My Cancer Story

In 1995 I received some news that has changed my life forever.

The start of this story goes back to 1993 when I had moved away from Victoria and was working in Tasmania whilst playing cricket for the Sorrell Cricket Club, in their first ever season. I was not a very good player and spent more time getting hit by, rather than hitting the ball. I noticed on several occasions that I developed some really big and ugly bruises on my legs and upper body from being hit. These seemed strange but I just put it down to not moving the bat quickly enough.

I moved back to Melbourne not long after and spent sometime helping some friends start their own business. The work was stressful and I was feeling very fatigued and run down. I was getting some blood noses and just felt totally drained. Again, I ignored this and wrote the way I was feeling off saying I was working to hard and needed a holiday. Late October in 1995 I noticed a large swelling in my belly (No, I was not pregnant!). I monitored this for a few weeks and thought maybe I was just eating too much at night and needed to change my diet (another excuse not to see a doctor). Finally I decided that it was too much and I should have it looked at.

I went to my local GP and after much poking and prodding, by him and his colleges he sent me straight to Box Hill Hospital for more tests. He said, “We think we know what it is but we want you to have some tests”. After a day of tests and waiting the person who was looking after me sat me down and said, “Your white blood cell count is off the chart and we have no device that can measure it for you. The swelling is your spleen and it has enlarged to the size of a football. It is very close to exploding and we would like you too be admitted for treatment to bring the swelling down.” I asked how this had occurred and he advised these were symptoms and he believed I had Leukaemia (cancer in my blood).

My first reaction was to ask “What do I have to do to beat this?”

I started a course of chemotherapy to bring down the spleen and get my white cell count into line. I was then put on to a drug called interferon. Thankfully there have been advancements since and this drug as been replaced with some new and exciting treatments that seem to be far more affective. I had to inject myself twice a day and the side effects included, major mood swings, erratic behavior, constant nausea and changes to taste. This changed me dramatically and I became very moody. I was not a pleasant person to be around. It affected all aspects of my life and many of my friends and acquaintances were unable to deal with the changes. Only close friends and family stuck by me. I look back and understand this and I forgive those who moved away or could not deal with me at that time.

I am extremely passionate about improving the flow of information to people who are in the same situation now and strongly support the work of The Leukaemia Foundation and The Cancer Council in their efforts to educate and advise patients, carers, friends and family as well as supporting research and development of new drugs, procedures and treatments for all types of cancers including blood cancers and disorders.

I stayed on interferon until May 1998. It was very affective in keeping me alive and I would definitely do it again if it was my only option.

Early in 1998 my Luekaemia, which was a rare form called Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML), advanced to the next stage. This is known as the “Aggressive” stage and doesn’t last long. The illness would have then progressed to the “Blast” stage and that is when my comfort would have become my main concern. Whilst I was on interferon my specialist and his team, at The Alfred Hospital, were searching the Bone Marrow Donors Register for a match to my bone marrow. This was because after my family was tested we discovered that they were unable to help and although a male sibling would have been my best shot for a transplant the register provided the possibility of a non related donor with similar bone marrow to be found. I had my hopes up once, prior to the illness progressing, when we found a possible in the USA but after further tests the gap was too great to bridge. I was making some plans and getting my affairs in order when my specialist contacted me and said he had found someone in Sydney (thank you, whoever you are) that had just registered, the match was very close and he would like to perform the transplant in May.

I was very excited and focused my life in on my health and well being. I stopped work and decided that nothing was going to interfere with me getting better. I was a little naïve at the time and also thought that my smoking didn’t really have a major bearing. My specialist heard I was still smoking whilst in hospital and simply stated that if I continued to smoke at that time I would die. I stopped then, but did resume 6 months later. I can now say I have given up completely and feel great.

In early May 1998 the old Dean was killed. All of my bone marrow was destroyed by chemotherapy and radiation. I had many tests and procedures at the time including bone marrow biopsies, which involved a big corkscrew (for want of a better word) inserted in my hip to take samples of my bone marrow as it was being destroyed. These procedures were particularly painful as I had to be awake so I could react and move when needed. The saving grace was the drugs, used to sedate me. I used to focus on getting high so that I could get through. This made them more bearable.

A very small amount of bone marrow, collected from my donor in a relatively simple procedure, was planted, in a procedure not unlike a blood transfusion. I was then treated with drugs and steroids to make the implant grow and to develop my new blood. These treatments had their own side effects including altered moods, increased aggression and fatigue. This coupled with the side effects from chemo and radiation such as, memory loss, altered taste and constant nausea made me feel very sick, but also very determined to get better.

I had decided not to work for anyone else and 6 months after my treatment I started doing courier work a few days a week. My face was like a big beach ball, due to the drugs I was taking and my moods were not very nice, so I was very determined to keep a low profile and not talk to many people unless I really had to. The work was great and I was outdoors lifting and working hard. My strength grew quickly and I bought a new ute devoting myself to working my own hours and getting to the appointments I needed for my health. I drove 270,000kms in 3 years and my strength had returned. I decided then to go back to the bank and re establish my mind skills for doing home loans. I worked in the bank for 9 months and felt comfortable with my ability to learn and diarise important events and tasks. My memory loss was now countered by my diligence in recording everything and keeping accurate notes. I started working as a self employed mortgage broker in 2002 and haven’t looked back.

Whilst I have had issues with my health over the years I have not let that affect my work and have done things to counter the side effects in my working life. I now have very strong people around me, including my beautiful wife Michelle, who are vigilant in supporting me and do not judge me based on a bad day. I could not be happier with my life.

I now attend a transplant support group with The Leukaemia Foundation. This is for patients and carers who have been through a transplant and are keen to get their lives back in order. I also volunteer for The Cancer Council and I am determined to raise as much money as possible for both organizations.

The Cancer Council has a Cancer Help Line, 13 11 20, this is available for people who have concerns or queries about any form of cancer, including blood cancers and disorders and trained nurses are on hand to answer any questions and provide support. The Leukaemia Foundation is also available on 1800 620 420 for anyone who needs assistance.

To support The Leukaemia Foundation I am available for Public Speaking about:

Life - Reasons to Live it Well
Leukaemia - Life after Illness
Debt - Use It then Lose It.

Please email me at speaker@deanlynch.com.au for more information.

Also, please check the following websites for support and information about these vital organisations.

www.leukaemia.org.au

www.talkbloodcancer.com

www.cancervic.org.au

www.livestrong.org - The Lance Armstrong Foundation


Thank you for reading my story.

Dean.