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Support Duane's Fight Against Cancer

  • 12 Rounds of Chemo Done & Dusted

      14 February 2024
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    We've reached our goal - 12 rounds of chemo completed! Duane's resilience and positivity throughout this journey have been nothing short of inspiring, facing each phase with courage and a contagious smile.

    Today almost threw us a curveball with Duane's white blood cell count being low, but a blood test revealed it's on the rise, prompting his oncologist to give the green light for the final treatment.

    Now, it's time to kick back, let his body and the chemo do the work.

    The next checkpoint: a CT scan to gauge our position and plan the next steps. That's just a week away, and we'll keep you posted once we have the results.

    While it's a farewell to the routine of regular chemo every 2 weeks, Duane will continue with Keytruda every three weeks. So, it's not goodbye to our incredible friends at Harbour Cancer.

    'With you all the way’

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea 💕

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    • 16/02/2024 by irving

      Duane, you have all of our support.

      My best wishes always be with you.

      Keep it up!

  • Round 11 chemo with Azza

      1 February 2024
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    Well we are getting close to the end of chemotherapy. It has been quite the journey but very much looking forward to completing treatment in a fortnight. The side effects are minimal now and Duane is feeling better than ever and will be returning to work in march. Duane was joined by his good friend Aaron Hollows AKA “Azza” for round 11, It was a relatively quick infusion as Duanes oncologist Amanda has dropped the oxaliplatin for now due to neuropathy in his fingers. Azza has been a very close friend of Duane since high school days and was the other half of the radio show they held on friday nights on George FM called “the Midnight snack”

    Azza still enjoys spinning tunes at various events. One of the best DJs in Auckland you can catch Azza at Ink bar and Black Wax with good friends Andy Vann and Greg Churchill. We just want to thank everyone for the support we have received. The phone calls, messsges, visitors and support during treatment has been amazing and a bit overwhelming at times. Also a massive shout out to all the extremely generous donations we have received. Thank you all so much. It really has made the journey so much easier to deal with. We will pop the bubbles in a couple of weeks to toast the end of chemo for now.

    #withyoualltheway

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  • Duane Hits Chemo Double Digits 🙌

      17 January 2024
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    Round 10 of chemotherapy and round 7 of Keytruda, whoop 🙌 Duane had one of his longest and dearest friends, Sarah Murray, by his side for chemo and Keytruda this week. Sarah has been a huge supporter since his diagnosis, and their friendship dates back to the early '90s. They did their OE to London and Europe together, along with Steve Cox when they were all 20 years old. It was an amazing experience, although Duane ran out of money and had a bit of homesickness, so he came home early.

    Amanda (Duane's oncologist) is extremely pleased with the progress so far. Her words yesterday were, 'You couldn’t be doing any better,' although she has dropped the Oxaliplatin due to Peripheral Neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the tips of fingers). Oxaliplatin is brutal on the body with a lot of side effects, so Duane is very happy to have this dropped. Two more rounds of chemo, and that is it for Duane. Fingers crossed the Keytruda does its job and keeps the cancer from spreading.

    'With you all the way’

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea 💕

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    • 18/01/2024 by Jody

      It’s great to keep reading positive updates on your journey mate! Keep it up 💪👍

  • Strength in Family: Round 8 for Duane with his Mum by his side 💕

      14 December 2023
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    Round eight of chemo is done and dusted, and Duane had the wonderful company of his mum, Laonie. For those that don’t know; Duanes Mum has battled breast cancer twice and had chemotherapy in 1992 and again in 2010. Laonie really understands exactly what Duane is going through and has been fully clear of cancer for many years now. Duane takes inspiration from his mum to beat his cancer.

    The support from Duanes's mum has been nothing short of amazing – touching base most days and popping over with fresh fruit or for a cuppa and a chat.

    Duane's oncologist is extremely happy with the progress so far. He has one more treatment scheduled on 27 December, followed by three more in the New Year. After completing round 12, Duane will bid farewell to chemo and continue with Keytruda every three weeks.

    In addition to the medical journey, we have been so fortunate and are so appreciative to have such an incredible support network surrounding us. A huge thank you to Timeout (www.timeoutnz.org) for providing an unforgettable getaway in the Bay of Islands a couple of weeks ago. We are extremely gratefull to have been gifted an amazing holiday home to enjoy for 3 nights. The property was stunning and located in a private bay. Thank you Kip and Lynn for your generosity.

    'With you all the way’

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea 💕

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  • Strength in Friendship & Celebrating Progress: Duane's 7th Chemo and 5th Keytruda

      30 November 2023
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    We've hit the back half of the treatment journey, with Duane completing Round seven of chemotherapy and Round five of Keytruda. One of Duane's oldest mates, Stefan McCord, stood by his side during this round. With a friendship spanning over 30 years, they've shared flats and supported each other through thick and thin.

