Category: Journey with Cancer

I’ve had some good news these past couple of weeks. Yesterday, I had my 3 months CT scan and nothing had changed. That means I’ve been NED now for 14 months! Perhaps I’ve even begun to take this result for granted, as I forgot to let our kids know straight away. We are very thankful to God for this news and praying that things will stay this way. I’ve now been NED for longer than they expected me to live.

I remain on the chemo-cocktail of Alimta and Avastin every three weeks. These drugs have dealt with the cancer, and could be continuing to keep it from reemerging. I met with a new oncologist registrar today who expressed considerable surprise at the duration that I’ve been on chemo. He indicated that many people simply found it too hard and gave up, preferring to take their chances with the cancer rather than submit to further poison. He wasn’t aware of many patients who’ve had more than a dozen cycles of maintenance chemo. By God’s grace I’ve been able to cope with two and a half years of continuous chemo.

I’ve mentioned various times on this site that I have a mutation called ALK+ that is found in about 3% of the people with my type of lung cancer. There are now two generations of targeted therapies available to treat this mutation-driven cancer. These are typically taken as two tablets a day, every day, and have far less side effects. I haven’t started on any of these drugs as yet, because the chemo has been effective. The theory is that if something is working, then don’t change it. Targeted therapies remain genuine options for the future if the cancer rears it’s ugly head again. Over the past year one of these drugs, called Crizotnib, was being offered to ALK+ patients on a benevolent scheme for $100 a month or $1.67 a tablet. Sadly, this scheme was stopped on 1/7/14 and the cost of the drugs is now $7400 a month or $123 a tablet. Yep, that’s right! $88,800 per year, and if it keeps you alive for five years then you will have parted with $444,000. It will cost over $1million to live for 12 years.

Please pray that this will change. How many people are going to be able to afford that? How many will even earn that much?

Anyway—I have good news. My oncologist discovered that this was about to happen and so he quickly signed me up for the scheme. It remains in place for all who were registered on the scheme prior to 1 July, but unavailable to join after this time! So I now qualify for the $100 a month offer. Thank you God and thank you Mr Oncologist. $100 a month is an excellent insurance policy–even on top of the high costs of chemo–to save having to pay the astronomical amounts they’ve started charging.

If you are a praying person, then I’d covet your continued prayers. Please pray for my continued good health. Please also pray for patience and less anxiety for myself and those around me, because it is hard persisting with the treatment. And please pray that the government will provide subsidies for these brilliant new drugs so that they can be afforded by those who most need them.

Thanks for your support,

Dave

Dave is interviewed by his friend Phil Campbell at Mitchelton Presbyterian Church’s annual Food For Thought Dinner on 15 May 2014. Dave shares his journey with cancer and his struggle to rediscover solid hope in the face of a terminal cancer diagnosis. Click on the image above to watch this 64 minute video.

This afternoon my friend, Hiep, went to be with his Lord. We sadly farewell him and will miss him. Some of you will know Hiep as the friendly face who greeted you at the door of FOCUS at UC or Crossroads at ANU on a Sunday night. He loved the opportunity to welcome people and shake their hands. Only last Thursday, as Fiona and I sat talking with Hiep, he asked that I pray for God to heal him so he could return to welcoming people into the gatherings at Uni.

Hiep and I shared a very personal journey over the past year or so. We both had lung cancer. We were both non-smokers. We both feared the impact of our disease. Fiona pushed for genetic testing for me and she was able to do the same for Hiep. This led to treatment options that gave him more time with his family and friends.

As we’d meet, on a semi-regular basis, we sought to encourage each other with the hope of eternity. He would spur me on to trust in God, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Hiep was not one to seek distractions or to live in denial. Often he would ask me to turn the television off, and just read a verse or two from the Bible, and pray for him.

Last week I planned to read a few verses from 1 Peter 1:3-9. I’d left my Bible at home, and for some reason my phone Bible got stuck on a paraphrase called The Message, so I read him these words. How apt they were…

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.

I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.

