4 Field Regiment (SVN) 'Old Boys' Newsletter - April 2019 Edition

was a conference of Surgeons that week and they would put my case to them, we got a call from a Professor Tristan Yan’s secretary, he wanted a consultation with me, on the 6 February at 5.30 pm. The Tuesday before the consultation I decided to Google Professor Tristan Yan, I was blown away with his resume, I thought to myself if there is anyone who could do this operation it was him. During the consultation he informed me that he had taken two sarcomas out last year and the patients survived but he said their sarcomas were larger, but they had youth on their side, me being 69 years old age was against me. I was then told all the things that could happen during the operation, I then signed papers for them to take my left lung as a last resort, at the conclusion of the interview he informed me that I had 4 to 8 weeks to live without the operation. On February 14 th I was scheduled for two tests at 100 Carillion Ave Camperdown, they were to test the heart before the operation. That morning when I awoke at 1am my pain levels were a level 10, Yvonne told me to take one of the pain killers but it did not work straight away, I told her to pack my bag I wanted to be admitted that day, I completed the Ultra sound of the heart but they could not do the CT coronary angiogram because my heart rate was too fast and the sister did not want administer medication to slow it down, we contacted Professor Yan’s staff and they said that they wanted to admit me that day. I was admitted four days before the operation, my pain levels were through the roof with pain levels of ten, I was given Endone every 4 hours. The operation was a success they removed the left lung on Monday 18 th February, I was in ICU for 3 days and sent back to the wards, I had made a fast recovery, on 25 th of February I was sent home. Seven days from operation to discharge has got to be a record for a 69 year old veteran, I have a PET scan on the 8 th of March to see if there is any cancer remaining will keep you informed. PS. I am one lucky man thanks to Professor Tristan Yan his supporting Doctors the Nurses of the ICU and the Sisters in the wards Post Op. Recovery will be an ongoing battle in itself but I will keep you informed. Update as at 24 March 2019. John reported via FB: Just an update on my progress this week, saw Professor Tristan Yan last Wednesday, he filled me in on the operation with a 3-page report, he was impressed with my recovery, said he could have sent me home 5 days after the operation but 7 days would be better. We had a good talk and in conversation mentioned he had trained under the Doctor who gave us the second opinion Dr Bayfield, he said the operation was out of their expertise. He even googled my name and told his staff I was a special patient. I think this is why his staff were always smiling at me during their rounds, my wife told him I googled him, he laughed and told me to google the doctor who showed him the procedure he used on me, his name is Dr Paul Sugarbaker, Chief of the division of Genera Thoracic Surgery and Director of the Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute at CHI St Lukes Health – Baylor St Lukes Medical Centre in Houston Texas, Pioneer of Mesothelioma Treatment with his brother David. He was interested in my story from the first discovery of the tumour the two opinions who would not operate, I sent him the 4-page story I posted on FB. He said the size of the sarcoma was 3.5 kg, it was pushing the heart onto the right lung which made it hard to breath. When he removed the left lung this also included the lung linings, this operation removed all the cancer, he will follow up with radiation just to be sure. If you have family or friends who have not been satisfied with their doctors, it is very important to find the right surgeon who can do the job. Ed: I’m sure I can speak for all old boys in wishing John all the very best for a speedy recovery and a wonderful future. Just in case some have not seen this article.