    Duane underwent a CT scan last Friday as a halfway check, and received the results on Tuesday. His oncologist, Amanda, was extremely happy with Duane's response to the treatment. All tumors in the lymph nodes have decreased. While the primary stomach cancer is challenging to assess accurately, it is still present, but all other organs are clear of cancer. There has been no further spread! Amanda, Duane's oncologist, has said this is an exceptionally positive response to the treatment.

    On a different note, a special mention goes out to the Mairangi Bay Fishing Club for their fundraiser on Saturday at the Mairangi Bay Classic Fishing Comp. There was an amazing turnout and a huge number of families at the weigh-in which was great to see. The raffles, sausage sizzle, and a live auction collectively raised $1000. A massive thanks to Wendy, Mark, Matt, and Shaun for organising this fantastic event, and gratitude to everyone who contributed.

    'With you all the way’

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea 💕

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    • 30/11/2023 by Sandra

      So pleased to hear the good news that things are going well with the treatment. Much love and good wishes from your Aussie family.

    • 13/12/2023 by Deb

      Fantastic news, Happy Christmas Duane, Andrea & whanau, from Paul & Deb XX

  • Halfway Milestone 🙌

      16 November 2023
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    Round 6 of chemo is officially done and dusted. This marks the halfway milestone, and Duane had the company of his good mate and top builder, Grant Morris. Grant, a staunch supporter since the beginning, insisted on setting up the Givealittle page with his lovely wife, Michele. Not only that, but Grant played a significant role in organising the quiz fundraiser held at The Merchant Pub on Sunday evening, which turned out to be a tremendous success.

    With 160 attendees showing up to support Duane, the event featured an amazing array of silent auction and raffle prizes, complemented by three live auctions. A massive thank you is due to Lance and Lara for hosting the event, which raised an impressive $30k. This sum will contribute to covering the costs associated with Keytruda immunotherapy.

    Special appreciation goes out to all the sponsors who generously donated these fantastic prizes. The overwhelming support received allows us to confirm that we've raised enough to cover the expenses linked to Keytruda.

    Now, a few quiet days lay ahead for Duane to recover from chemo, with a CT scan scheduled for the 28th. We're eagerly anticipating the results to see how the treatment is working.

    There are photos on Duane’s Facebook of the quiz fundraiser, great memories created from an amazing event.

    'With you all the way’

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea 💕

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  • Round 5 with Cam Gee

      2 November 2023
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    Another old friend stepped up as Duane’s chemo buddy for round 5. Cam Gee, a great friend for over three decades, offered his support.

    Cam's been a legend since day 1 of Duane's cancer journey. He’s been a constant with regular catch-ups and calls, adding a sprinkle of dry humour and a good chat.

    Huge thanks to heavyweight legends of the house music scene, Greg Churchill, Azza, Sweetpants, Ange, Ed, and Andrew, who hit the decks at Ink for the Midnight Snack - Beats for Bodge fundraiser. The event was a success, and all door sales will go straight to the Givealittle fund, we're incredibly grateful for their support.

    Speaking of Givealittle, we have some exciting news. In addition to the incredible contributions made to Givealittle, we've also received direct debits to our bank account from the Movie Night fundraiser and the Grove Mitre10 Trade Golf Day. This extra $ isn't reflected in the Givealittle total, but we're thrilled to announce that we're almost at our target, all thanks to your amazing support.

    We've got 1 more fundraising event coming up which will get us over the line - a Quiz night at the Merchant on November 12. Tickets are selling fast, so if you’re keen, get in touch with Duane for more details.

    We'll keep the Givealittle page open for updates, but we don't expect any more contributions because you've already been incredibly generous. Thank you all for your fantastic support!

    'With you all the way’

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea 💕

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  • Round 4 with Steve from Down Under

      21 October 2023
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    Plenty to report this week; it's been busy.

    First up, Duane's Oncologist appointment went really well. Amanda is happy with Duane's progress; he's largely pain-free with only occasional little niggles. He has halted the weight loss and even put on a couple of kg’s!

    A special visitor this week was our good friend Steve, who traveled all the way from Australia to be Duane's chemo buddy. Duane and Steve go way back to their Westlake Boys days, so they have loads of great memories and stories to share. They've known each other for over 30 years. Steve arrived last Saturday, and we had a good time catching up. Then we enjoyed dinner on Sunday with our extended old school crew. Steve joined Duane for his Chemo + Keytruda session on Wednesday. Lots more good times and memories made.

    To add to the excitement, on Wednesday night, Andrea's workplace, Two Hundred Doors, organised an incredible movie night fundraiser. Over 140 people attended, including our good friend Steve. It turned out to be a huge success, raising a whopping $5K to support Duane's treatment – truly AMAZING!

    We're so thankful to all the generous sponsors who contributed prizes, Angie, Tash, Anna, and Cara who organised this event, and, of course, everyone who joined the night.

