A CAT WITH 9 LIVES.(CONITNUATION PART-2)-CANCER PHOBIA AND STAYING FIT POST MARINE ENGINEERING VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT.

"CANCER PHOBIA-2012":- Since almost a decade i have always got sick at least once a year from a severe bout of cough and cold.I initially neglected this mild sickness as a climatic allergy and normally got myself treated by my family doctor Mr Ganesh.Bhagwat.The bizarre unexpected deaths of my maternal uncle Mr Walter.Gonsalves, a heavy smoker from lung cancer and later my mother from breast cancer in 2004, quick successive deaths in the family made me cautious of a hereditary trend of the disease. Later,at the usual Marine Engineers annual alumni get-together in 2007 heard about the unexpected death of my school class mate and marine engineer colleague Mr Anees.Osmani from throat cancer. Prior to that, the earliest death amongst my Mariner colleagues was of Mr Ivor.Gonsalves who also happened to succumb to cancer. Finally, the death of Mr T.R.Krishnan from throat cancer in January 2012 was a wake-up call to my unexplainable yearly coughing bouts.Two of my Marine Engineer colleagues had succumbed to cancer and as far as i can recollect ,late Mr Ivor.Gonsalves was neither a smoker nor a heavy drinker, a very sober and studious mariner unlike Mr Anees.Osmani and Mr T.R.Krishnan my Christ Church School classmates who were heavy smokers and hence a reason for throat cancer. It made me realize that i was taking my cough bouts mildly which increased to twice a year in the last two years.Otherwise, i am healthy and one of the fittest individuals for my age, a health fitness fanatic.Have been a regular cyclist for decades and a former 2Kms jogger upto the age of 51, at at the Mahalaxmi race-course in Mumbai. For bragging rights, only ex-model and actor Milind.Soman of my generation could be fitter than me!When i last left jogging my fastest timing for 2 Kms round the racecourse was approx 12 minutes.Have also been a regular swimmer since 1999 at the "Mahatma Gandhi Swimming pool" in Mumbai and as of date swim 500 metres regularly at the pool.But then if the World's best sportsmen like Lance.Armstrong and Indian cricketer Yuvraj.Singh could become victims of cancer in the prime of their youth, my sports activities seems childs play compared to them.Something could be seriously wrong with my biological body network , besides,at age 52 years i was no spring chicken but an aging workhorse.I too had smoked heavily during a certain phase of my life during my shipping employment, where "Foreign Cigarettes" and "Premium Scotch Whisky" on ships was akin to having cold drinks back home in India! Honestly, have experimented with all phases of dangerous human habits and living, proud to have done that and been there type of a human personality. Apologize for the "Bragging Rights" but honestly have no regrets and would have lived the same way if given another chance, barring a few alterations that caused me immense employment difficulties.I love living dangerously with calculated risks, hence a sea-farer profession and later a "Professional Gambler" post pre-mature retirement from the marine engineering Industry in 2006. Mr T.R.Krishnan's death shocked me since although we were just acquaintances, i did know him reasonably well through childhood classmate Mr Biju.Karian. In fact, i had accompanied Mr T.R.Krishnan to "Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital" for his first chemotherapy treatment, spending a night at the hospital, an experience i detest since my own mother succumbed to cancer.In April i suddenly abruptly developed a terrible cough which majored into the normal usual decade old pattern of a chronic cough that required medical treatment. This time i decided to seek a second opinion on my cough and got myself treated by Dr Meera.Nagarkar, a honorary doctor at "Our Lady of Salvation Medical Centre" at Salvation Church premises in Dadar.Thanks to my housekeeper Miss Sabina.Dias that i got to know about "Our Lady of Salvation Medical Centre".This clinic run by the Church of our Lady of salvation is meant for lower income people irrespective of religion , caste or sex and has specialist doctors from different medical fields doing voluntary service, hence a person can get the best treatment and advice from very professional doctors .Since i did not belong to the lower income economic group the normal charges were applied, but definitely much cheaper as well as convenient than normal clinic fees.After the closure of my personal dentist Dr Nina.D'souza's dispensary in Prabhadevi i did a complete dental overhaul, akin to an engine overhaul at Our Lady of salvation dental clinic under Dr Swati.Sankpal.Later got treated by skin specialist Dr Belinda.Vaz for dandruff and skin discoloration , a pigment discoloration akin to Michael.Jackson's colour change where the skin turns white in patches. Dr Belinda Vaz's treatment was excellent and my body skin regained its original brown colour after application of a prescribed shampoo.Hence, i decided to get myself examined by the general practitioner of Our Lady of salvation clinic, Dr Meera.Nagarkar.After the usual medicinal treatment by Dr Meera.Nagarkar the recovery was quick akin to the treatment by my family doctor Mr Ganesh.Bhagwat for over a decade.This time i requested Dr Meera.Nagarkar to get my throat examined by a specialist, explaining my doubts about my chronic cough problem.She told me to get a "Barium Swallow