Patient Info: Tran Tuyen

Mr. Tran Tuyen – 25 years old, is an aircraft mechanic working at Vietnam Airlines in Hanoi. Around last May 2006, suddenly getting various strange nodes around his neck, he went to a few hospitals in Vietnam just to find himself a victim of cancer. He was urgently admitted into the Hanoi National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and underwent 6 phases of chemotherapy treatment. After 2 months, even though the progress was positive, he unfortunately encountered some complications, causing his right eyelids to shut and not be able to open up.

Worried about the eyes, he flew to Singapore on 23 July with his mother and later was admitted into Gleneagles Hospital. The doctors here commented that he had had good reaction to medication during the medical treatment in Vietnam. However, the biggest issue was the already-affected spinal cord, leading to the problem with his right eye. In the first phase of his treatment in Singapore, the doctors tried to recover his eye through radiation therapy, and at the same time applied medical injection into his marrow, continuing the cancer-fighting process.

In the middle of August 2006, after many stages of radiation therapy, full of anxiety and worries, Mr. Tuyen’s eye has fully recovered! Can you imagine the joy and happiness that this has brought to him and his family! He literally screamed his heart out in that very moment. Now the only obstacle is the malicious disease that he still carries.

He had to lie down completely still during four (4) hours after each injection. The medicine’s side effect makes him feel constantly hungry and always starving for food. After a few months of treatment, 10kg is what he has gained! After 5 times of marrow injection, his condition improved tremendously. His marrow now is free of cancer cells and he can undergo self marrow transplantation now. As scheduled, he will have to take medication to prevent the cancer from reoccurring in the next few years, supported by medical check once every 3 months. Nevertheless, the chance of reoccurring cancer is still estimated at 50%.

During his days in Singapore, besides the language barrier, transportation difficulties and therapy pain, hidden behind his optimistically bright smiles and strong will is a mixture of emotions: missing his home in Hanoi, worrying for his own family and other sorrows. Hoping to ease the pain, the Vietnamese community here has visited and offered him a word of encouragement. Now, he and his mother are temporarily staying in friend’s neatly small apartment on Killiney road.

Ms. Hien, a member of GFO, helps him in translation with the doctors and gives him moral support during this critical fight. We want to, and are walking with him on the way to a future, free of cancer. After the memorable 02 September, Mr. Tuyen has officially registered as one of our members. His words deeply touch our hearts: “Though not knowing what the future will bring, I still want to contribute my part, no matter how small, for other unfortunate people”

At the moment, Mr. Tuyen is resting in Vietnam in between of treatment phases. Despite the decreasing blood ratio, the mouth derma-tophyte and the illness caused by medication, this is still a time full of happiness for him, after a long time being away from home. He will return to Singapore in the next two weeks to continue the therapy process.

“Try harder! I have to try harder! My whole family has just got to try harder, together!” – As quoted from Tran Tuyen’s diary.

Should you want to know more about him, kindly visit his blog

As quoted from Tuyen's blog

"National Day Festival

Perhaps this is the most splendid, memorable and meaningful National Day celebration I have ever attended.

In this family-like atmosphere spreading all over the people who are living far away from home and their birth country, I can’t help but suddenly feel strangely high. How familiar the anthem we are singing! Yet something burdens my chest and makes me feel like I could not utter a word.

So, this organization has officially been introduced, finally. Having the chance to meet Mr. Founder, I’m truly happy. The uncle has cried while listening to the speech of the MC, and so have I. These flows of tears are but my flows of thankfulness. How can these students, unknown to me (just for a minute though), be so friendly and so close? It is them who have helped people like myself, little Toan, little Tung and our families feel the real meaning of life and encouraged us to overcome challenges ahead.

Words are just not enough to draw this feeling. I am grateful to all of the kind hearts that have hope in us - the disease fighters. May I wish everybody health and dreams that come true.

I deeply love everybody."

(Translated by Duc Phuong)