Sunday, August 17, 2008

eastcoastlife's first day as a surgeon!

I was allowed into an operating theatre this morning - as a surgeon. I did my first surgery for a colorectal cancer patient.

Colon cancer can be treated!

The abdomen is opened with an incision from just below belt line to just below the sternum. This gives open access to the internal organs.

During surgery, the tumor, a small margin of the surrounding healthy bowel, and adjacent lymph nodes are removed. The surgeon then reconnects the healthy sections of the bowel. In patients with rectal cancer, the rectum is permanently removed. The surgeon then creates an opening (colostomy) on the abdomen wall through which solid waste in the colon is excreted. Specially trained nurses (enterostomal therapists) would help patients adjust to colostomies. Most patients with colostomies return to a normal lifestyle.

Look! Look at the monitor! You punctured the wall of the intestine!!

Patient is ____________

Oops.



Update : These are posed pictures. No human being was harmed in this post. :P

71 comments:

  1. Very interesting. I did not know.

    Congrats with your first operation.

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  2. wah wah.. dr. bernard would be proud of u! (or would he? kekekekeke)

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  3. How come you got a chance to dress like a surgeon??

    cool.

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  4. Hmm.. which hospital is this ECL.. want to make sure I avoid it... lolzz!!

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  5. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the beginning of the post, but then I read: a 'theatre' - ohhhhhhh TG ;-)

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  6. You had me going! I didn't even notice no one had surgical masks on. So, you flatlined your first surgery, he? LOL

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  7. Hehehe you come in to the craziest places and try the craziest thing. Great that you learned so much about the treatment of cancer. Good work, Doc!

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  8. This is quite an experience of a lifetime. I didn't know that there is such an event going on that allows one to get to role-play as a surgeon.

    Looks like the patient is a dummy-doll.

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  9. Hilarious! How did you get to do that? I thought that you Photoshop that picture... until I saw the next few pics. lol

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  10. Hey! Were u doing some filming or what? Curious. That time saw u wearing "hong tou jing" I was already surprised...

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  11. OMG ... You are readying yourself as the next TV star?!

    Go go go!

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  12. Hi, read some of your past posts but this one takes the cake! Funny! : )

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  13. Difference between a murderer and a doctor?
    One has got a degree that is legal to kill :X
    The other has got no papers and will be charged with murder :P

    So, which one are you? hahahhaa...

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  14. I wondering what happen lah to the patient. heeee

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  15. is it a doll....oh...u guys dont wear masks??? hmmm.... C ya

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  16. Aiyo, poor patient. There gone his/her chance of returning to a normal lifestyle......

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  17. Paging Doctor ECL! Doctor ECl pls report to the operating theater NOW! He he he, how do u manage to get yourself in all these interesting situations la? ;)

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  18. I was at Suntec City Singapore today. Now I realised that if anyone visits Suntec City between 15 -17 Aug 2008 at specified times, he/she can take photo to pose as a surgeon!
    For $4 donation per photo.

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  19. That is way cool! I'd want to be a surgeon too even for just a sec! hahaha :D

    I'll be back for your WS entry:)

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  20. I'll have to put this on list of theaters to attend, right before dinner theater. looks like fun!

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  21. misti,
    Belum tidur!? Have a good laugh before you sleep. :)

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  22. TorAa,
    Thanks. It wasn't a successful one. :(
    hahaha.....

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  23. my rainbow angel,
    Dr Bernard would be in such despair he would give up surgery! hahaha....

    I hope he will still allow me to enter his operating theatre when I go to Penang! hehe....

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  24. LadyJava,
    It's SGH. hehehe.....

    Correction : It's a mock up of an operating theatre at SGH's Colon Cancer Awareness Outreach Event. Visitors who donate S$5 will get to be surgeon for a day.

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  25. kyh,
    Destiny. The patient shouldn't have a surgery during Hungry Ghost Festival. hehe....

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  26. wakakaka
    papa bernard gonna laugh till stomach pain d..
    *pengsaned*

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  27. Malaika's mummy,
    I paid S$5 to pose in this picture. haha....

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  28. Renny,
    Hey! It is a performance at a theatre. It's a mock up of an actual operating theatre. The surgeon's gown and accessories are real!

    Only eastcoastlife is a fake surgeon. hehe....