Through test" done at the "Navneet Jain Health Centre" at Dadar. On Monday(23-4-2012) i went to the " Navneet Jain health Centre " at 1400 hrs and after paying the required examination test fees of Rs 600 sat in the queue for undergoing the notorious "BARIUM SWALLOW TEST".Thanks to my decades of employment in the shipping Industry as well as a recent " L.I.C Insurace Mediclaim test" in 2012, my body had undergone all sorts of medical examinations.As far as i recollect the "Barium Swallow Test" was the first such medical test in my medical health checkups history.Finally i was called into an air-conditioned room and explained the method of the test by the "Barium X-Ray Test Operator".I was told to stand in front of the "X-Ray Plate machine" and drink a "Barium Solution" when being told so by the operator.It was a tedious test with many retakes akin to a film shooting ,except, that this was a question of a test being conducted for a terminal sickness detection.Finally after approx half an hour i completed the tests and departed from the hospital,hoping that the malady effecting my throat was not a malignant tumour.Collected the medical report the next day and was glad to note that although my throat irritated me during the severe cough bouts, the "Barium X-Ray tests" showed a normal throat and the consulting radiologist doctor Mr A.V.Sohoni had certified everything in my throat as normal.I reported to Dr Meera.Nagarkar with the report on Wednesday(25-4-2012) and she examined my throat "X-Rays" under the x-ray scanning light stating that everything was normal and the reason could be a digestive problem called "Reflux" in medical terminology.She gave me a medicinal diet for stomache acidity control, one of the suspected reasons for my throat irritation and coughing bouts.Returned home a mentally relieved man, satisfied that a terminal disease was not visible in my body system and hence could adhere to my normal "10 year Economic Plan" of personal financial management and living.I was not afraid of being a cancer patient but more afraid of succumbing to a disease without preparing a "FINANCIAL WILL" since i am the last heir of my parents bloodline.I wouldn't like the Government seizing my property for lack of a will or my relatives squabbling over my assets once i am dead.This was the main reason for the "Cancer Phobia" that made me a bit panicky, since through statistics and personal experience i knew that most cancer patients rarely survived for more than a few years once diagnosed with the sickness,visits to hospital and chemotherapy sessions occupying most of their last days. A very minuscule lucky few survive this fatal disease if detected in its nascent stages besides spending tons of money for medical treatment in either U.S.A, the preferred cancer treatment destination or the costliest private doctors in India. Celebrity cyclist Lance.Armstrong and of late in 2012, Indian cricketer Mr Yuvraj.Singh are the face of the World's cancer survivor models.Some day i have to exit planet Earth physically and i hope it is not from a disease called "CANCER".
SKIN  DISCOLORATION AND TOOTH REPAIRS DOG ME IN MY 50's :- My skin pigmentation  returned after a few months of treatment by Dr Belinda.Vaz and my upper right molar tooth cap broke off one fine day. I got my tooth recapped at "Salvation Medical Care Center" and this time Dr Lubyana.Arsiwalla attended to my dental treatment.She was the new dental surgeon  who  had replaced Dr Swati.Sankpal and did a excellent job.I ignored the skin pigmentation discolouration as it was on my back and chest, not visible in normal attire.During my tour of  Bhutan , the "Tooth Cap" gave way and luckily i didn't swallow it along with my food. Stored the "Tooth Cap" in my luggage and totally forgot about it on my arrival in Mumbai. "Mittoo's" untimely death at home  during my tour was the biggest loss in my personal life after the loss of my parents. He was more than just another ordinary "Alexandrine Parakeet" ,formerly sold in hundreds in Mumbai's Crawford market.His dead body was preserved in our house fridge for 16 days and hence on arrival i quickly looked for a taxidermist to preserve him as a exhibit in my house. Luckily i managed to contact Dr Santosh.Gaikwad, India's only  officially recognized taxidermist based in Mumbai. He did excellent work on "Mittoo" and thanks to him  the memory  of "Mittoo" is always present in my house.Finally i decided to get treated for my skin pigmentation and tooth cap attachment.
On Thursday(29-5-2014)  took an appointment with Dr Belinda.Vaz at "Salvation Medical care center" at 1500 hrs. All the specialist doctors in "Salvation Center" are Honorary doctors providing their free time on certain days and Thursday was the only day that skin specialist Dr Belinda.Vaz visited the clinic.She told me that the pigmentation was due to sweating and prescribed the same lotion as previously in 2012.I had a small white patch on my fore-head which was due to excessive Sun exposure and a lotion was also prescribed for the same.The next morning after my normal swimming routine at "M.G.M.O" pool visited "Salvation Medical care Center" and got my tooth cap refitted by Dr Lubyana.Arsiwalla.She also refilled a partial cavity on my lower left molar.I was not charged for the same as i had done the same routine through her previously.Hopefully the "Leopard spot white pigmentation" should disappear over a period of time and the refitted cap stay in its place for a few years.

