Mr Pang (not his real name) is a 69 years old Singaporean Chinese.
Aside from slight anemia, he is relatively healthy for his age.
Since his retirement a few years ago, he has been taking life easy, going to the stadium to catch local football matches, hanging out with friends at the coffee shop, helping out at the temple, or simply watching TV programmes at home.
Things changed when he was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), which hinders normal urine flow. There were two options: take medication and wear a catheter (for the long-term), or undergo operation to solve the problem permanently.
Mr Pang, like many traditional elderly persons, chose the first option, because the thought of going for an operation makes him cringe.
And so, Mr Pang has been wearing a catheter for the last 12 months, which has changed his lifestyle. He no longer watches football matches at the stadium. He has shortened his time spent with neighbours at the coffee shop. And he has become moody and short-tempered, because of the discomfort, inconvenience and embarrassment of wearing a catheter.
During his last medical check-up at the hospital, another urologist again encouraged him to go for an operation. This time, Mr Pang consented, because the doctor convinced him that the operation is a small procedure, and the chances of success is very high. Perhaps the fact that renowned local politicians have also undergone the procedure, and survived, helped Mr Pang to overcome his fear of operations.
So, Mr Pang underwent the operation for BPH, and is able to live normally once.
Mr Pang is a happy man now, because life is back to normal, and he can continue doing the things he enjoy doing.
If Mr Pang has chosen not to go for the operation because of fear, he would have been robbed of a normal life.