Hiep shared with me some time back his confident hope beyond cure. He asked if he could contribute his testimony to a future edition of the book! He said, “This is true—this is my hope.” Hiep now has what he has been looking forward to—the realisation of his hope. I can almost picture him extending his hand of greeting, smiling, and offering a heartfelt welcome to people as they enter into the presence of God. 

Today marks exactly two and a half years since I was admitted to hospital with lung cancer. It’s normal in cancer circles to speak about 5 year survival rates. With stage 4 lung cancer the 5 year survival is very low indeed. Well, here I am, doing well, 40 something chemo cycles later, generally pretty healthy, back into regular ministry, enjoying my grandson, time with my family… plenty to thank God for!

Saturday marked another anniversary—my first birthday as NED! On May 31 2013, the CT scan report declared me to be NED (no evidence of disease). Recent scans confirmed that I am still NED a year later. Thank you God!

I mentioned to Steve Larkham last week that this was an important anniversary weekend for me. He called back and invited me to address the players at the captains run, before presenting each player with his jersey for the game against the Rebels. This was an honour indeed, and I shared with them how my circumstances had led me to number my days, take nothing for granted, make the most of my opportunities, and prioritise what I value most.

It was a great night on Saturday. I enjoyed watching the Brumbies with my family. Liam got to take in the atmosphere from the sidelines before the game, as well as meeting the Brumbies mascot, Brumby Jack. Our team had their most convincing win of the year, collecting a bonus point against the Rebels. After the game, I got to catch up with Julian Huxley (former Brumby/Rebel and brain cancer survivor) and we shared a few words and a few hugs. The coaches, Laurie, Stephen, and a few others suggested I give the speech before other games if we’re going to win like that each time. I think I’ll keep my record intact with one-from-one!

As I drove to chemo this afternoon, I asked God to removed my anxiety and help me to be calm through the experience. God’s word tells us to cast our cares on him, and so I did. I also planned to drink lots of water, eat a few lollies, and try to keep my mind on other things.

When I arrived at the hospital, I withdrew some cash from the ATM, and as I walked away a woman on crutches asked me,

“Are you David?”

“Yes I am”, I replied.

She told me that she knew me from university, and had recently been following my blog, and finding it very encouraging. I explained that I was at the hospital for another round of chemo.

“I’ll pray for you,” she said. “Right now.”

I thanked her, amazed at our chance (God-arranged) meeting. And yes, chemo seemed to go much quicker than it had in a quite a while.

Matthias Media have just informed me that they’ve almost sold out of the first print run of 7000 books, and they’ve ordered the printing of 5000 more. This is great news.

This Easter has been a time of pointing to the hope of eternity. I was able to preach on Good Friday at Stromlo about the faithfulness of God in keeping his promises through Jesus. The crucifixion was no accident of history. It took place according to God’s predetermined plan.

On Saturday I was interviewed at Katoomba Easter Convention about my hope in God amidst the journey with cancer. They promoted the book and I was privileged to write notes in dozens of books being given to friends and family who are struggling with life.

Easter Sunday we took Fiona’s mum to church at St Michaels in Wollongong. After a message on the resurrection I was interviewed by Sandy about my hope in Jesus. Later that afternoon I met with a friend who has been bedridden for years due to debilitating chronic fatigue and its many consequences. We shared together about many things, not least was our common hope for renewed bodies in the resurrection. Sunday night I was interviewed by Kel Richards on 2CH about the real and certain hope we can have because Jesus rose from the dead.

Monday morning we had breakfast with friends and discussed a plan to develop a ministry of hope among the ‘cancer community’. This was followed by morning tea with good friends who have just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and one of whom turns 90 tomorrow. They too shared their confidence in God for their future.

The last few days have been a change of pace. We’ve been helping my parents pack and clean their house as they prepared to move today into a retirement village on the Central Coast of NSW. It’s tempting to think this will be their final move. However, I realise this simply isn’t true. This will likely be their penultimate transition before they make their final move to glory—with resurrected bodies, to spend eternity with our great God.

