I would like to invite you to read the accompanying link to vital information which will have an enormous impact on my friend, André Claassen, his devoted wife Murna, and their only son Henré’s (11), life. On April 2012, at the age of 45, André was diagnosed with Colorectal cancer. In a very intensive operation, which had the entire family on edge and on their knees, they were assured that everything was removed. Unfortunately the cancer spread to both sides of his liver. The Oncologist, at the time, said their only option was chemo-therapy. After 12 sessions of chemo-therapy in 2012 the bad news was given. The chemo had no impact on the cancer. This resulted in anxiety and uncertainty for this family. This particular form of treatment was the best André could get at the time. What next, was the question foremost in their minds? The next 8 sessions of chemo-therapy, which was labelled the second best option, lasted from January 2013 to May 2013, but also had no influence on the cancer. Both these options, they were told, had a 60 – 70% chance of working. Evidently this was not the case for André. The only other form of chemo left to consider was out-dated and also had no guarantee of having any effect on André’s condition. This treatment would only result in buying André vital time while waiting for funds to get the SIRT procedure. Being the feisty, spirited and strong woman she is Murna left no stone unturned in obtaining all the information she could on whatever form of treatment was left to consider. She contacted a group of professors in Cape Town, which included, among others, oncologists, radiologists, specialists and surgeons. They, unfortunately, confirmed that an operation is not possible as André has the cancer on both sides of his liver. She was advised to contact Professor Mike Sathekge at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital. As you will read in the accompanying link, he has just been appointed Head of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Pretoria and is also spearheading the ground breaking SIRT (Selective Internal Radiation Therapy) procedure, which could prove to prolong or even save André’s life. web.up.ac.za/enewsletter/index.asp?ID=12&ipkNewsID=12935&Language=0 Some of the drawbacks are that this procedure is only carried out in a few countries in the world, of which South Africa is one. They are waiting on the state for vital funding and André’s medical aid is not willing to take a risk as it is not a registered medical procedure as yet. The cost of this procedure will be approximately R300 000.00. Andre would need to undergo this treatment twice as both sides of his liver is affected (+/- R150 000.00 a side). Our only hope lies with donations in order to pay for this procedure and having the ever present hope that not only André’s life will be touched by this procedure but also ensuring that future candidates benefit from these donations as well. FUND RAISING ACCOUNT Name of account: canSIRT Fund First National Bank Randburg Account number: 62414772948 Branch: 632005
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:16:27 +0000
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