Roland Hein
is not scared of cancer. Since 1967, the 73-year-old has experienced malignant melanoma and two bouts of Hodgkin’s disease. In March he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, yet he remains positive. “It’s important not to fear it. If you fear it, it controls you,” he says of the disease.
PET scans are often used as part of diagnosing someone’s cancer to help determine if it has spread.
After months of experiencing some trouble swallowing, Roland was having dinner with his wife when he choked on his steak and decided it was time to see a doctor. A bronchoscopy confirmed the Winfield resident had esophageal cancer. Roland was then referred to BC Cancer’s Vancouver centre for a PET scan. The results of the test can affect a patient’s treatment path. Thankfully, Roland’s PET scan showed his cancer had not spread. He completed six weeks of radiation treatment, with additional chemotherapy once a week, at BC Cancer’s Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior in Kelowna, and reports he is getting better but “it’s a long process.” Because his cancer was located near his voice box, Roland lost his ability to speak for some time but has since regained his voice, and it is full of emotion as he talks about his care team at BC Cancer, including doctors, nurses and volunteers. “Everyone treats you with respect,” he says. “They treat you like family.” Reflecting on his latest experience with cancer, Roland, who has two grown children and two grandchildren, says he has nothing negative to say, but admits having to travel to Vancouver for a PET scan was inconvenient and expensive. Fortunately, his appointment was in the morning so he was able to fly home the same day rather than stay overnight. That would have added to the cost of the trip, which already included return airfare from Kelowna, taxi rides to and from the airport. With recent statistics showing nearly one in two Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, Roland says it’s likely most people in the area will be touched by cancer at some point either personally or through a loved one. He urges everyone to consider calculating the cost of a trip to Vancouver for a PET scan and donating that money to help bring a scanner closer to home. “It’s like buying insurance,” he says. “It’s like investing in your future.” Donations can be dropped off at BC Cancer Foundation, 399 Royal Avenue, Kelowna or call 250.712.3921