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  29. Theresa,
    I had the mask around my neck. I wanted to wear it but the kind staff said it would cover up my pretty (puke!) face. :)

    I lost the patient. :P

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  30. DianeCA,
    haha... eastcoastlife the crazy woman and the crazy stuff she does for blogging! I have to live up to my entertaining blog category. :)

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  31. oceanskies,
    Did you get to role-play as well at SGH's event in Suntec City Mall today?

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  32. CK,
    haha.... I don't know how to use Photoshop so all my pictures are original. Cool eh. :)

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  33. eunice,
    Just a co-incidence they have such an item during the event. And the photos taken usually give me the inspiration to write the posts.

    The hong tou jin character was planned to celebrate Singapore's 43rd National Day.

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  34. wilfrid,
    Just fooling around and enjoying life lah... what for go for wayang!? Who wants to look at old lady?

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  35. Hi foongpc,
    Thanks for visiting. Glad it make you smile. :)

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  36. napaboaniya,
    hahaha.... pretty obvious answer. It was an accident, so I couldn't have been a murderer!

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  37. Hi irtiza,
    Yep, it is a dummy. It was a mock surgery so the masks weren't used. :)

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  38. LadyBanana,
    Yes, it was an interesting and fun day, not at a learning institution but at a health exhibition.

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  39. The horny bitch,
    You need a surgery? Can give you discount. hehe...

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  40. Doreen,
    Relief for the 'patient', no more suffering. Wah! I sure kena beaten up for saying this lah!

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  41. Mariuca,
    Wow! So awesome! People calling me Doctor ECL now. hahaha.....

    I should look for more opportunities to pose for silly photos. :D

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  42. yen,
    Yeah, every one wants to be a surgeon for a change.... hehe...

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  43. Heather,
    hehe... works up your appetite for a better dinner? :)

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  44. Err. Nope, I decided to give up the chance to role-play. Avoiding the noise from the loud speakers was the first thing on my mind.

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  45. oceanskies,
    I see, the mock up OT was very near to the stage. I'm trying to imagine what you would look like in a surgeon's gown. haha....

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  46. mich,
    Dr Bernard's going to personally supervised me at the next surgery. haha....

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  47. Ahhh... so you finally decided to indulge those medical fantasies of yours and to fulfill that lifelong fetish to diagnose, dissect and disembowel! Hehe...

    I think its a wax doll btw. The jawline just doesn't look human to me.

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  48. Wow this is so cool ECL! You are so lucky to be given a chance to dress up and be like a surgeon!*envy*

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  49. Hi Dr. ECL! It's great to hear about the developments in curing colon cancer. It's nice that you were given a chance to try that operating theatre.

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  50. You seem to have a lot of opportunities to cast yourself in real-life scenes hor...

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  51. Gran,
    Why not? haha... I was ordered out of the OT before more harm was done.... hahaha...

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  52. cool insider,
    Yep, it was my fantasy come through although they gave me a wax doll. Lucky they did, or else the poor patient would have been tortured and suffered before dying. hahaha....

    hmmmm.... I like the dissect and disembowel part. I shall try to find a volunteer to write a post on that. Volunteer? Hehe...

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  53. Pinay Jade,
    Wah! looks like there are people like me who loves to be someone for a day!

    It was fun and I get to play with the real medical equipment! Cool!!

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  54. Rachel,
    hahaha... I'm Dr ECL now eh.

    That was a chance in a lifetime! You should see how my eyes lit up when I was asked if I want to take a photo in the Operating Theatre. I had to do it.

    I would jump for joy if I have a chance to don a surgical gown and operate in a real OT! hahaha....

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  55. tigerfish,
    Opportunities can be found if you look hard for it.... and very importantly, there must be some really awesome people who would give you a chance.

    cool insider is one such awesome guy! :)

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  56. Yes, Horsoon. Anything I can do for you? hehe....

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  57. Hahaha, you are hilarious! I really enjoy reading your blog. Keep up the good work!

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  58. waitingkitty,
    Thanks. Will try hard to bring you more laughs. :)

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  59. Wah.... looks fun leh. Got anymore chance to play? :D

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  60. Dr Bernard,
    Yes! So can I have a go when I visit you the next time!! Please! Please! Please!!!!

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  61. You got me on this one sis, I thought you are really into it hahahha

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