Now, Billy is back to being his trim self. Photo: Dongfang Billy

"Goodbye" DVD

He also disclosed that he and his cancer-stricken brother were planning a "goodbye" DVD to be played at their wakes.

Now that he is in remission, does the DVD seem morbid?

Wang believes everyone should start planning for their own funeral whether they are ill or healthy.

"You don't want to leave behind regrets when you're gone," he said.

"Besides, I'm sure everyone wants to be in charge of their own lives. Why should someone else plan your funeral for you"

"It is yours and you should take ownership of it."

He added that the DVD has been completed and is with his lawyer for safeguarding.

As part of his recovery, Wang said the US doctors encouraged him to take up belly dancing.

"Belly dancing focuses on movements in the waist area; not only does it help to strengthen one's bones and knees, apparently it is also good for the intestines," said Wang.

"I'd belly dance six days a week, 11/2 hours in the morning and another one hour at night." The routine soon paid off and he began to lose weight.

"After I dropped 5kg, my confidence went up," he said with a laugh.

Proud of hisachievement, his doctors in Texas nicknamed him "Asia's King of Patients".

Now, four months after his bone marrow transplant, he weighs a healthy 79kg.

Aside from dancing, Wang immerses himself in activities such as painting and playing the ocarina (a flute-like wind instrument). They give him a peaceful state of mind and ease boredom, he said.

He would have loved to play the guzheng (a Chinese zither) instead, as he is well-versed in it, he said.

"But I couldn't find one in Texas. So at a friend's recommendation, I started playing the ocarina."

Painting, too, helped to ease away negative thoughts, though it now holds bitter memories for him.

"When I was in Texas, there was a female patient next to me who was really negative about life," he said.

"We began painting together and it was during those sessions that I found her to be most relaxed and happy," he said.

Sadly, he heard recently that she had died.

Wang said he keeps himself in "tip-top condition", ensuring that his diet is "starch-free" and that he has at least eight hours of sleep every day.

When he is back in Singapore, Wang will resume the classes he conducts at his studio, Billy House. These include dance, exercise and cooking classes.

From next month, he will start volunteering thrice a month at different hospitals and local welfare organisations.

"I've gained a wealth of experience over the past few months and I hope to share them with (people who are) battling cancer.

"It's a tough journey, but nobody should give up hope on themselves."

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This article was first published in The New Paper.