"M.G.M.O (Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Olympic)" pool , A World class swimming pool.

FITNESS REGIME OF STAYING FIT DESPITE A SOLITARY WHITE COLLAR LIFE-STYLE.
"SWIMMING TO STAY FIT AND IN SHAPE" :-  Post  premature voluntary retirement from the Shipping Industry in 2006  at the young age of 46 have kept myself fit through jogging at the "Mahalaxmi Race-course" . Later , since 1999 have been swimming at the "M.G.M.O (Mahatma Gandhi Memorial olympic)" pool   near Shivaji Park.A daily morning  cycle ride from home to the pool  with a swimming schedule from approx 0900hrs to 0945 hrs is my daily fitness regime. I swim 500 meters non-stop in the pool and then back home on cycle, excellent aerobic exercise.Worse, cycling at peak hours on Mumbai's road is akin to "Adventure sports" , dangerous. Have made a few acquaintances at the pool  and thanks to a elderly gentleman Mr Eric.Pinto purchased a cheap waterproof "LNG Watch" costing only Rs 220! I normally wear my dad's heirloom "Omega Watches" costing Rs 1 lakh +,the watches "Water-proof guarantee" wearing off with age  and hence the  maintenance of these watches cost me a small fortune.As they say among speculators "Horses for courses" and hence  realized i didn't have a "waterproof watch" for Mumbai's monsoon weather let alone swimming while wearing a watch.. In June 2014 observed Eric wearing a watch while swimming and enquired its cost and availability.Was surprised at its cheap cost and durability in water and requested him to purchase the same for me.On using the watch was amazed at its cheapness and durability in a inflation  decade where a ordinary restaurant meal costs above Rs 200 /person !Thanks to this watch  that i managed to check my swimming timing and have been averaging approx 20 minutes for my 500 meters daily swim.Gradually over the years i increased my daily swimming distance and in 2019  swim 2 Kms daily  in the pool.

