June 25, 2009
The Pro
Minding the pipes
Associate Professor Chia Sing Joo, 48, a senior consultant urologist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, tells POON CHIAN HUI that he addresses sexual problems too
I decided to specialise in urology because...
Eighteen years ago, my seniors in medical school had the pick of the more attractive specialties to train in. I was one of the juniors who agreed to do urology which was not as established as it is today.
I am glad I chose urology as it is now a dynamic specialty. I also sub-specialise in urological cancers and sexual dysfunction as both are very relevant in modern-day Singapore.
The urogenital system is fascinating because...
This system - which involves the kidneys, urethra, bladder and in males, the testes and penis - generates the most frequent and urgent bodily needs. We probably have to visit the loo at least five times daily - we don't even need to eat that often in a day.
If I were to give an analogy for what I do, I'd be a...
Plumber because I deal with water in the form of urine. When the pipes that carry urine are choked, I have to unblock them. If the system is dirty, I will flush out the toxins.
I have come across all types of cases...
The majority of my patients have blood in their urine which may indicate kidney cancer. I also see patients with sexual dysfunction.
A memorable case was in the 1990s when a man came to me with an erectile problem. Then, Viagra wasn't invented yet, and he refused the available solutions due to diabetes.
He phoned one day and told me he had been having a permanent erection for three days after receiving an injection overseas. I had to purge half a litre of blood to fix the problem.
A typical day for me would be...
I take my three sons, aged 17, 15 and 12 to school at 6.45am. We eat breakfast in the car because we always run out of time. I reach the hospital at 7.30am. The day involves clinic consultations, surgery and ward rounds interspersed with meetings.
After work at about 6pm, I go for my daily one-hour jog. Then, I have dinner with my family at home. I may play football with the children, who are ardent fans of Manchester United football club. I also watch television with my wife, 42, who is a professor and vice-dean of research at the faculty of dentistry, National University of Singapore.
I love patients who are...
Open to suggestions and willing to share their problems and concerns with me. This makes it easier for me to help them. For example, if a patient worries that going for surgery will cost him his job, I will write a letter to his employer to explain why the operation is necessary.
Patients who get my goat are...
None do. As for those who bottle up their worries and concerns, I'll give them my e-mail address and mobile number so they can always talk to me whenever they want to.
One little known fact about urine is...
A common myth is that bubbles in the urine indicate kidney disease. This is not always true. It depends on the colour and smell of the urine, as well as how long the bubbles last.
Things that put a smile on my face are...
When the surgery to remove a cancerous tumour is a successful one. The broad smile and look of relief on a patient's face are priceless.
It breaks my heart when...
Patients don't seek help for cancer early. For instance, some patients opt for alternative therapy or cures first. When that fails, the tumour would have already grown. It becomes difficult to help them when the cancer is in the advanced stages.
I wouldn't trade places for the world because...
I am happy. The only thing that I would like changed were the hard times that I went through after my father died when I was 11 years old. My mother, who was 32 years old then, was saddled with five children. As the only boy in the family, I had to mature and become independent quickly without the comfort and security of a father figure.
My best tip...
Don't avoid problems. Denial doesn't solve anything. Open communication is also important when it comes to tackling medical issues. So, do not hesitate to ask for help if you have any health issues.
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