Dr. Jojen, India

MY CANCER STORY
Dr. Jojen Mathew
Associate Professor
G.V.M’s Dr. Dada Vaidya College of Education, Ponda -Goa
Mob: 09423813450
I came to Goa in the year 1997. I didn’t have any major health problems since I came to Goa. In 2005 I had to undergo a surgery for repairing my eardrum (Tympanoplasty). After that I had to take a few courses of antibiotics due to some complications. In 2007 I got gastritis and I consulted doctors in Goa and Kerala 
and did endoscopy for four times. In 2015 January also I consulted an eminent gastroentrologist in Kerala  and did endoscopy. He gave me medicine for six months for gastritis.
It was in the month of September 2015 that I noticed a colour change in my stool. I told my wife and she  also suggested me to go for a test. After two days I collected the report and found occult blood +ve in the report. I met Dr. Pai and he referred me to Dr. Alevares, a gastroentrologist from Apollo Hospital, Margao.  Doctor then asked me to go for an endoscopy. After endoscopy Dr. Alevares suggested me to do a  colonoscopy and I readily agreed. He prepared me within two hours and did colonoscopy. He found an  ulcer in sigmoid colon and suspected cancer.
● To CMC, Vellore 
When I had to take my child for a surgery, we told her to CMC. Most of the doctors we consulted elsewhere  told us that my daughter’s surgery can only be done in 2-3 stages but at Vellore it was done in one go. Dr. Sampath was her surgeon. The experience I had with CMC is what made me go to Vellore for proper diagnosis. My dear friend Dr. James Samuel guided and helped me to get an appointment immediately. On September 8th 2015, I went to Banglore and from there my brother – in – law Mr. Johnson J.M. accompanied me to the hospital. I had an appointment with Dr. Mark Ranjan (Colorectal Surgeon). After  examining me, he referred me to gastroenterology department as he had not found anything unusual  with me. I consulted a gastroentrologist and he again asked me to do a colonoscopy. Colonoscopy report showed sigmoid colon narrowing with mucosal ulceration. After a CT scan and colonoscopy I met Dr. Mark Ranjan and he gave me an appointment for surgery on 21st September 2015.
● Admitted for surgery
I was admitted for surgery on 19th September 2015. Doctors and nurses explained to me details about the surgery and the possible complications. Stoma nurse also came and marked the possible area for stoma if required. 21st morning I was given a bowel wash and taken to OT for the surgery. My operation went well. There was no need for a stoma. I was bought to the ward in the evening. The surgery was called sigmoid colectomy. The next day morning I was asked to have breakfast too. They told me that I could get up and walk around the room. I got up walked a few steps and laid down again. Even before having 
breakfast my BP went down again. My sister, a nurse, who was with me alerted the doctors and they immediately shifted me to the ICU for monitoring.
● ICU experience
I was conscious though my BP was very low and pulse rate went up. After reaching ICU I was given  medicine for raising my BP. I was in ICU for five days and couldn’t sleep. There was always some emergency patients coming in and doctors rushing to take care of such patients. The ICU experience was the most dreadful part of my treatment in CMC. After few days I was taken for another CT scan to rule out any problems. CT was normal; I was shifted to a room and advised to take normal diet.
● Biopsy Report
Doctors use a TNM classification system as a tool for staging different type of cancers based on certain standards. T stands for the original tumor. Numbers after the T (such as T1, T2, T3 and T4) might describe the tumour size. The higher the number the larger the tumour. N stands for Nodes (It tells cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Number after N (such as N1, N2, N3) might describe the number of lymph nodes affected by cancer. The higher the N number the greater the cancer spread into nearby lymph nodes. M stands for metastasis. It tells whether cancer has spread to any distant part of the body. M0 means that no distant cancer spread was found. M1 means cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues. I was diagnosed with carcinoma colon T3 N1 M0. It is a third stage cancer. No distant cancer spread was found but one lymph node near the tumour was affected.
● Oncology consultation at CMC and Chemotherapy treatment at RCC TrivandrumI was advised to consult a medical oncologist after surgery. I consulted the Head of the department of  Oncology. In view of the clinical and radiological findings I was advised to have adjuvant chemotherapy with FolFox. Since CMCVellore was very far away from my hometown or from Goa, we came to Regional Cancer Center, Trivandrum, Kerala. We could hire a flat near the hospital and my relatives and friends could come and help me during my treatment. I completed 12 courses of Chemotherapy. The first cycle started on 22nd October 2015 and the 12th cycle finished on April 30th 2016. I had to get admitted each time for chemo for three four days as each chemo used to take 50 to 55 hours to finish. After the 4th cycle I got febrile neutropenia and was admitted for a few days. I was not sure whether I would be able to 
complete the treatment. There were many side effects and Goa gave me the grace to go through all the difficulties and come out.
● How did I face the problem
Some of my friends were asking me about my reactions when I came to know I got cancer. When I got the news I was calm and I could thank God for all that He did in my life. We didn’t have children for 13 years after marriage. God answered our prayers after 13 years. When our younger child was born, she was diagnosed with a very serious disease called Hirshsprung. We could take her for a surgery after 2 and a half years to CMC Vellore and she is completely fine byGod’s grace. When I came to know that I got cancer, I was not afraid because I knew God was in control. I believe in a God who is righteous, loving, all powerful and all knowing. So I was sure that He would never do any mistake and I was assured of His grace to face the problem. I do believe that all things work together for good to those who love God. Last few 
months I was experiencing God’s grace in all situations. I believe God has a purpose that He allowed this in my life. He is purifying and preparing me for something better. The day I came to know I got cancer, I started writing a cancer diary. On the second page I wrote, Cancer report is not a death warrant but a 
promotion order for me. When I was 12 years old I surrendered my life to Christ. I believed that the substitutory death of Jesus Christ on the cross was to save me from my sins. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whomsoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I was sure that I have eternal life and to be absent from my body means to be present with Christ. So  was not afraid of anything, even death. The greatest thing that has happened in my life was that I could come into personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Every day, I talk to my Heavenly Father and I dobelieve that if it is His will He can heal me and add years to my life. Whatever be the situations of my life, I do believe that His grace is sufficient for me and my family. Thanks for reading my cancer story. 
Thank you