March 31, 2025 Word for Word Media

Raymond Pleaner shares the dispute he had with his medical scheme to get immunotherapy treatment approved. Thankfully, the end result was in his favour. 

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Raymond Pleaner (70) lives in Sandton, Gauteng with his wife, Marcelle. They have three children and nine grandchildren.  In June 2024, Raymond was diagnosed with cancer which was on the cusp of his oesophagus and stomach. He had no symptoms, but it was thanks to the keen eye of his pulmonologist (Raymond has lung issues due to COVID) who noticed something was…

July 29, 2019 Word for Word Media
Dr Simon Naylar, a pathologist, helps us get a better understanding of biomarkers in relation to immunotherapy. Understanding the immune system The immune system is a finely-tuned balanced harmony of cells and molecules ready to react to the threat posed to the body by infections, foreign entities and tumours.  Once the immune system detects one of these potential threats (known as an antigen), the immune defences are activated and a complex set of reactions and responses begin the process of attacking this enemy.  Many tumour cells are destroyed by the immune cells and the action of antibodies (proteins which attack foreign cells or molecules). Immunotherapy explained…

February 5, 2019 Word for Word Media

Lynette van Schaik, a mother of two, tells us how immunotherapy killed her aggressive Stage 4 melanoma cancer. Lynette van Schaik (37) lives in Nigel, Gauteng with her husband, Hein, and their sons, Alexander and Ruben, aged 13  and 10. Stage 3 melanoma My first encounter with melanoma was in 2010 when I had a mole removed from my back. It didn’t display any warning signs, even my doctor wasn’t worried. When the tests came back it was Stage 3 melanoma, and a wider excision was needed. I didn’t get any other treatment as the treating doctor didn’t think it was…