I had scans again yesterday— a CT scan of my chest and abdomen. It was easy. Drink a couple of bottles of contrast, strip to my undies, lie on a movable platform, hold my breath, and pass through the nuclear donut! Then off for a coffee and breakfast. This time there was no scanxiety. I slept well the night before and didn’t worry about chasing my results immediately afterwards.

Why was this? Is it just that I’ve grown so used to the multiple procedures? No—if anything, my anxiety with chemo has grown worse over time. Is it that I presumed the results would be good? No—I prayed, and asked others to pray, that there would be no evidence of cancer this time round. But I had also thought about what we’d need to do if the results showed regrowth or metastases.

I think the answer is that God had enabled me to trust him with the process and the outcome. I think I’ve been pushed to put my beliefs in God’s sovereign oversight of all things into practice. I think God has been changing me to gradually learn the secret of being content. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12-13:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Or to paraphrase this for my own circumstances:

I know what it is to be very ill, and I know what it is to be healthy. I have learned (and am learning) the secret of contentment, in any and every situation, whether good scan results or bad, whether living with cancer or without. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Here I am, sitting in the same cafe where this cancer journey started. I’ve enjoyed a coffee and a bite to eat. The phone just rang. My results…

No change, still NED, no evidence of disease. I’ve been NED for nearly twelve months. Praise God!

It’s been a mega busy weekend. The Relay for Life saw about 5000 people gathered to raise money, have fun, and support people and their families affected by cancer. It’s a carnival atmosphere—and why not—for so many people suffering with cancer, this is a glimmer of light in an otherwise depressing existence.

We were given the privilege of setting up a stall with copies of Hope Beyond Cure. This seemed to fit in almost seamlessly with the overall theme for 2014 being ‘HOPE LIVES HERE’. We gave away about 140 copies of the book, mainly to survivors and carers and sold an additional 40. Please join with me in praying that everyone who reads these words of gospel hope will be moved by God to put their trust in Jesus.

I’d been invited to speak at the Candlelight Ceremony in the evening. This is the somber part of the event, where we remember those who are no longer with us. But it was a great joy to be able to share a message of hope at this event. I chose to use the letters of the word HOPE to share where I have found hope on this journey…

Health—I find hope in the excellent health care we have available and the continual advances in understanding and treating cancer.

Others—I find hope in the love and care of family and friends. I encouraged all the survivors to express their thanks to those who support them.

Purpose—Soon after my diagnosis a friend encouraged me to use the time God gives me to be a blessing to others. Psalm 90 calls me to number my days—to make each day count.

Eternity—My ultimate hope is in God who raises the dead. I urged people to ask the difficult questions about our meaning, life, death, and eternity.

I’d been given pretty tight constraints about what I could say or not say. So I hope this outline walks the line appropriately. My main aim was to get people thinking.

It was great fun to hear BRB, the Christian rapper. His story makes my cancer journey seem like a walk in the park! What a great thing that God watches over each of us individually. Afterwards BRB said ‘We should take this on the road!’ What do you think… BRB and DMC?! I’m certainly keen to develop ministry among those with cancer and their carers. Perhaps this is the door that God is opening?

A friend of mine decided to give his elderly grandfather, who has cancer, a copy of Hope Beyond Cure. His grandfather lives three hours away, but they were meeting up in Lyneham, Canberra, for lunch today and my friend planned to give him a copy of my book. My friend discovered that he could purchase copies of the book at a bookshop in Lyneham, next to the cafe. He bought the last remaining copies of the book and then met his grandfather at the cafe next door.

While they were eating and talking my friend was silently praying that I might just happen to pop in to the coffee shop so that he could introduce me to his grandfather. The problem is that I now work on the other side of Canberra and so I was nowhere near the cafe.

While my friend spent two hours with his grandfather, periodically praying that I’d appear on the scene, the bookshop owner next door decided to call me, to let me know they were out of stock, and ask me to bring some more when I was next around. Since I’d just finished all I had to do in my office, I decided to drive back across town to the bookshop, and give the owner another 60 copies.

