Matching mindset to age as one gets older — Patrick Teh

JUNE 25 — In the blink of an eye, more than 14 years of my retirement journey has slipped away silently. 

Having planned my retirement well, I don’t regret turning down a two-year job offer that would have delayed my retirement until 2013. 

After more than six decades of living a medication-free life, I faced the biggest shock of my life in 2023.

When I had my first colonoscopy in 2014, I was given a clean bill of health. Unfortunately, the second colonoscopy conducted in 2023 detected a polyp measuring two centimetres in diameter in my colon. 

Four days later, the biopsy confirmed that the polyp had reached the high-grade dysplasia stage. If left untreated, it carries a high risk of developing into colorectal cancer.

As the doctor didn’t remove the polyp immediately, I had to undergo another colon cleansing procedure before the polyp was removed via endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) a few days later. 

Although I was given the maximum sedative dosage before the start of the EMR, I stayed wide awake throughout the entire surgery. 

Perhaps, I had developed immunity to the sedative as the colonoscopy and EMR were conducted less than 10 days apart.

However, I encountered another cancer scare two years later. I have had a tiny black mole on my thigh since my teenage years, and it began swelling slightly over the past two years. 

Without any further delay, I went to the doctor for a check-up in July 2025. A tissue biopsy discovered that the nodule had developed into basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. 

Although the initial examination confirmed that the nodule hadn’t spread, it was a nightmare living with cancer while waiting weeks for my surgery. 

A second biopsy after the surgery confirmed it hadn’t spread, but the doctor advised me to look out for any abnormalities in the surrounding area regularly.

Retirement is a phase of life in which we can finally sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labour. 

Unfortunately, many people have overlooked the importance of retirement planning; hence, they still have to work odd jobs in their seventies. 

Worse still, most of them rely heavily on long-term medications to treat chronic ailments while still needing to grind away to earn a living.

Following the two frightening experiences, I realised that growing older is a process filled with challenges and uncertainties. 

My mindset needs to match my age even though my body is still agile and free from chronic ailments. 

At 69, I need a daily workout routine suitable for my age so that I can maintain my fitness for as long as possible.  

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.