    This week has been nothing short of remarkable, filled with unwavering support and cherished moments. Stay tuned for more!

    'With you all the way’

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea 💕

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    • 22/10/2023 by Deb

      Awesome update! So good to hear - you got this Xx

  • Round 3 with Pistol Pete

      4 October 2023
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    Round 3 of Chemo is officially done and dusted, marking the approximate midpoint of Duane's 2023 treatment plan. At the end of the year Duane will take a short break and undergo a CT scan to gauge his progress. Then, it's time to gear up for more chemo in the new year.

    This is Duane's good builder mate Pete, aka 'Pistol Pete.' Pete has been a rock throughout this journey, ringing up Duane every single day since the start of chemo. Talk about dedication!

    Duane's hanging in there, gearing up for the usual nausea, but here's where things take a twist: the chemo brings some unusual side effects, like tingly hands and muscle cramps. The oddest of them all? 'OXALIPLATIN COLD DYSESTHESIAS.' It's a mouthful, but it simply means Duane can't tolerate or eat/drink anything cold for at least four days post-chemo. Even opening the fridge is off-limits, as it can trigger this sensation.

    Now, you might be wondering, what does this unusual side effect feel like? Well, it's like experiencing numbness in your throat and a sensation of being unable to breathe, even though you're breathing just fine. It's not the most pleasant sensation, but the good news is that these episodes usually subside within a few moments.

    So, here's to rounding off Chemo 3, with Pistol Pete by his side and a few quirky side effects to keep things interesting. We appreciate all the support and love you've shown us on this journey so far!

    'With you all the way’

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea 💕

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    • 05/10/2023 by Sandra

      Thankyou for update and interesting information. Oh to have a friend like 'Pistol Pete.' What a wonderful support person. Hang in there Duane. May the medicine work its magic.

  • The Superheroes at Harbour Cancer

      30 September 2023
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    Duane had his 2nd Keytruda treatment on Wednesday, September 27th, we fondly refer to this as the superhero 'liquid gold.' Unlike Chemo, Keytruda hardly has any side effects that have bothered Duane. Plus, it's so quick to administer, compared to its perfect partner, Chemo.

    Now, let's talk about the real superheroes—the amazing team at Harbour Cancer. Their service and care are out of this world. We really are in the hands of experts who explain everything that is going on along the way.

    And then there's Laura, Duane’s amazing Chemo and Keytruda ‘expert’ nurse. She's simply amazing—so much knowledge and a great sense of humor to boot! That sense of humor really comes in handy dealing with Duane's cheeky nature. A HUGE thank you to Laura, Amanda (Duane’s Oncologist) and the whole Harbour Cancer team for making this journey a little brighter! 💕

    'With you all the way'

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea

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    • 30/09/2023 by Antonio

      May God Bless you and your family and you are in my prayers each day.

  • Chemo 2 Done and Dusted!

      28 September 2023
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    On 20th September, good friend Hamish played the role of Duane's chat buddy during Chemo number 2, and since the treatment took a good few hours to complete, they might have solved all of life's mysteries in that time.

    The first chemo round was a bit of a roller coaster ride, with nausea making a fashionably late entrance a few days after the treatment and deciding to overstay its welcome. However, Chemo 2 brought some relief and felt like an easier ride on the roller coaster, providing a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel.

    The good news is, Duane is feeling surprisingly good after just two treatments! We suspect the Chemo and Keytruda combo are having a serious pep talk with his unwelcome cancer cells. Leading up to treatment he was in a lot of pain, but the incredible news is he has now been able to ditch the pain relief which is truly amazing 🙏 ❤️

    'With you all the way'

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea

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    • 28/09/2023 by Dendra

      Love hearing the ‘good news’ progress updates! Blessings x

  • The Start of Duane’s Treatment Journey

      28 September 2023
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    We thought we would provide a bit of an update on Duane’s treatment plan. Duane started his 3-month course of chemotherapy and immunotherapy (Keytruda) on September 6th. The chemo will be fortnightly, and Keytruda every 3 weeks. If everything is heading in the right direction after the initial treatment, there will be another 3 months of the same, then the chemo will finish, but Keytruda will carry on. The first treatment went well 💕

    This is our new normal now, we are keeping positive and strong xx

    'With you all the way'

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea

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  • Overflowing with Gratitude: A Warm and Heartfelt Thank You!

      24 September 2023
    Posted by: Duane Read
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    We're absolutely touched and humbled by the incredible support we've received from everyone. The response in the past few days has been amazing, and it's made a world of difference for us. Your generosity and kindness have truly overwhelmed us. We can't thank you enough for your love and support. It feels like we're wrapped in a comforting blanket of support, coming from friends, family, colleagues, long-lost friends we haven't seen in years, and even kind-hearted strangers. Here, is a recent photo of acts of kindness that have been arriving at our house every few days!

    With a heart full of gratitude,

    Duane and Andrea

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