After dropping the book in, I thought I might as well to pop into the coffee shop next door just in case I ran into someone I knew. Well, you can guess what happened! My friend rushed over beaming, and asked if he could introduce me to his grandfather. God had answered the prayers of my friend in an extraordinary way.

Thanks God!

With the Relay for Life coming up this weekend we printed up 5000 glossy double-sided postcards to direct people towards the website hopebeyondcure.com where they can purchase the book and find a range of articles and resources on hope for those who are living with cancer.

Who are the postcards for?

• People who want info, but aren’t ready to purchase a book.
• Doctors and health professionals to put in waiting rooms, on reception desks, in brochure racks, pinned on notice boards, or to give to patients whom they want to direct to the book.
• Churches who can’t keep much stock of the book, but want to have the info on hand when people need it.
• Cancer support groups.
• Other ideas?

The cards look great so you can be confident in handing them to others. They include the two quotes from the back of the book to give people an idea of what the book is about.

We will post out batches of cards for a fee that includes postage. There will be three bundle sizes available:

• 100 cards for $20
• 500 cards for $80
• 1000 cards for $130

If you would like to order, then you can…

1. Reply to this post
2. Use the contact form at hopebeyondcure.com
3. Email hopebeyondcureATgmail.com

Please share this information with anyone you think may be interested.

A couple of doctors have recommended that I organise some postcards to advertise Hope Beyond Cure. The plan is that they can be left in doctor’s waiting rooms for patients to pick up and find out where they can get copies of the book.

I figured that it would be helpful if I organised a memorable email address where I can be contacted if people want to discuss things further, so I went to the google site and looked up hopebeyondcure@gmail.com. To my utter amazement this email address address had already been taken. How could this happen? As far as I knew the phrase was original. I’d never heard it anywhere else. The idea popped into my head that someone must have seen the book, grabbed the name, and was planning to sell it to me at a profit. Apparently people do things like that! So I send an email to the address with the following words…

Hi there
I’m wondering who has this email address. I am the author of a book by this name!
Dave

Yesterday, I was puzzling over this again. I hadn’t received a reply to my email and it still amazed me that anyone else would go to the trouble to take this address. Then it occurred to me—what if it was me who’d grabbed this gmail address? Had I, perhaps, taken it at the same time that I’d registered the domain name, hopebeyondcure.com, in October last year?

So I went back to the google site, typed in the address, and then began trying passwords. Every time it told me that someone already had this address, until I tried an old password that I hadn’t used in a while… and the email account opened up! It was me who had registered that email address. I set up the account, added it to my email program, and immediately began receiving messages—eleven from google and one from me, that read…

Hi there
I’m wondering who has this email address. I am the author of a book by this name!
Dave

Yesterday I took a couple of high res photos to Officeworks for them to create an A frame advertisement. The plan is to use this to draw attention to the book at the Cancer Council Relay for Life in a couple of weeks. Officeworks did a great job AND they did it without charge. How cool is that!

I’m looking forward to the opportunity that the Cancer Council have given me to speak of my hope at their Candlelight Ceremony and to give away copies of the book.

And if any of you are available on the weekend 29-30 March to assist me giving away books, please let me know.

Got a call today from Australia Post…

Hello sir. Are you Dave McDonald?

Yes. That’s me.

We found a book that seems to have come loose from its packaging. It had your business card in it.

Excellent! Thank you.

If you give me your address, then I can mail it straight back to you.

Awesome. Thank you so much!

Redeemed from last week’s chemo moment, and I didn’t have to tell her that I’d simply dropped it in the box without any packaging!

Today I was in and out of the hospital. A blood test early in the day and back later for chemo. But these weren’t my chemo moments.