ANNUS HORRIBILIS(Indonesia tour sickness) :-  I had been for a tour of Indonesia in August 2014 and tasted a variety of  street food as well as "5-Star cuisine" in that Country.During the tour i developed serious digestive problems along with partial diarrhea, yet enjoyed my vacation and also completing my "Open Water scuba dive" course in Bali.On arrival in India the stomach digestive problems continued with a severe burning sensation of my anus after passing stools. Went to "Our Lady Of Salvation" clinic and got myself treated by Dr Meera.Nagarkar but yet the irregular stools (gas formation)and burning sensation persisted.The "Colon Cancer Phobia" scared me  and requested the doctor for a test.Went  to"Dr Avinash.Phadke Diagnostic " center at Shivaji Park for a "Blood, stool & Amylase " test. The tests proved that i was in the pink of health but yet my stomach  was not normal and neither my annus.Dr Meera.Nagarkar last prescribed me "Anovate Cream" meant for piles inflammation.Applied the anointment with almost zero healing effect although the diarrhea had ceased .The  "ANUS DISCOMFORT" was becoming a embarrassment to explain to a lady doctor and hence decided to visit Dr Ashish.B.Merchant.Normally i am healthy as a ox and hence  have had no particular "Family Doctor" besides "Salvation Health Clinic" doctors and also  having had Dr Ganesh.Bhagwat, Dentist Dr Nina.D'souza and Dr Ashish.B.Merchant solve my medical problems in recent years,Decided to visit Dr Ashish.B.Merchant  ,his dispensary being  walking distance from my house.Explained Dr Ashish.Merchant my previous treatment by Dr Meera.Nagarkar and the medicines prescribed.I was expecting my "ANUS" to be probed further through "Scanning"  but after examining my previous treatment and medical tests  he prescribed "Sat-Isabgol" psyllium husk and paraffin as a remedy.I also invented  my own indigenous medicine by applying ice to my anus after passing stools.After a few days the Anus burning sensation reduced and i finally discontinued medical treatment. It finally took me almost 4 months for my anus  irritation to subside as also my toilet stool habits returning to normal.This was my worst "STOMACHE/ANUS" upset since birth and i strongly suspect that some form of "Food poisoning" occurred during my tour of Indonesia.Diarrhea and dysentery have dogged me since school days but healed quickly on medical treatment. This was the first instance in my life where besides partial diarrhea i was suffering from a strange burning irritation of my anus.Thankfully  my anus and stomach are both functioning normally although in future i should be careful of my eating habits .

At "Worli Seaface" on A "Full Moon" morning. "CYCLING" as a way of living and physical fitness.

Friday(25-12-2015) A CHRISTMAS RESOLUTION ON A CHRISTMAS FULL MOON  :-  It was the first instance of a bright Full Moon on Christmas eve since 1977 and the next such occurrence in  expected in 2034 ! If alive i would be a old man in 2034.As a quotes writer myself a quote by Indian scientist and later President Dr A.P.J . Abdul.Kalam  did arouse my consciousness on personal lifestyle  changes. Quote, "You cannot change your future but you sure can change your habits,and surely your habits will change your future".I am no rocket scientist nor have the morals of  a sage ."BETTER LATE THAN TOO LATE" has been my philosophy in life .Hence i haven't committed suicide to date and hope other laggards in life follow my example. Bizarrely have always been a "LATE BLOOMER"! First had sex at the age of 19 years which is  very late in the  21st century generation teenager lifestyle ! But after nineteen and shipping employment seems  celebrity playboys could feel embarrassed and nervous by my sexual exploits.  I learnt to ride a motorcycle at the age of 44 years when most people of my age graduate to driving cars although i did get my car license in 1988 at age of 28 years.Never owned a car and now a hardcore motorcyclist. Having lived a charmed life  decided to make a Christmas eve pledge of reducing my binge drinking excesses at party's and festival occasion. .At the age of 55 years had the first "ALCOHOL FREE" Christmas eve after my school days since the 1970's Had a beautiful cycle ride to Worli seaface at dawn on Christmas day . Photographed the "Christmas Full Moon" and also the exercise machine recently installed on the sea-face promenade, something common in most Asian Country's.The common man and woman who can't afford expensive gymnasiums get a chance to strive for physical fitness and perfection..Beautiful pleasant cool weather and before sunlight it really doesn't seem to be congested Mumbai with its endless vehicular traffic.My "Late Bloomer" aspirations for the future years is to  .keep fit and try to be young so that could  still be a "ELIGIBLE BACHELOR" at age 60 years ! "BALANCE YOUR WEALTH ALONG WITH YOUR HEALTH" is my quote for better living !

Memoirs of Bangalore :- Classmate Biju. Karian and self at the residence of fellow classmate Late Leonard Aaron's (Standing) sometime in 2009 .Last was in Bangalore in 2009 and never realized the next time I visit the city would be missing the presence of a classmate. Have wonderful memories of Bangalore and ultimately life is nothing but memories good or bad. Looking at the slim athletic Leonard. Aarons would anyone think that he would succumb to a "Heart Attack" ?

