Banking on good treatment
Adrian with his mother Merle, wife Nancy, and children (from left) Alex, Sophie and the youngest, Olivia.
Adrian Fonseca thought his lymphoma was a death sentence. But he was back on his feet after just four months of treatment
In May 2010, banker Adrian Fonseca decided to see a stomach specialist at Gleneagles Hospital because of stomach pains. He thought the pain was related to constipation that he was suffering from. Unfortunately, he got a much worse diagnosis.
“He (the specialist) felt around and in five seconds, he said: ‘You’re a mess. I think you’ve got a tumour in there. I think it could be lymphoma.’”
The news came as a shock to the father of three young children. “I was in a fog. A haze,” he recalled. It felt like déjà vu for him because his own father had died from lung cancer.
The 41-year-old was immediately scheduled for scans the next day and when the biopsy results came back, the diagnosis was confirmed. By that time, Mr Fonseca decided that he wanted Dr Ang Peng Tiam on his case after reading that Dr Ang, the Medical Director of Parkway Cancer Centre, had treated Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for lymphoma.
Mr Fonseca found Dr Ang to be a refreshing change from other physicians. “His approach is unlike a lot of doctors. He was very cut and dried: ‘You do this and this and you’ll be fine,’ he told me.”
Said Dr Ang: “From our study of the case, Adrian had Stage II lymphoma which was very bulky. As the patient was symptomatic from the disease, he was offered chemotherapy combined with monoclonal antibodies.”
Mr Fonseca went through six cycles of treatment between May and September 2010. “With treatment, we could see a very dramatic response,” said Dr Ang. “After three cycles of treatment, the PET-CT scan was essentially normal.”
The chemotherapy initially left Mr Fonseca very weak. “I couldn’t even open a bottle,” he recalled. He lost his hair and his appetite too. However, by the end of July, he was getting better and was able to do two or three hours of work from home.
Over the course of the treatment, Mr Fonseca got stronger and stronger. He began spending time doing things with his family. He would go for long walks with his wife and fell in love with her all over again. He also spent time playing with his children, Alex, Sophie, and Olivia. He described this period as a rewarding one.
“I got time at home with my family and I was able to reassess my life,” he said.
Adrian completed his six cycles of treatment and is currently in remission, according to Dr Ang. He is presently receiving the monoclonal antibody to prevent the cancer from recurring.
“Lymphoma is a very chemosensitive disease and tends to respond well,” said Dr Ang.
“Adrian has done remarkably well and I remain optimistic that he will live a long and happy life,” he said.
“The advice which I will give to others in a similar situation is to seek medical care quickly and never to lose heart as lymphoma is a highly curable condition.”
As for Mr Fonseca, he is back at his old work routine at Deutsche Bank. But not everything is the same. As a result of the cancer, he is now making a concerted effort to eat a more balanced diet. He no longer drinks beer or liquor and he now exercises regularly.
“I’m eating better. I’m going to the gym three times a week,” he said. “My attitude to life is better. I’m more positive. That is the secret to success.”
He sees all these as saving for a raining day. Too many people focus on remedies for ill health, he said. He, on the other hand, wants to be preventive. “I’m putting money into the health bank,” he said.
