16. The period that we continue looking until March / m in June 2001

Phase 3 period March 2001 t / m in June 2001

This is the period that we decided to focus our attention more than just the treatments in the Netherlands.   The hard part is that you do not know where to begin. We had the wildest plans, such as a medical student and then hire on the internet all treatments in the world in the field of lung cancer in card to bring.

Fortunately we were quickly through my sister who eagerly for us on the Internet searching was drawn to the existence of the American organization 'CanHelp. (See page other alternatives ) and that was a relief. Finally an organization that argued from the cancer patient and not from the medical profession, from grants, fees from what is technically / was not possible and from the dogma that a physician or / and not want to do. An independent organization that you could turn on all charges and treatments worldwide for your specific situation in a row set. And quickly responded that we were not used in the Netherlands. After we had sent the medical file (vertaald!), we got the advice within 1 week at home. And that opened a world of possibilities that we previously thought possible.  

In the period that we have the treatment in the Netherlands continue (for the 5th chemotherapy was not completed), we read the opinion of CanHelp (see Dutch performance report on page cancers, lung cancer ) and decided to contact the German doctors in it were called.   An appointment was made ​​quickly and to our surprise, the professor took over an hour to talk to us. Not only the medical diagnosis and treatment followed by my husband, but also to talk to us about our motivation and what he did for us to do. And instead of a negative attitude he gave us courage and said it was difficult and would be a tough job but if you wanted to fight, there's always hope. And that he was willing to fight them. Bewildered, we drove back. But it gave us the courage that the battle was not over. And there were doctors that you wanted to go. And that made ​​the choice pretty simple. He has in no way a guarantee. He has no way false hopes. He was honest, direct and open. He expected a lot from us. Much you have to choose and prescribe the most important was that he demanded of us that we were going to make!

What was and is remarkable is that the doctors in Germany were always taking time for us. The professor drew always at least one hour for an interview. A stark contrast to the 10 minutes in the Netherlands.

We decided by common agreement the first treatment in the Netherlands and then to finalize an agreement with him to determine how to proceed. What appealed to us in his treatment method was that he was not afraid of the regular methods such as chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but that did not stop there. He specializes in the field of imuuntherapie. In addition, said the German approach us, not just talk about the 'quality of life "as is so often done in the Netherlands and often that means that only x-treatments, but go to great lengths to be the enemy below get! All resources needed to deploy! That meant at first that there are two cycles of chemotherapy were similar to those followed in the Netherlands were given. This order imuuntherapie a good chance of winning it. I will not elaborate on the theory surrounding the immunotherapy, there is enough literature.  

We had some hope again, and turned our attention more than a few weeks and slowly started to make some room for making plans, including vacation plans. We were directed back to life and take time to enjoy things. Together a weekend away, a little trip with the kids, eating, etc.. Our motto was' It is what it is and from there again! ". We lived back instead of just survive!

That we beamed back out to the area and that was effective. You also noticed that by that time others also picked up their own lives. The weird thing was that you sometimes just felt abandoned by people because they suddenly had no more attention and focused very much on its own. That was a transition that we sometimes had difficulties with. "Life goes on, apparently!", Then we said to each other.

Emotions we had today and there was still uncertainty but we had the idea that more 'time' had on business. And "one year" sounds a long time!

Tips

·         Look for opportunities for treatment at home and abroad and looking for an agency or organization that you can to support it. For us, that CanHelp. (See page other alternatives ) Organize people around you who can help you find out for everything and just get this straight you do not succeed, especially if you have no medical background.

·         Choose something, no matter what, and what treatment, but go ahead and go against it.

·         Take the time to live and to enjoy things again. Take the time to do things with others, especially with your children. Pick the days and times when you feel good.

Take pictures in all periods and holding them in an album, make a kind of report for yourself on what you experience and what happened.