to cry.'
Mrs Ong said: 'I wished then I could take on some of his pain. I felt so helpless.'
But, relying on his Christian faith and family support, Mr Ong slowly regained his strength three months after the transplant.
He began writing his experiences in a journal too. In 2004, he and his wife started a blog (www.prayfordavid.blogspot.com) chronicling his battle against cancer.
In 2006, , Mr Ong was in and out of hospital every month. As his immunity was weakened by the transplant and drugs, he had to check himself into hospital for observation each time he had a fever or infection.
Today, Mr Ong is in remission and his journal jottings have resulted in a book, Talking The Walk, which was launched last month.
Apart from his daily 10 to 20-lap swim to keep fit, his healthy diet is packed with vegetables and fruit juices.
Most of all, he said: 'The love and warmth of my family and friends give me the impetus to live. I've learnt not to take things for granted.'
This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times on June 4, 2008.