Latest news with #PMP
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Scrabble buffs square off in Penang showdown
DRAWING the Q, X or Z tiles in a game of Scrabble is a blessing, if you are a maestro at it. These rare tiles can help you form words that rake in high scores in this generations-old game first created in 1938. To help you score seven-letter bingos, use special websites and apps to make your mind adept at playing with anagrams. These and many more tips came from Scrabble buffs at the Penang Open Scrabble Tournament here. Out of 465 participants, 200 made it into the grand finals in the primary and secondary school categories and the open category. 'Of the rare tiles, my favourite is Z. It is a more versatile letter and you can make more words with it compared with others like Q or X,' said Leon Ng, 18. That said, his proudest Scrabble move came when he scored a whopping 307 points with the word 'bouquets'. 'I love Scrabble. I've played thousands of rounds online over many hours for the past six years, with people from all over the world. 'It is more than just a game, it's a way for me to connect with others and, at the same time, challenge myself,' said Leon, a finalist in the open category this year after dominating the tournament in the secondary school category last year. He honed his skills by using online tools, word study apps, and Scrabble quizzes. (From left) Malaysia Scrabble Association acting president Mohammad Ali Ismail, Penang Scrabble Club former president Tan Khee Chiang, Ong, Jagdeep, Penang STEM chief executive officer Datuk Chung Chok Yin, Flextronics learning and development manager Sanjeet Mohan, PSDC senior technologist Tham Kok Kee and CKC representative Cheong Vi Hua after the tournament opening. His personal best was a score of 740 points in official tournaments while online, he once raked in 900 points. Another seasoned player, retiree Ng Chee Eng, 64, sees the game as the perfect mental workout. 'It keeps my mind alert. Scrabble isn't just for the young,' he added. Held at the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) Bayan Lepas, the two-day grand final was organised by the Penang Math Platform (PMP) with support from Malaysia Scrabble Association (MSA). Event sponsors were CKC Food Industries Sdn Bhd and Flextronics Technology Penang that contributed RM11,000 to cover prizes, meals, workshops and logistical costs. PMP general manager Johnny Ong said the tournament grew significantly even with it just in its second year. 'Last year, we had 340 participants. This year, we have 465,' he said. Ong said players from Sabah, Pahang, Melaka, Selangor and Perak took part in the finals too. More than just a battle of vocabulary, the tournament reflected Penang's unique approach of blending language mastery with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the pursuit of a future-ready generation. Winners walked away with cash prizes, trophies and medals. Ong said the MSA confirmed a new national participation record in this year's tournament. He said the event highlighted Penang's broader vision of leveraging education to drive future economic growth. 'Penang STEM, a state-level initiative, has been instrumental in providing synergistic support for students through platforms like the PMP, Tech Dome Penang and Penang Science Cluster. 'Together, these centres have delivered hundreds of STEM-related programmes reaching hundreds of thousands of students and educators nationwide,' he said. Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, who launched the tournament, said English proficiency was critical for students as it was the global language of STEM. 'This aligns with recent calls from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to strengthen English language proficiency in schools,' he said. 'The state government continues to champion education as a core pillar of its Penang2030 vision to become a family-focused, green and smart state. 'Events like this tournament not only inspire young minds but also reflect the state's commitment to preparing its youth for careers in key industries such as electronics, aerospace, medical technology, and food innovation.' Scrabble was invented by Alfred Mosher Butts, an American architect who loved word games. The game gained popularity after entrepreneur James Brunot bought the rights in the late 1940s and made minor changes. In the early 1950s, Scrabble became a household name.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
UK woman forced to have 13 organs removed after Xmas party
