Inyoni Creek resident Peter Tredre hopes to make the most of each day with the second chance at life he was given, thanks to immunotherapy.
Originally from Durban, the 66-year-old chemical engineer had 60 countable tumours in his lungs alone and was the first person in his family to be diagnosed with cancer.
“Growing up in Durban in the ’50s you never really heard the word cancer, it wasn’t the buzzword that it is today.” Peter attended Clifton Preparatory School, then Hilton College before deciding on going to university to become a chemical engineer and specialised in the thermal side of the industry.
Peter said his job was a safe one when he worked for Alfa Laval and he was never exposed to dangerous chemicals during his 30-year career.
“There was an occasion in Iran when we visited their nuclear industry as part of a little cooperate tourism to show Alfa Laval employees what was being done, but nothing dangerous.”
Peter said he was sent to Iran as part of a maintenance team between 2005 and 2007.
“I was first diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2012. I went to my GP for a bump on my head and he felt my throat. He wasn’t happy so he sent me for an ultrasound scan.”
After the scan, a tumour was found going down his throat. He was operated on shortly afterwards and it was removed. In 2014, Peter was back at his GP, this time for a sore foot.
Thinking his sore foot was caused by the medication he was on, Peter sought professional assistance. “My GP fiddled with my stomach and told me I needed to go for another scan as I had another tumour in me.”
Peter had a 1.7-kilogram tumour wrapped around his left kidney. The tumour had killed his kidney and both needed to be removed.
After a while, things did not get better for Peter as seven other tumours were found in him, three on his right lung and four on his left.
After going to oncologist Dr Bernardo Rapoport in Johannesburg, Peter started his chemotherapy radiation.
“Chemo was terrible. You can’t go out and go anywhere because you can’t go 20 seconds without needing the toilet.”
In 2015, Peter’s left lung and the four tumours were operated on successfully in Milpark. After returning from a trip overseas and preparing for the operation on his right lung, Peter received life-changing information.
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“I was told I was inoperable; I was waiting at Milpark for my scans to come back when the doctor called me in and told me the news. “I was shocked at first, I couldn’t believe it. I was told I had 60 countable tumours in both my lungs. “Once I had processed the news and all the information, I wasn’t that scared. It’s sort of like you put on your crash helmet and get on with life. “That is one of the reasons we bought a place in Inyoni Creek because I was told to get all of my affairs in order.”
After receiving the news, Peter went to Dr Rapoport who informed him of a new American trial at the time, which Peter would be perfect for. “I was ready. I told my doctor to sign me up!”
After returning to Dr Rapoport, Peter was introduced to the doctor’s associate, Ronwyn Van Eeden, who worked in the immunotherapy project.
Peter said because of the medication used in the trial he had to apply to the Medicines Control Council every few months to get the necessary medication imported to SA.
He said compared to the chemotherapy radiation, the immunotherapy was much less strenuous on his body. Peter said he had a drip in him for 45 minutes a few days a week.
He said the therapy and medication reminded his body’s immune system to fight back against cancer. Once his treatment was completed, Peter was left with four tumours; one on his only kidney, two on his pancreas and one on his liver.
“The tumour on my kidney was located on what they call the valley of the kidney so to destroy it the doctors at Donald Gordan Hospital used microwave technology,” said Peter.
“I even kept the rod that they stabbed through my back to do it,” he proudly exclaimed. Although the three remaining tumours are dormant, Peter goes for regular scans and check-ups to ensure he is healthy. Margaret, his wife, said the immunotherapy has given the family a lot more time with Peter.
Margaret and Peter said although they originally moved into Inyoni Creek for a different reason they love living in the community. “As a nursing sister myself, I can say this therapy is so much better than chemo. “Peter was so sick with immunotherapy, all he had was a little rash.”
Peter said when he showed his doctors the rash, they were incredibly happy. “They started taking photos and said you know what Peter? This means the treatment is working. “All the doctors involved in these trials share information about their patients to learn how the medication and methods work, they all learn from each other and each other’s patients.”
Peter said although he has undergone several surgeries, the only real side effect he was left with was neuropathy.
“The immunotherapy cleaned up almost everything and I just hope that my story gives someone who may be facing a similar situation hope.”
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