OVER-INSURED OR UNDER-INSURED , CHANGE AND DEATH IS INESCAPABLE SO BETTER HEDGE YOUR LIFE INSURANCE :-  The death of Christ Church School class mate Leonard Aarons in October 2017 of a heart attack shocked me as i never ever thought that a physically fit person of his calibre would one day suddenly succumb to a "Heart Attack".Childhood class-mate/friend Mr Biju.Karian lived in Bangalore and on my holiday visits to Bangalore we three ex- schoolmates would often meet discussing our lives with me being the odd bachelor.Leonard .Aarons worked as a professional media photographer with some of the household newspapers of his era  and later ventured on his own into professional photographer.A scuba diver, War time photographer and later a agriculturist he was slim as a jockey with me the pathological horse racing punter always reminding him that he could have had a alternative profession as a horse racing jockey.His untimely death made me realize that appearances can be deceptive and  fitness is no guarantee to dying at old age (read 80 's ++) and hence insured myself  neck deep in deep insurance waters.
I was already insured with "L.I.C  Health Protection" since 2012 which was a hedge against medical hospitalization. Next in July 2018 took a accidental policy with "I.C.I.C.I Lombard" and again in the same month another "Life Insurance Policy " with "Religare".The total amount of Premiums i was paying annually was a princely Rs 53,000. I totally believe in the quote " Money can't buy you happi
ness but its peaceful dying in a "Private Hospital" or " Your own home"  or  driving a "Mercedes Benz" or riding a "Bullet Motorcyle" or a " Butterfly Trek Madone cycle " ! 
My "Religare" insurance policy provided me with a annual complimentary medical check-up and hence on Tuesday(9/4/2019)  got my main body parameters checked at "Health Springs" medicare  at Lalabaug in Mumbai and the results was a wake up call to change my eating habits.Was stunned to note that a daily fitness regime of cycling 3 Kms and swimming 2 Kms did nothing to take away my "HIGH CHOLESTEROL" tag from my list of "Medical reports". Dr Amay.Jadhav  who conducted the "Treadmill Tests"  told me that all my readings were perfect except the "HIGH CHOLESTEROL" reading and hence a change in eating habits.The most shocking case of a wealthy, healthy and extremely athletic Mumbaikar succumbing to a heart attack was  of Mumbai's top Gynecologist  Dr Rakesh.Sinha who at the age of 60 in 2016 suddenly collapsed during a morning marathon training workout at Pali Hill in Bandra. His wife was a anesthetist, daughter a gynecologist and son undergoing a "M.B.B.S" course  and hence presumed that Dr Rakesh.Sinha was regular with his personal "Health Checkups". He was training for the Mumbai Marathon and had previously run in 4 International marathons . If  Dr Rakesh.Sinha didn't know that he was a candidate for a heart attack what could be the case of a certain fitness fanatic Mr Rudolph.A.Furtado ? My diet would now be totally "Oil Free" and fried eatables a taboo.Two things scare me in life  of which one is dying a pauper and the other is being physically immobile due to a accident or illness .I had survived 2 crippling motorcycle accidents and my gambling aptitude told me to insure against any unforeseen calamities as i lead a dangerous adventurous lifestyle with motorcycling being one of the least hazards in my list of  extreme adventures portfolio .

After years did a 2000 meters jog around "Mahalaxmi Racecourse" at age 61 years.Destiny and my hereditary genes had been kind to me this far in life having at time's in my youth  indulged in "Rock Star" style over the top extravagances not to mention 3 motorcycle road accidents post 44  years of age and almost losing my left eye in a freak accident  in my own building. 

