Why am I writting this blog?
My name is Sergio Held, I´m 24 years old. Back on August 2007, I was diagnosed with peritoneal mesotelioma. One and a half year earlier, my sister was diagnosed with peritoneal pseudomyxom. We live in Colombia, South America. My sister went for surgery to the Washington Hospital Center, in D.C., so did I. Dr. Paul Sugarbaker has been our surgical oncologist. He cured us and has been doing the follow up.
I get my checked every three months with labwork, seizing my CA-125, which was on 1200/35 on 2007, and now has reached 7.40/35. I went not only through radical surgery on the hands of Dr. Sugarbaker, but also had 6 cycles of intra peritoneal, and IV chemos (pemetrexed, and cisplatin).
I also have CAT Scans done every six months, and send them to D.C. I´m married with a girl who I met in NYC during my treatment, she´s colombian, and we live in Bogotá. She´s a teacher here and I am a member of the council.
With my sister we try to support mesothelioma and pseudomixom patients. Our colombian doctors went to D.C. to learn the procedures from Dr. Sugarbaker. They are now doing the surgeries in Colombia. So, we try to help the patients and their families, when they go through all this.
OK, the reason of this Blog: Last week (october 2009), my CAT Scans showed a hydrocele on my left testicle and Dr. Sugarbaker said it might be a tunica vaginalis mesothelioma, so the recommendation is to go for surgery. Tunica Vaginalis mesothelioma is a very rare kind of cancer. Last time I had mesothelioma, my journey – helped by my family – was registerd on a support facebook group. This time, I want to make it public, to encourage all those with mesothelioma and their families, to let them know that they are not the only ones, and aren´t alone. I dedicate this blog to all those who fought against cancer and couldn´t make it, and to their families, and also to all the survivors who know as I do, that one has to trust God as if He was the only one who can cure the cancer, and that one has to give everything as if it was only in one´s hands.
May God bless all the doctors´ wisdom and hands, so they can cure us.
Mellissa Hayon said,
October 26, 2009 @ 8:00 am
Sergio-
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Writing a blog is a great way to share your experience with others and support them in their battle with this devastating disease. I look forward to reading it and supporting you. I’m a social worker in the US who works with meso victims and families. Take care. -Mellissa Hayon, LICSW, www(dot)mesorc(dot)com