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70-year-old man, Yap Hock Chuan has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and urgently requires a Laparoscopic Whipple Procedure to control the progression of his condition. The surgery is estimated to cost RM12,000, which poses a heavy financial burden on him.

Yap shared that he had previously sought treatment at several hospitals due to persistent stomach pain, but no diagnosis was made. It was only earlier this year, after undergoing a CT scan at another hospital, that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and subsequently began further treatment.

He said his health has deteriorated significantly. Besides experiencing a loss of appetite, he even fainted at home and sustained a head injury. The hospital had attempted to contact him multiple times but was unable to reach him, fortunately he had provided his elder brother’s contact number.

“After being informed, my brother rushed to my house. When there was no response after knocking, he used the key to enter and found me unconscious on the floor. It was a very critical situation. He immediately called for an ambulance from the nearest hospital, and I was sent for emergency treatment and stitches,” he said.

“There is no history of cancer in my family, I am the only one affected. The pain has been so severe that I couldn’t sleep at all. At one point, I went an entire week without sleep. Whether lying down or sitting, the pain was unbearable.”

He added that he later received treatment at a hospital, including intravenous fluids, antibiotic injections and a drainage tube insertion due to bile duct obstruction caused by the pancreatic cancer, which led to jaundice. His condition improved slightly, allowing him to sleep for five to six hours at a stretch. However, his health has recently worsened again, leaving him feeling extremely unwell.

According to medical advice, he will still need to undergo chemotherapy after the surgery. Currently, he becomes breathless easily when walking and feels uncertain about his recovery. His niece has been encouraging him to follow medical advice, stay active, and try to eat small, frequent meals, while supplementing his nutrition with specially formulated milk.

“I am single and have no wife or children. If one day I leave this world, I can accept it,” he said.

Yap expressed that his greatest wish in life has been to see his nieces and nephews grow up. Having witnessed their growth, he feels comforted. Since falling ill, the care and companionship from his siblings and extended family have brought him warmth and support.

CCEP Chief Executive Officer Yee Poo Yoon said that Yap is currently extremely weak and has little appetite. Doctors have advised him to improve his nutritional intake, including consuming milk supplements and high-protein foods. However, due to the pain triggered by eating, he is barely able to take in food.

“Doctors have specifically recommended a relatively expensive, specially formulated nutritional milk to improve his condition. At present, his weight has dropped to below 35 kilograms. Standing at about 5 feet 7 inches, he is severely underweight and appears extremely frail, almost skin and bones. This is a significant decline from his weight prior to his illness.”

“In addition to raising funds for his medical expenses, we will also provide him with the special nutritional milk to help him maintain his strength and overall condition,” she added.