Tuesday(23/11/2021) A Jog of 2000 meters post age 60 years at home away from home "Mahalaxmi Racecourse" :-n What me worry about Indian Stock Market plunge or overthe moon on Stock market rise ? Remedy to stress was a early morning cycling to the racecourse and a 2000 meters trot completed at a snail's pace of 18 minutes.Remember you are not in a " RAT RACE" but in a therapy to live your life at its fullest irrespective of the cyclical ups and downs in life and the stock market which has been my income since becoming my own boss in 2006.I was elated to have completed the 2000 meters as the "Covid 19" Lockdown and swimming pool closure had transformed me into a overweight confirmed "Couch Potato", hooked onto my "Smart Phone" and lap top.I was fit and as usual decided to have my annual medical checkup conducted through my insurance company Religare who had now changed their name to "CARE health Insurance".Contacted my Insurance agent Mr Swapnil.Kalbande as usual and he fixed a appointment with "Health Spring Clinic" at Lalbaug. On Wednesday(1/12/2021) on a freak December rainy morning motorcycled to Lalbaug and after inquiry found the location of the new clinic of "Health Spring" which had shifted from its original location that i had visited in 2019.The normal procedure of tests was conducted with a additional dental checkup exposing my history of tooth maintenance and finally the 8 minutes treadmill test.Received my test report on Thursday evening and the next day on Friday(3/12/2021) visited the clinic

Thank Amchi Mumbai for the small pleasures in a concrete jungle Mumbai. Mahalaxmi racecourse at 0700 hrs on a cool 2001 December  morning .The "Mahalaxmi Racecourse" has been my home away from home over the decades and hope for the same in the future.Nothing like early morning cycling to the racecourse and  a walk or simple exercises on the racecourse ground in the midst of galloping horses, riding pony's and other fellow walker's/jogger's. Normally swimming at the "M.G.M.O" pool opposite Shivaji Park maidan was my daily early morning fitness mantra since 1999 but occasionally when the pool remained closed it's my old home , the "Mahalaxmi Racecourse" that i  visit for rejuvenating  my hectic lifestyle and living.The "M.G.M.O" pool has been closed to the public since March 2020 due to "Covid-19 Pandemic" .

First got my teeth cleaned by dentist Dr Shamika who later under anaesthesia also extracted two right side lower jaw splinter grinder tooth pieces .The entire cost amounted to Rs 1567 and to date besides my 3 motorcycle hospitalizations and left eye operation have spent maximum physiology maintenace on my teeth. Insurance companies do not compensate any teeth treatment unless related to a accident. Hence my princely Rs 60,000 + annual premium would be a forfeit against no medical hospitalization for the financial year.

A Ripley's Believe it or Not :- Since March 2020 my home swimming pool of "M.G.M.O" in Mumbai has been closed due to "Covid -19 Pandemic"  and on a holiday in Dubai i got to swim for the first time since March 2020.Here i am at "Bahar-6" swimming pool in Dubai on the first day of my arrival from distant Mumbai , all alone except for the life guard Mr Michael who clicked this photo .Felt akin to a billionaire flying all the way from Mumbai just for a swim in Dubai ! Was on a short holiday in Dubai from Thursday(28/10/2021) to Sunday(7/11/2021)  and was residing at "Bombay Backpacker's DBX" in "Bahar-5" in plush JBR locality of Dubai. A few day's later also swam in the sea on JBR  beach which was more awesome than this solitary swimming pool. Only hoping that the "M.G.M.O" pool in Mumbai opens for the common public in 2022 and i get back to my daily fitness regime of 2Km swim in the swimming pool. Read my Dubai travelogue as i feel its mandatory to visit Dubai at least once in your lifetime :- https://traveladventuredubai.blogspot.com/2021/10/travelling-on-international-flight-with.html

After my dental maintenance next met Dr Sumeeta. Padgaonkar who had conducted the "Treadmill Test" and was overall head of the clinic medical department. She told me that all my parameters were normal except a "HIGH CHOLESTROL" count which could be reduced by systematic discipline of food intake.At age 61 was fit and happy for the same.

Friday(4/2/2022) :- Finally " M.G.M.O (Mahatma Gandhi Olympic Pool) " in Mumbai opened to the General public at 50% capacity having been closed to "Common Public" since March 2020 due to " COVID 19 PANDEMIC" . Swimming hours are in slots of 45 minutes starting at 0700 hrs and ending at 1000 hrs in the morning. After 2 years swam 900 meters continuously in my 45 min's allotted time of 0800-0845 hrs and it was total bliss and breathing meditation in the cold water. Normally swam 2 Kms + daily in the pool before "Covid-19" created havoc with normal life and lifestyle. The M.G.M.O "Volley Ball " players have also resumed normal play in the backyard of this landmark pool in Mumbai. Ahoy !