A UK woman has shared the devastating moment she discovered her body was riddled with cancer after initially believing she just had food poisoning. Rebecca Hind started feeling sick after an office Christmas party in 2018 but thought nothing of it until the illness persisted for eight weeks. The 39-year-old took herself to the doctors and after a CT scan and multiple biopsies she was diagnosed with a rare cancer that affects only one in a million people. 'By the time they found it, I was pretty much riddled with it,' Ms Hind told The Telegraph. 'It was heartbreaking. But I've just got to try to get on with life, and deal with whatever comes my way.' The cancer is called pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) and is the same type of cancer that killed Audrey Hepburn. Rebecca Hind. Credit: GoFundMe The cancer usually starts in the appendix and spreads through the abdomen via cancerous cells that release a jelly-like substance. After the diagnosis, Ms Hind had to undergo two surgeries which resulted in thirteen of her organs being removed, including her appendix, gallbladder, spleen, large bowel, womb, uterus, ovaries and cervix. Heartbreakingly the surgeries and eight gruelling chemotherapy rounds weren't enough to eradicate the disease and in 2020 Ms Hind was told the cancer is terminal. She now takes 60 tablets a day and can only consume an electrolyte fluid and food supplements. Despite the challenges life has thrown at her, Ms Hind refuses to let the terminal cancer stop her from living life to the fullest. Rebecca Hind. Credit: GoFundMe 'I turn 40 this year and I want to say yes to everything. I've been surfing, in a hot air balloon and dog sledding so far,' she said. 'The message I want to get across is when you have a stoma or an incurable diagnosis, things will be incredibly difficult. My daily life is a rollercoaster. 'But with the right attitude, you can still achieve a lot and more importantly, enjoy whatever time you have.' In September, Ms Hind will take part in a bike event which aims to challenge peoples' perspective of stage four cancer. The event will also help raise vital funds for cancer charities. You can donate to her GoFundMe here.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
UK woman dismisses symptoms as food poisoning, ends up losing 13 organs to rare cancer
According to a report by the People, PMP is a rare mucinous cancer that spreads within the abdominal cavity by secreting mucin, a thick substance found in mucus. It often leads to abdominal swelling, pain, nausea, and changes in appetite. In Hind's case, the cancer had already spread extensively by the time it was diagnosed. In April 2019, at the age of 34, Hind underwent her first major operation, during which her appendix, umbilicus, lesser omentum and over 1.6 gallons of mucin were removed. Following this, she endured eight gruelling rounds of chemotherapy. But the treatment didn't end there. As The Mirror reported, in November 2019 she underwent another major operation that included the removal of her gallbladder, spleen, large bowel, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, rectum, part of her stomach and small bowel, the surface layer of her liver and both sides of her diaphragm. Today, Hind relies on 50 to 60 tablets daily, including pain relief and hormone therapy. Despite such life-altering procedures, Hind has remained resilient. 'I turn 40 this year and I want to say yes to everything. I've been surfing, in a hot air balloon and dog sledding so far,' she told The Mirror. 'The message I want to get across is when you have a stoma or an incurable diagnosis, things will be incredibly difficult. My daily life is a rollercoaster,' she added. 'But with the right attitude, you can still achieve a lot. And more importantly, enjoy whatever time you have.' Hind has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to support others living with PMP. 'In September, I'm going to take part in Chris Hoy's 'Tour de 4', a bike event which aims to challenge people's perspective of Stage 4 cancer,' she wrote. Despite the recent discovery of a new tumour and another surgery that left her hospitalised for six weeks, she remains committed to completing the 90km ride. Any funds raised, she says, will be donated to Pseudomyxoma Survivor, a patient-run charity that supports individuals affected by this rare disease. Hind, who says she has 'essentially run out of treatment options,' remains focused on helping others—and living each day to the fullest.
