Power Over Cervical Cancer.

Note: Long overdue post, but here it goes!
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The older I got, the more kiasee I get. I used to think I was invincible, and that nothing untoward would happen to me if I behaved myself and all. What’s the worst that could happen? Even though I had an awful family history of cancer, diabetes and hypertension, I could just try to eat healthier (which I didn’t) and all will be well.

As you age, as the warranty period is over, the wear and tear soon shows up on your blood test, and yes, I didn’t get good health results in 2009. I had a slipped disc condition, a high triglycerides condition to manage and have discovered some issues with my inner plumbing (it’s called PCOS – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).

Of course, this is just a lengthy introduction as to why I don’t feel invincible anymore. I have taken my health for granted and I guess it’s high time I pick up the tab and take control of my body. If it didn’t happen to me back then, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen to me in future.

Photo courtesy of nadnut.com. Me at Dr. ieatishootipost’s clinic.

So, despite the personal financial crunch, I have joined a couple of ladies to get the first dose of our Cervarix vaccination together, in support of the Power Over Cervical Cancer movement in Singapore. I am taking an active approach to guarding my body against the possibility of getting cervical cancer, a disease that has taken many lives of women around the world. To be frank, it’s getting a little too common for younger women to get it. So don’t think you won’t kena just because you are young. Youth only protects against wrinkles, probably, but even that will come to pass.

8 Facts I Want To Share (according to the limited knowledge that I have):
1. Cervical cancer is well… the cancer of the cervix. The real entrance to our womb. The other kinds of cancer that could afflict women are ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer… you get the drift.

2. Cervical cancer can be caused by certain strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). It basically will screw around with your system.

3. If you have a sex life, the chances of you getting HPV is very high. Even more so if you started “doing it” before you turn 18. You won’t know if the strains you have are the nasty ones unless you do a proper check with a doctor.

4. Get a Pap Smear done every year. A simple swabbing procedure that takes less than 5 minutes could save your life, because the smear can tell the doctor if you have precancerous cells in your cervix. Women have indoor plumbing that is tricky to monitor for malignant changes, so get it done.

5. Cancer can be nipped in the bud if found early. Don’t leave things to chance. Cancer won’t go away by itself even if you ignore it. It gets worse.

6. It only takes 3 injections to vaccinate yourself against 2 types of HPV virus (16 & 18) that cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases, but it doesn’t come cheap though. $450 for the full course at KK Hospital is a huge bill to swallow, but look, it could help you prevent against a possibly deadly disease that could eat up all of your insurance policies and savings in no time at all.

7. Come on. It’s only 3 injections. You get a hell lot more jabs and pills if you got the cancer instead. Choy choy but that’s a fact.

8. Even if you are currently in a faithful monogamous relationship, you still could be afflicted with HPV, because of your previous partners, and because of your current partner’s previous partners. This vaccination still works up to a certain extent to protect you against the cancer, so it’s still worth it.

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I am done with my 2nd dose that took place 1 month after the 1st, and the 3rd dose will come 6 months later. It’s not that painful, just a little muscle ache around the injection site for 2 days afterwards… we can handle it. No problemo. So, get it done will ya?

Birthday Wishlist 2010.

Yes! It is my birthday month and I am allowed to say what I want! Right?!

1. Vidal Sassoon ceramic hair curler (red colour, thick 35mm or something one!)

2. A wall decal from this website Balloon wall decals!

3. Leather obi belt from this blogshop.

4. Pusheen necklace + pendant

5. Mulberry Travel Card Holder in Black Natural Leather or a simple Agnes B one also can whahaha

Ok, I have no idea already. Perhaps just to wish health and happiness for everyone!

Leaving The Red Zone...

It’s been a good 3.5 years here. Despite the frustration, despite the gripes… I know I have made some good friends (yesh I remain good friends with several of my colleagues) and I have learnt some really useful stuff, and picked up even more essential knowledge in the course of being a good On-Air Promo Producer.

I lost and found myself during this time – the job challenged the limits of my capabilities, improving my reaction, creativity and project management skills… I think I am ready to take on some more.

It’s not easy dealing with people in a huge company like this, and I forced myself to adapt, predict and defend my grounds where necessary. It has been really tough holding the expletives in, but I am glad I could always depend on some of them guys to help cushion the fury within.

Farewell, and I’ll miss some of you very much indeed.

Trippy Cat.

This is too trippy!!!

Protected: Buay Tahan.

Cheeky Business.

I’ve had a skin growth on my left cheek for about a year or so. Have no idea how it came about, but recently I freaked out over it, as the sudden realisation that it could be skin cancer hit me.

I search for pictures. Read about it. I scared myself silly.

It could be Basal Cell Carcinoma, a mild form of skin cancer, but it is cancer no less. Something that grows slowly, has a pearly or crusty appearance and could be fleshed coloured. It doesn’t itch, doesn’t hurt and doesn’t bleed.

