Life After... Stage 4 cancer: Producer-director wants to sleep more
Producer-director Desmond Tan used to get by on two hours of sleep a day, two cups of coffee and two cans of Red Bull.
Desmond Tan, a producer-director in Singapore, was at the top of his career when he started living on just two hours of sleep a day. Along with two cups of coffee, two cans of Red Bull, and cigarettes, he pushed through on projects, even during a 2019 meeting where he found out he had Stage 4 colon cancer. Despite the reality sinking in, Tan had to continue working, which included touching up burger patties to make them perfect in post-production.
It wasn't until that night, around 11pm, that he could return home to his wife and break down, realizing the severity of his diagnosis. Tan was shocked to learn that several colleagues in his industry had also been diagnosed with cancer, including a prominent commercials director who had since passed away. This prompted Tan to question if there was something wrong with the industry that led to such a high rate of cancer among young and healthy professionals.
At the time of his diagnosis, Tan was in his early 40s and considered himself at the peak of his career. He would often experience heart palpitations but dismissed them as part of his thriving lifestyle. Tan's career involved creating commercials, branded entertainment, and marketing campaign videos for various clients, including government agencies, tech giants, fast food restaurants, banks, and luxury homes.
He was even traveling internationally for shoots. Tan's addiction to long hours of work and little sleep led to his health deteriorating. In January 2019, he experienced severe abdominal pain and blood in his stools, which he initially thought were hemorrhoids. After consulting a family doctor and undergoing various tests, Tan's cancer was diagnosed as Stage 4, meaning it had spread to other parts of his body, including his liver.
He underwent chemotherapy, surgery to remove 13cm of his colon, and a HIPEC procedure, which involved removing the cancer and pouring heated chemotherapy into his abdomen. Despite his best efforts, the cancer returned, this time spreading to the peritoneum, a protective membrane surrounding internal abdominal organs. Tan's prognosis is uncertain, but he is determined to make the most of his remaining time.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
