DBS CEO has leukemia

DBS chief executive Richard Stanley was still busy at work till last Friday and he had finished a series of investor meetings with the bank's chief financial officer, Mrs Chng Sok Hui, to market their $4 billion rights issue.

Mr Stanley had been looking lively throughout the whole of last week and showed no signs of ill health, one banker noted.

Statement from DBS
DBS announced today CEO Richard Stanley has been diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia and will be commencing medical treatment in Singapore immediately.Medical diagnosis confirmed that his form of leukemia is treatable and full remission is possible. Stanley is expected to take a leave of absence from the bank of about three to six months as he undergoes medical treatment.

What is acute myelogenous leukemia?
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow - the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made.The word 'acute' in acute myelogenous leukemia denotes the disease's rapid progression and the fact that it affects immature blood cells, rather than mature ones. It's called myelogenous (MI-uh-loj-uh-nus) leukemia because it affects a group of white blood cells called the myeloid cells, which normally develop into the various types of mature blood cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

On Sunday, after a Lunar New Year reunion dinner, Mr Stanley started having a cough and was running a fever. It is not known who were at the dinner, but the 48-year old banker, whose Singaporean wife is Ms Koh Li Peng, a former model and beauty queen, has three children aged 19, 18 and six.

Mr Stanley, a veteran Citibanker who took over the helm of DBS in May last year, sought treatment for what appeared to be "flu-like symptoms" early on Monday morning. He was warded the next day.

After conducting a series of tests, doctors at Mount Elizabeth on Thursday morning confirmed that he is suffering from acute myelogenous leukemia and advised him to undergo immediate chemotheraphy.

He is expected to on three to six-month medical leave. During his absence, chairman Koh Boon Hwee will oversee management of the company.

Some DBS staff went down to the hospital to visit him on Wednesday and said that he was still in good spirits.

"He was encouraging us to make him proud and determined to beat this, and wants to get back to work as soon as possible," said DBS spokesman Karen Ngui.

In an internal memorandum to staff members obtained by The Straits Times, Mr Koh urged DBS employees to rally together to take the bank forward during these "challenging times".
Mr Koh said that Mr Stanley has asked him to tell employees that he believes that crisis make or break people.

"Likewise for organisations. When we take things in our stride and refuse to allow the challenges we face to break our spirits, we become stronger...both as individuals and more importantly as a team," Mr Koh wrote.

(source: www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_331868.html )

My comments:
Why more and more people are suffering from cancer? This reminds me of my mother-in-law who passed on 15 Nov 2008 after struggling with cancer and its treatment for close to 14 years.
Despite medical advances, cancer remains incurable completely. Those who are in remission are just like carrying a time-bomb, who may explode when one is least expected.

I often wonder if one should seek treatment after being diagnoised with cancer. I may be asking a real insensible question. But if one is fully aware of the various treatment and the side-effects that follow, one may agree with my opinion.