Initial Letter

Dear family and friends

The Finiteness of Life

I am writing this letter to let you know about my situation and how we are coping with it.  Some of you, Barbara or I have already rung to let you know.  It is a difficult situation but I feel it is better to let people know.

Over the last four weeks I have seen a general practitioner, a gastroenterologist and now a cancer specialist.  In this journey I have had an endoscopy and colonoscopy and CT scan.  On Thursday I had a final consultation with the gastroenterologist and on Friday a first consultation with the cancer specialist.  These consultations confirmed that I have bowel cancer that has spread to the lymph glands and particularly to the liver, which means the cancer is inoperable.  All the doctors and services received so far have been excellent.

My cancer specialist is Dr Lisa Horvath, at the Cancer Centre, Gloucester House, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (15 minute walk from home).  Lisa advised me not to think of the situation as dealing with the end of my life but rather as managing a chronic illness.  In short, if I chose not to receive any treatment, I would have about six months to live.  I have chosen to receive chemotherapy treatment that is likely to give me two to five years.  The first four to six month of treatment is the most intensive aimed at reducing the cancers – the probabilities are: 40% reduction; 20-25% remains about the same; and 30-35% cancer continues to grow.  The situation will be monitored and all being well, I then move on to a ‘maintenance’ level of chemo to keep things in check.

Dr Lisa is encouraging me to live as normally as possible.  So, Barbara and I are travelling to South Australia from 2 to 10 April visiting with relatives and friends, including seeing my brother Michael at Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges before the chemotherapy begins.

I feel wonderfully supported by Barbara, children, brother and wider family and friends with whom I have already spoken by phone.  I am aiming to live as normally as possible and continue working in a semi-retired manner, visit with family and friends, travel and celebrate milestones along the way.

I want to be in touch with people and hope you will stay in touch.

Yours faithfully

David Hey-Cunningham