NDTV
25-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
UK Woman Mistook Symptoms For Food Poisoning, Later Lost 13 Organs To Rare Cancer
A woman in the UK had 13 of her internal organs surgically removed after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Despite facing life-altering medical challenges, she has committed to living her life to the fullest, the People reported. Rebecca Hind, 39, from Cumbria in northwest England, first began feeling unwell after an office Christmas party in late 2018. Initially believing she had food poisoning, her symptoms persisted for weeks. After undergoing multiple tests, she was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a rare mucin-producing cancer that affects just one in a million people, according to medical experts. By the time doctors detected the disease, it had spread extensively through her abdominal cavity, requiring immediate and aggressive treatment. Hind underwent multiple major surgeries, including one in April 2019 to remove her appendix and part of her abdominal lining, followed by eight rounds of chemotherapy. In a second surgery later that year, surgeons removed several of her internal organs, including her spleen, gallbladder, womb, ovaries, bowel, rectum, cervix, fallopian tubes, parts of her stomach and liver, and both sides of her diaphragm. She now lives with a stoma and survives on electrolyte fluids and dozens of tablets daily. Speaking to British media, Hind said she was determined to focus on life beyond her illness. "My daily life is a rollercoaster. But with the right attitude, you can still achieve a lot," she said, adding that she had already gone surfing, hot-air ballooning and dog sledging. As part of her efforts to raise awareness about life with Stage 4 cancer, Hind plans to participate in the 'Tour de 4' cycling event led by Olympian Sir Chris Hoy later this year, aiming to complete the full 90 km route. She has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to support cancer survivors and raise funds for Pseudomyxoma Survivor, a patient-run charity supporting those diagnosed with PMP. Her campaign has so far raised $1,800. Hind, who has run out of treatment options, says she hopes to use whatever time she has left to inspire others and advocate for better support and visibility for patients living with incurable conditions.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Woman, 39, Thought She Had Food Poisoning. Turned Out It Was a Rare Form of Cancer and She Had to Have 13 Organs Removed
A woman had 13 internal organs removed following a 2019 cancer diagnosis Rebecca Hind of Cumbria, England, initially thought she had food poisoning after feeling unwell following an office Christmas party — but she began to suspect something more was going on when she didn't fully recover after two months Hind, 39, was ultimately diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei (or PMP), a rare mucinous cancerA woman had 13 of her internal organs removed following a rare cancer diagnosis. Rebecca Hind of Cumbria, England, first began feeling unwell after an office Christmas party in December 2018, according to The Telegraph. The now-former outdoor educator, 39, initially thought she had a bout of food poisoning, but when she hadn't fully recovered after eight weeks, she knew something more was going on. After several visits to her doctor, a CT scan and biopsies, Hind was diagnosed with a rare mucinous cancer called pseudomyxoma peritonei (or PMP), which affects about one in a million people. According to the Cleveland Clinic, PMP "spreads by secreting mucin, a component of mucus, inside your abdominal cavity." Symptoms, which often develop slowly, can include abdominal distension and pain, nausea, loss of appetite and constipation. The cancer cells spread beyond the abdominal cavity to other organs — which is what had happened in Hind's case. 'By the time they found it, I was pretty much riddled with it,' she told The Telegraph, adding, 'It was heartbreaking. But I've just got to try to get on with life, and deal with whatever comes my way.' In April 2019, when Hind was 34, she underwent an initial surgery in which doctors removed her appendix and umbilicus, lesser omentum and about 1.6 gallons of mucin. She then did eight rounds of chemotherapy in an attempt to shrink the remaining tumors. However, in November 2019, doctors were forced to remove additional organs and body parts, including her greater omentum, gallbladder, spleen, large bowel, womb, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and rectum, according to The Mirror. Surgeons also removed a portion of her stomach and small bowel, and the surface layer of her liver and both sides of her diaphragm. She is now restricted to a diet of electrolyte fluids and a daily cocktail of 50 to 60 tablets, including codeine, Imodium and hormone replacement therapy, per the outlet. Despite her immense health challenges, Hind has refused to let her illness define her. 'I turn 40 this year and I want to say yes to everything. I've been surfing, in a hot air balloon and dog sledding so far,' she told The Mirror. "The message I want to get across is when you have a stoma or an incurable diagnosis, things will be incredibly difficult. My daily life is a rollercoaster,' she continued. 'But with the right attitude, you can still achieve a lot. And more importantly, enjoy whatever time you have." Hind has since set up a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds for cancer survivors and research. 'In September, I'm going to take part in Chris Hoy's 'Tour de 4', a bike event which aims to challenge people's perspective of Stage 4 cancer as well as raise vital funds for cancer charities,' she wrote in a message on the page. 'As a Stage 4 patient with a penchant for biking, I couldn't turn this down and not being one for half measures, I'm aiming to complete the full 90km route!!' she added. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Hind also wrote that 'this is going to be a particularly big challenge' for her, as doctors discovered 'a large tumor' in her pelvis last summer, which led to another surgery and a six-week hospitalization. Hind, who said she has 'essentially run out of treatment options,' plans to donate any funds she receives to Pseudomyxoma Survivor, 'a small nonprofit organization run by patients and caregivers to assist those affected by PMP.' The GoFundMe has raised $1,500 toward an ultimate goal of $1,760 as of May 24. Read the original article on People
