The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.113)

2019 • 08 10 eature imaging specialists and pathologists with clinical experience are engaged in consultation sessions, before achieving a consensus on a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to the patient. “I would suggest seeking a second opinion on a cancer diagnosis from a more experienced doctor. It’s best to consult a professional,” he advised. Emotional support for cancer patients Dr Shew is committed to prescribing the suitable treatment to the best of his ability as an oncologist. At the same time, he acknowledges the role of the Support Group in providing moral support to cancer patients and their families, filling the gap in the medical profession pertaining to patient care. “A doctor’s role is to explain the outcome of a medical diagnosis to a patient and to analyse objectively the feasibility of different treatment options. On the other hand, the Support Group motivates cancer patients to adopt amore positive outlook towards their condition,” he reasoned. Dr Shew introduced his patient, Soo Kim Mooi, who contemplated suicide after undergoing chemotherapy, to the Support Group. Kim Mooi was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in November 2014 and was due for amastectomy. Following the surgery, she was referred to Dr Shew for further treatments comprising chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy. Upon learning from the newspaper that Dr Shew is a TIMA member, Kim Mooi and her husband, Sim Yen Wai, trusted him wholeheartedly in making crucial decisions. Yen Wai had no reservations entrusting Dr Shew with the care of his wife. His faith in Dr Shew’s expertise stemmed from his conviction in TIMA’s ethos of respecting lives and its core belief in prioritizing the welfare of humanity. Both Kim Mooi and Yen Wai have been Tzu Chi volunteers since 1995, but they had to defer their volunteering duties as they were busy earning a living as hawkers and raising their young son. The wait lasted 20 years. Kim Mooi was overcome by a sense of injustice upon receiving her cancer diagnosis. None of her family members had been diagnosed with cancer. Moreover, she had always been health-conscious. She resented the devastating news as it came at a pivotal point in her life; the business enterprise she and her husband founded had begun flourishing, while her son had graduated from university and was now gainfully employed. Escaping the trap of suicidal thoughts Following her first chemotherapy session, Kim Mooi experienced the side effects of nausea and sore limbs. She was distraught and felt miserable as she had to bear the discomfort all by herself, with no one or any reliable sources of information to turn to. During her second session, she asked Dr Shew, “I’m thinking of taking my own life. Is there anyone who could help me?” The latter replied resolutely, “Yes. The Tzu Chi Cancer Support Group might be of help.” At Kim Mooi’s first Support Group meeting, Lim Chong Chee, a wheelchair-bound brain cancer patient, shared his experience of living with cancer with the group. Although his speech was slurred, his tenacity and positive outlook on life left a deep impact on Kim Mooi and called to mind Master ChengYen’s constant reminders to live in the moment, for time waits