Oh, freak out I did. So I went to the National Skin Centre again.

As it turns out, it was only… Seborrheic Keratosis, a benign skin tumour that can be easily removed by electrocautery.

After cauterisation, the “wound” is red and raw. It’ll scab, but it’s ok, I’m intending to huddle at home the whole of next week.

Time to Studyyyyy.

Latte being a lovely distraction as usual.

So the course materials came in, and I am mugging on a Sunday afternoon… fighting the warm afternoon heat, the sleepiness, and the nose-dripping experience after fighting above-mentioned heat with air-con in the study room.

And I think the drawer underneath my table is too dusty, that’s why my nose is acting up. Time to wipe the dust out.

The cats love exploring the clutter-filled study room and silly Cookie got her foot stuck under the wheel of my study table as she scrambled away from Gravy in the midst of their playtime. Luckily her foot is ok… They are huge distractions, the cats (silliest naughty cats!!!) and so we shooed them all out to the living room and continued to do our own thing (he’s playing games on his PC) in relative peace.

Now back to more reading.

Good thing about staying in my own place – customising my own mugging zone.

Thank You, Sir!.

When it comes to talking about good or bad service in Singapore, we would usually refer to the retail staff or grumpy F&B wait staff in general.

However, one of the best service I have encountered recently, was not from the hospitality industry, but someone who is a mechanic. This is my thank-you letter to the company.

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Hi Star J

I would like to commend the service of your mechanic at Jalan Boon Lay. His name is Wai Deck Khee and he gave me a very good feeling about Star J in general.

Turns out it was a small issue that my car had (the fan belt has gotten loose), but he managed to target and fix the problem (within the tight time-frame I gave him), which the other mechanic from the Ubi branch couldn’t do.

I’ve had bad experience with other mechanics as they would treat me like a typical “woman driver” and brush me off without bothering to explain mechanical details to me, but Deck Khee had given me a very good explanation afterwards. He also drove my car out to Jurong Point for me and I appreciate that very much.

He was patient, attentive and very professional throughout the whole session. I sincerely thank him for his great service. I also thank the customer service staff who have attended to me today (19 August 2010) as well.

Due to that positive experience, I will be recommending Star J to my friends for the servicing of their cars in future.

Thank you!

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I hope this letter would help him secure a promotion or something! Singaporeans tend to write complaint letters too quickly, and take forever (or none at all) to commend somebody when they do a good job.

This mechanic not only did all these for me, he didn’t even charge me a single cent for the workmanship! I am certainly very happy to get such great service today.

[Note: He won't be fired for not charging me because I have bought a servicing package with them previously, so I am a customer already! BTW, I also forfeited my warranty with Motor Image by servicing my car with Star J 2 weeks back, but I didn't regret it one bit!]

It’s time we thank those who are happy to provide a good service while helping us solve our problems at the same time. That is probably a good start to promote better service quality all around!

Anti-Gravity.

My favourite pseudo-science theory wahaha!

Revelation.

I have many friends. Casual friends… School friends… Colleagues turned friends… Cat-loving friends… Internet friends…

However I struggle to name one as my BFF. I do have close friends whom I am somewhat close to, yes. But that one or two that I’ll always hang out with? Whom I will call whenever I hit a brick wall? Whom I will call when I am feeling ecstatic? And I’ll be the first one she approaches whenever she needs a shoulder to lean on?

I wonder why I am not part of a Sex & The City kind of girly friendship thing, where we will share every gory and intimate details of our lives and stuff, on a regular basis. That we’ll itch from within if we didn’t see or hear from each other for some time.

Perhaps I tend to drift into my own thoughts during gatherings, for fear of revealing too much. Or it could be I am always holing up at home and doing anti-social stuff like surf the net, or play with my iPhone, doing the pseudo-friendship thing online.

I open up more when I post to the WWW, like on Plurk or something… but when it comes to actual face-time… I’m not sure how I am doing when it comes to securing tight friendships for real.

It just struck me this morning, that I could be socially inadequate. Or something. Beats me.

I’m afraid of saying or doing the wrong things. I’m afraid to react to what people say in the wrong way. I’m afraid of people ignoring me when I open my mouth to speak, so I’ll take the easy way out by not talking.

When I hit a snag in my life, the first person I’ll call is my husband, whom I regard as my best friend. Not a girlfriend. Not a close friend. Not a special person other than my spouse.

Is this normal? Is this what people in long-term, stable relationships usually do? Am I being too hard on myself? Or am I thinking too much?

How do I be a better friend? Meet them up more often? SMS them more frequently? Buy them more gifts? Or just be there if and when they need me?

I… am really not too sure.

On another note, I’ve always thought I’ve got some form of Attention Deficit Disorder. Interesting read here. And here.