2) Introduction and diagnosis

INTRODUCTION

In this letter we explain how we deal with the communication of 'You have cancer "in the last 15 months have been dealt, what choice we have made edNatuurlijk we made a number of even our opinion, must be pointed out that an opinion is no more an experience and the feeling you get while, of course, is not based on research or whatever. In the note we will try to give some tips, they are also not "saving" is more what we do with the message: "You have cancer" are handled.
Important tip is of course that you do not put down, keep on fighting not only medically but also some quality in your life. Everyone will have to do it his way, we want to show that against it to you at least have a feel for your life meaningful results, even though you medical depreciated.
Given my profession I am used to a report in sections to share. The following story is divided into stage programs that we have experienced over the past few months. Phase's medically and emotionally.


PHASE PERIOD 1 MAY 2000 T / M NOVEMBER 2000
DIAGNOSIS

My name is Bert
Born 1953
Married to Marije
Marije two children, myself 5
Marije manager, director myself
Living in Naarden, Floris resident nine years (three days a week), Bass 8 years, 5 years Dirk
Marije My wife describes it from her experiences: on the sidelines.

In May 2000 our company was a customer of a kart race organized by my poor driving skills I managed to cross oncoming karts to draw nice blow and caused considerable pain on my right side just below my rib cage.
After the pain after a couple of weeks have not gone more into my back and went to the doctor, x-ray. Result: it was vague as to see, just look at persistent pain after the summer further investigation. It noted that the doctor had told me many years to have problems with my back.

Pains continued, more and more during the day, went to my back, bottom. After the summer, in September 2000 back to the doctor, decided to back a picture. Word cancer cases had ever made me so sure, but it actually spoke to anyone. Blamed it on my back, but crowding in retrospect. X-ray result: probably some problems at the bottom of my spine but was told there is no visible cancer. Had an appointment with orthopedist made. The deal was of course tig weeks later.

In the following period took pains dramatically, at one point could not do anything just sit and lie down. Became exhausted, the world went past me, lost much weight, my left eye became increasingly depend.

Marije saw me growing and changing just really busy with pain processing, in no way longer functioned in the home / at work.

In early November she was in despair, without my knowing, she contacted my brother, an insurance agent with some contacts in the medical area. She wanted a scan was not yet fifty weeks to wait. Through my brother finally found an expert who was prepared for a referral, we believe the only commercial scanning institute in the Netherlands, write. Cool of the specialist did not see me. Within one day I was able to scan the institute in Amsterdam.
Scan of my back was made because of the pain a tedious half hour. On returning home I immediately go to sleep.
When I came downstairs in the living room were Marije and a brother of mine, she looked troubled out. They told me they were called by the specialists and cancer metastases were among my rugkolom far upwards. Pieces of my spine were damaged or completely. away. His advice was entering the emergency department of a hospital and let me record. Hit me, hit me, I felt completely numb. Really just wanted the pain, and sleep.

To the emergency room at UMC, examinations, X-rays and a lung scan. Two days later the rash. The doctor who I could communicate the results were not discoverable, and after what appeared to call on holidays. Marije furious and demanded the result was finally found someone who wanted to go into the file and then called us. Sorry for the state of affairs, had studied the file and unfortunately lung tumors in both lungs and metastases in my spine. Looked very bleak, we assumed that the large cell lung cancer. Medical advice hospitalization for further research and asap start with radiation to the back pain as pain reduction. Received prescriptions for the pain along. I was mostfocused, and taken immediately picked up the pain finally began to decline .. I had cancer was unreal and I was so tired from the pain under control it really was a blessing. Then of course all sorts of contacts with your loved ones, emotions and so on. For me it unreal, unreal, as if talking about another.

Two days after admission to hospital the same day a bronchoscopy was performed. We got a couple of hours later the results:, small cell lung cancer. (Doctors had expected large cell). Medici said that the advantage was that there were responsive chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer would return loss seen small cell lung cancer aggressiveness and metastasis degree. Chemo would start next day. Of course we were not happy but relieved that we at least have a chance to extend from months to years had.

The first day after chemotherapy administration received a few days after leaving hospital, outpatient follow-through chemo.

For me it is still unrealistic and really just trying to sleep, catch up month and so glad I no longer had pain.

Looking back:
- X-rays appear in such "vague" that even the great extent of my cancer did not reflect. Marije happy that the scan was arranged. Later still demanded that scans were no more confidence in radiographs. You immediately encounter the problem in the Netherlands, waiting lists for scans of weeks.
- Little support from hospital, a total of maybe 20 minutes speaking with specialists. Many questions we had of course, completely overwhelmed. Start coaching course already started badly when the first notice it on doctor was on vacation ..
- You hide yourself too much.
- Diagnosis in the Netherlands you hear from others taking far too long, and actually started in May by Marije a breakthrough in November Imagine no scan, think a few more weeks would have been end of exercise.
- Not only me but also your whole environment, neighbors are excited, victim.