On 31st March Laurence was admitted to hospital for acute abdominal pains and jaundice. After serveral days of various tests and scans and worsening condition of his health, he has been transferred to Gleneagles Intan Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.
There is a tiny 3mm tumor in his pancreatic duct which has caused the surrounding tissue to get inflamed and swollen, blocking not only the pancreatic duct itself but also the bile duct.
He would need an operation done, but not just yet, cos of the jaundice caused by the bile backflowing into the liver and the bloodstream. His bile and pancreatic ducts are also distented (bloated up) due to the blockage and is causing him immense pain. Doc is determined to work on that condition first and get him healthy enough for surgery. He is in no condition for undergoing any operation at the moment.
Tomorrow (friday 4 April 2003) he will be having an ERCP and the gastroenterologist will attempt to insert a stent into the bile duct to keep it open and reduce the jaundice. Once he’s in better condition, surgery will be performed.
I keep a personal blog at www.jonathanpoh.com where I am posting more detailed information when I get it.
— Jonathan Poh (son)