Once diagnosed, I couldn’t remain in Sydney anymore.

Within 2 weeks, I packed up and returned back to Singapore to seek treatment. I guess if I am to die, it would make sense to be surrounded by my family members. The 2 weeks went by in a haze, there were farewell dinners, tonnes of items and clothes that I had accumulated during my time there and all the administrative details that I had to complete before returning home. The University and the lecturers were kind enough to allow me to complete my final 2 papers and submit them from Singapore. I was even given an extension for one of the papers so that I would have time to complete them once I am home.

I realized Cancer kick starts the fight mechanism in a person. It forced me to refocus on my priorities and decide what to let go off and what to hold on to so that I can win the fight. By November, I had already met my surgeon who told me that most likely it would be cancer, based on the FNA. However, they can only confirm during the surgery.

In other words, surgery would be the best way to confirm the cancer diagnosis. According to my surgeon, a tissue sample will be taken from the thyroid during the surgery. The tissue will be tested immediately for cancer. If it is confirmed cancer, the treatment would be to perform a total thyroidectomy, that is to remove the entire thyroid and possible infected tissues around it.

As this would be a life changing decision, the surgeon sought my consent for the go-ahead.

I felt like my life was in his hands, so naturally, I said yes to his suggestion.

I just wanted my thyroid out, as soon as possible.

Because deep down, I felt that this part of my body had betrayed me.

The operation was scheduled for 3 weeks later and in the meantime, I tried to distract myself with final submission of the papers because I still want that Masters Degree.