"Cancer Centre at Fiona Stanley Hospital"

Hi

I am a 15 year veteran of Terminal Cancer and below is my story.

I was diagnosed  with Terminal Carcinoid Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Cancer In 2010. I was transferred to Fiona Stanley Hospital from Fremantle Hospital upon the opening of Fiona Stanley. 

 My disease was untreatable due to its location and size. I was offered an experimental treatment with Professor Harvey Turner. This was extremely successful and shrunk the tumour to 1/3 its size and it sat dormant for 6 years.

 After the 6 years of regular scans it was decided that a Whipple Procedure was our next option. This was very successful and after a 12.5 hr surgery I was discharged from the hospital on day 6. 

 12 months later we discovered a tumour in my liver. An Oblation was performed which was also successful. Unfortunately 12 months later we discovered 2 new tumours in my liver. After a infection scare was sorted we had another Oblation and also a resection of the tumours. Once again this procedure was successful. However, and there always appears to be these hiccups along our journey 12 months later they discovered a cluster of tumours in my liver. It was decided that SERTS procedure was the answer to my problems. Once again this was a great success however once again 12 months later we discovered multiple tumours throughout my body. The winner was my liver is clean with no new tumours.

These new tumours were located in my spine, lung and sternum. This time the agreed treatment was Oral Chemotherapy. It was decided that after my first series of Chemo we would have more scans which showed the results weren't as good as we would have liked. We changed to a IV type of Chemo and after 3 treatments the results were, as the Oncologist reported. The Roles Royce of results. However my bloods and bone marrow had been compromised so it was decided that we take a 3 month break to allow recovery.

After this break and further scans it was discovered that the NET Tumour in my lung had changed into a small cell aggressive type of tumour. Alarm bells rang and we went to a new type of IV Chemo. After 3 cycles of Chemo the scan results weren't not as we would have liked. No new tumours but some growth in the existing Tumours. We then returned to the previous Chemo which I have now just completed my 3rd round and have scans in a couple of week which will hopefully give us some more Roles Royce outcomes.

Please note that this is the extremely short version of my journey. It does not include 3 month of a antibiotic pump, 2 x 4 month lung drains amongst other things. But thanks to the Oology and Nuclear medicine teams at Fiona Stanley my wife and I have been able to continue some caravan tours and overseas travel throughout this 15 year journey.

I would like to specifically name a couple  of outstanding people who have been on this journey with us. I am now on my 3rd Oncologist as they have been retiring on me. The first was Dr Phillip who with Professor Harvey Turner offered the experimental treatment. Next is Professor Mohamad who performed my Whipple Procedure. My second Oncologist was Dr Ransom who was fantastic. My 3rd, current and most definitely my favourite Oncologist (apologies for taking sides) is Dr Piyush whom we have built an amazing trust, and understanding of each other.

 We cannot forget the amazing support team of Clinical Nurses, radio therapists, Nuclear Medicine department, Chemotherapy team and of course the admin staff at the hospital.

I regularly talk with people who are on a similar journey to myself at different hospitals around the country who have major issues with the medical services they have been provided. I am quite taken back with some of the problems they are confronted with. 

On the other hand, when I tell them of my second to none outstanding and personnel services that Fiona Stanley provide not only to me but also my family they too are taken back. I have nothing but praise for the team of professionals who have not only kept me alive for all these years but have allowed my wife and I to live out an amazing life while living with terminal cancer.

Things are starting to get a little bit tougher now but once again thanks to this amazing team we are still able to enjoy some travels and most importantly time our family and beautiful Grand Children.

Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou Fiona Stanley Medical Team who have gone over  and above with their provided services.