Network TV News Video Editor Eddy Li writes "My Journey Through Cancer"

Eddy: I wish my cancer experience can help people prevent the unthinkable, and help bring about an awareness of a changing environment which affects our well beings seriously. I wish our future generation will benefit from our efforts to reduce cancer risks.

Cancer has become an iconic sign of modern times. Every day, there are people dying of cancer by the minute in the US alone. Unfortunately, we are losing the cancer war. It is time to address the issue from the bottom up. We need to educate our children how to live a healthy live, how to behave to prevent cancer. The world needs a concerted effort to reduce cancer risks, to ease cancer burden in poor countries.

Eddy Li  Photo courtesy: Eddy LiSomehow I figured I could pull it off. I did. But I wanted to find out what got me into serious trouble so that it won’t happen to me again, and to my loved ones and friends. I started to put down in writings the events since my cancer diagnosis.

I wanted to share my emotions and scare to people who never had such kind of life threatening experience. And I started to research on a disease that no one wants to know about.

Actually, the more we know about cancer, the better chance we can keep it at bay. From the beginning, I had no clue if I could make it as a book. I only kept going and made it. Now I know how and why I had cancer.

As a retiree, I am living a healthier and more fulfilled life. My cancer experience in a way enabled me to differentiate what is good and what is bad for health.

Now, I start my day with two glasses of water, followed by a glass of fresh juice. I am aware of what I eat. I am aware of the toxic chemicals that exist in the foods we consume. Though at times I am naughty in eating unhealthy foods, I try to keep a balance. I constantly detoxify my body.

I am back to a normal life, a new normal. It is good, as I am seeing the dangers that a lot of people don’t see. I keep reminding people the importance of keeping a healthy lifestyle. Most of the time, my words fell on deaf ears. Why change?

Eddy: Yes, I was stunned to hear the three little words “You have cancer”. Upon hearing that it only took six months to develop into a stage three cancer seemingly meant a death sentence was in the making and the verdict was delivered by a short notice. I had a detailed medical check-up before it got all started.

It showed we could be caught red-handed easily, as if there’s nothing you can do nothing about it. Still, given my lifestyle and unbalanced diet, lack of physical exercise, let alone living in an ever-increasing hazardous environment, the time bomb has been ticking. Looking back, a cancerous environment has been in the build-up in my body, as I have described in the later part of my book. Cancer could have happened to me much sooner. I was indeed very lucky.

 The discovery of my cancer was circumstantial. The timing of it was like a movie script. Yes, I was led into a dark tunnel. Call it destiny. My first name in Chinese meant longevity, as I was told by my late father. 

But at the moment when the news of a cancer diagnosis struck my ears, there was only panic, denial, anger and distress. I felt like a fallen eagle, stripped of its wings. In the end, I hunkered down to accept the unacceptable. I had to deal with it head on. There was simply no other choice if I were to survive. It took a lot of determination, patience and learning. I needed the unequivocal support from my wife, close relatives, friends and colleagues. But whatever the prognosis will be, remain calm. Never say die. It is tough but try. The roller-coaster type of emotions is understandable.

You may have the best doctors treating you. You may have access to the best medical facilities. But there’s much more you can do to bring about a cure. Do not expect to pay the bill, exit through the hospital door and go home to wait for a promising result. You need to learn how to rejuvenate your lost strength. You need a long term planning to overcome the adversities and live a normal life again. T

here are many things being involved, from medical insurance to your job, from family issues to diet and lifestyle change for example. Fighting cancer is an enduring battle, probably a lifelong battle. That is why I always emphasis the importance of prevention.

I have seen lots of cancer patients who simply gave up. They thought they were fighting a losing battle. They thought cancer is something that cannot be cured. It’s wrong attitude. Though it is said there’s no magic bullet to cure cancer, I have personally seen miracles. Modern day technology can handle cancer with an amazing successful rate.

Making decisions is an important step to begin with. Think out carefully before making a decision, decision like choosing a way of treatment, a main stream method or an alternative treatment, or both? A sensible and well-thought decision increases the chances of a recovery.