Rev. Chris Ponniah, recovering from cancer surgery to return to church soon

12 July 2018 rmedcalf PEOPLE 0

Chris-Ponniah-photo — Chris Ponniah: “Laid back is good”.

Sai Kung’s Sri Lankan-Kiwi Pastor, Rev. Chris Ponniah, reports he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer while visiting New Zealand. The spiritual leader of Resurrection Church is recovering at his brother’s home after successful surgery — the cancer was caught early — and he plans to return to his pastoral duties early next month.

Here is Chris’s message to SAI KUNG BUZZ:

“Yes, I had a surgery. When I was back in New Zealand in early May for a holiday, I went for a medical checkup and the blood test showed a raised PSA level so my doctor sent me for a biopsy of my prostate and I discovered I had prostate cancer. Returning back to Hong Kong, I did an MRI which confirmed that I had cancer. The good news was that it was discovered very early. The urologists both in Hong Kong and New Zealand suggested that because I was still young, it would be better for me to have a surgery to remove the prostate rather than go for radiation therapy. Comparing costs for the surgery it was much cheaper for me to do the surgery in New Zealand.

Rev. Ponniah (right) with the Resurrection Church Band in Man Yee Square at Christmas

“I went through the surgery on 5 July and according to the urologist it was a success. After two days in hospital I was discharged and I am now resting at my brother’s home and being looked after by my wife and him and his family. So I am being well taken care of. I will see the urologist again on Monday and he will remove the stitches and catheter and do blood tests to see if everything is ok.

“I am on sick leave. My wife and I will be back in Sai Kung on 9 August and will be back at work caring for the good folk at Resurrection Church and Sai Kung district.

“One thing you can do is to encourage men in their 50s to get their prostate checked. I knew about this but never bothered to get mine checked. It was because my doctor in NZ went for a prostate lecture a day before that she jokingly mentioned that she should get mine checked since I was the first 50-something male she is seeing after that lecture.

The good thing for me was that it was discovered very early so it’s treatable.”