Cancer-ridden physician says goodbye to his followers

His message was as heart-wrenching as it was clear, reading: “I probably won't be here for much longer, so if anyone has anything they want to say to me, please feel free to do so. I think I'll be gone by the middle of next month.

See you in the next life. Right now, this is about as much as I can type. Thank you for everything over the past 30 years. I apologise if I've ever made anyone unhappy.”

Dr Krittai, a 30-year-old medical professor with the Department of Family Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, had a promising future ahead of him.

Since 2022, he has been known throughout Thailand as the owner of the “Su Di Va” page and as a patient in the terminal stage of lung cancer. It is believed that PM 2.5 dust pollution played a role in causing his illness.

The “Su Di Va” page chronicled Dr Krittai’s courageous battle against his illness and offered inspiration to others facing serious diseases. It also emphasised the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of air pollution caused by PM 2.5 and adopting a positive perspective on life.

While contending with his illness and recognising that he would not recover, Dr Krittai married the love of his life just last month, purchased a home, and embarked on various journeys.

Here's a summary of Dr Krittai's journey in his battle against lung cancer:

• In October 2022, Dr. Krittai was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer that had metastasised to his brain. He underwent surgery, went through a course of chemotherapy, and underwent radiation therapy.

• In November 2022, he created the “Su Di Va” page to share his story, writing about his hair loss and various side effects from the chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

• In December 2022, after three months of treatment, a CT scan revealed a reduction in the size of the lung tumour, with no further spread to other organs. However, the brain cancer remained uncontrolled due to the limited effectiveness of medication.

• By January 2023, Dr Krittai’s condition had improved, allowing him to resume physical activities like playing basketball and cycling. He also returned to work and continued teaching students.

• In February 2023, follow-up scans showed a shrinkage of the brain tumour, but the appearance of three new tumours. Subsequent checks identified a total of 13 brain tumours, leading to seizures and necessitating radiation therapy on his head, affecting normal brain areas.

• In March 2023, he experienced severe side effects, including swelling of the brain, intense headaches, and bleeding from the tumours.

• By April 2023, after six months of treatment, the right lung tumour had reduced by half, the small left lung tumour had nearly disappeared, and the brain tumours were stable. No new growth was detected in other organs, and there was no spread to the bones, liver, kidneys, lungs, or lymph nodes. A single remaining tumour pressed against his ribs, causing pain.

However, it seems he feels that the time has come to bid farewell.

Dr Krittai previously highlighted the issue of PM 2.5 pollution, emphasising that Thailand has consistently ranked among the countries with severe dust problems. 

He stressed the need for serious government initiatives, clear prioritisation of the measures to be taken, and addressing the root causes of PM 2.5 pollution in each specific area, extending beyond forest fires or traffic congestion, to achieve a sustainable solution.

On March 2, 2023, in a post on the “Su Di Va” page, Dr Krittai stated: “This morning, I woke up with an AQI (Air Quality Index) of 186 in the room where I'm waiting for radiation treatment. I'm not saying that the smoke and dust in Chiang Mai is the sole factor that caused my cancer, but I can’t deny it has had an impact.”