That happened in between. I visited my friend Hiep who has a lung cancer like mine. He’s not doing so well because the cancer has spread to his bones in his legs, such that he can no longer walk. He’s praying for a miracle—and so am I. We spent the best part of half an hour together and he spent so much of this time smiling. He has a real joy—a joy that comes from knowing that no matter what may happen to him physically, he has a real hope grounded in God’s promises. He’s looking beyond this life to the life to come with Jesus. I was deeply challenged by our time together. It’s normal for me to get anxious and a bit depressed as I face each chemo treatment, but this time I was determined to be thankful that I had access to medicines that have been working so well. It increased my resolve to remain vertical for the sake of bringing hope to everyone I can. This wasn’t my chemo moment either.

Later I visited a shop near my office and exchanged a bit of silly banter with the bloke behind the counter. I was drinking a can of ginger beer as I walked in and he thanked me for bringing him a drink. I said he was welcome to have a drink, but that I was sick and he mightn’t want to. He asked me if it was serious, and I said it was just cancer. Wow. He then began to open up to me about the horrors of losing his wife to cancer last year. We enjoyed talking, he wished me the very best as I was headed to hospital, and we agreed to catch up again. Just before closing I was able to pop back in and give him a copy of Hope Beyond Cure and he looked so pleased to get it. We will talk again soon. But this wan’t my chemo moment either.

Back in hospital, Hiep had asked me to sign a copy of the book with a message containing his own recommendation and give it to his oncologist. So I grabbed a copy and wrote a message to the doctor. I also wrote in a couple of others and addressed them, put them in envelopes, and attached stamps. I found a post box for the envelopes before heading to the hospital for chemo. I planned to get their early and drop a copy into the oncologist. When I got there I no longer had my copy—it somehow sneaked into the post box without an envelope to join the others. This was my chemo moment! I should get it back in a fortnight!

In December last year my scanxiety was once again relieved as I was handed the report showing no evidence of disease. Three in a row—thank God the chemo was doing its job. Since then we’ve enjoyed some chemo-free time, spending close to five weeks on the coast. It was wonderful to spend time camping with family. Fiona, Grace, Marcus and I were joined at various times by Matt and Elizabeth, and Luke, Sharon, and Liam. How nice it was to enjoy hammock time with Liam, walks on the beach with Fiona, swims in the ocean, scrabble with family and friends, and the occasional fish.

Things felt better on a number of fronts. On my birthday in August, I declared that I wanted to lose a lot of weight before Christmas. I weighed in at 96.6kg on my birthday and 82kg at Christmas (currently 83.5 and still in the healthy weight range, despite Christmas eating habits!). Special thanks go to Michelle Bridges and her 12 week body transformation. One day early in the holidays, our family and close friends climbed Pigeon House Mountain. I don’t think my lungs have ever been so seriously tested. I thought I was going to keel over on the way up. But I made it to the top! Coming down was way easier, except for the impact on my ankles and knees, and the fact that I could barely walk for days afterwards. Who would have thought? Shuffling round the block two years ago—and now mountain climbing! Thank God.

My feet have continued to give me some grief with the neuropathy and the impact on muscles, tendons and ligaments around the ankles and calves. For this reason Fiona and I have been contemplating getting into some kayaking. Even if my feet aren’t working properly, we could enjoy paddling around rivers and lakes. This Saturday we are going to a ‘try before you buy’ morning with the local Hobie kayak dealer. We’re interested in comparing doubles versus singles, and paddles versus pedals.

My new church responsibilities are seeing me travel to the Weston Creek region of Canberra most days. I’ve contemplated getting on a bicycle and enjoying the paths around the lake each morning and evening. So far I’ve only contemplated it because I will have to find a bike with some suspension if I’m going to enjoy it. My old thing is a bit hard on the body parts!

Last week Fiona and I enjoyed our first mid-week day off ever (I think). Well, 2/3 day off anyway. We went for a drive in the country, taking in Poachers Pantry, and stopping for a pizza in Gundaroo. It was excellent to spend this time on our own together, and we both agreed it would be even better if we were doing it on a motorcycle!

Please join with me in rejoicing at my health improvements. God has been very kind. I’d better go off to the gym now to do my circuit class with a bunch of others who are recovering from cancer.