teeym

Me and my partner got through the pool for NZ immigration not long back, only to have the brakes put on by me being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

As the official line on malignancies is ">90% chance of cure" then in theory this shouldn't be a problem - caught a very small lump nice and early, the operation has been and gone, chest x-ray and bloods are good, so barring a complete disaster on my CT scan results we're hoping it's stage 1 seminoma with no further treatment required and I've statistically a 99%+ chance of being in the clear.

Immigration New Zealand were unfortunately unable to offer any advice and said to go for the medical as each case was assessed on an individual basis. Fair enough, but as people may have noticed the medicals aren't free, so if there is anyone else out there who has been afflicted with a spud tumour and can share their experience it would be a big help.

alchris

Hi there 'teeym' sorry cant offer you any advice but sounds like you have been through alot. I think the main thing is as you said ''your hoping there will no further treatment required' Which I should imagine has got to be a positive not only for you but NZ immigration. We are applying second time around so only you can say how much you want this, and if in your case it costs a little more for perhaps specialist medical reports, than it may be worth giving it a go.
All the best to you and good luck.
Chris x

teeym

Thanks Chris - we're definitely very determined to get to NZ ! Hopefully you'll have all the luck required to get yourself out there this time around too.

Good news today in that I had a really good post-op chat with a Consultant. His view was I should be over 90% clear already and the Consultant Oncologist would be prepared to put that in writing for immigration if I liked once my CAT scan comes back clear (which he suspects it will).

Just got to wait a couple of weeks for my appointment with said Oncologist now and medicals will be booked.

Aside from the immigration query, I have to say I really haven't been through a lot at all! If there is such a thing as a good cancer to have, testicular is it. Aside from finding the lump, I've had to do nothing as the NHS has been fabulous! From first seeing GP through to operation was less than a month; I was in hospital for less than 6 hours for the op itself (2 hours of which was scoffing post-op coffee, biscuits and toast!) and walked out with really very little pain.

The whole thing has been a doddle and I can't emphasise enough to any other blokes how quick, simple and unstressful the process is if you get it seen to quickly.

I'll keep updating as to how we get on!

Kija

Sorry I can't help with your question on immigration as I'm sort of new and clueless but wanted to wish you the best of luck with everything

And to comment on how brave you are and thank goodness you caught it early!

Good luck! Keep us posted!

teeym

Right - I know it's been a while, but there's not really been much news worth posting!! However, we have a bit of a breakthrough - hopefully......

Consultant oncologist confirmed that what I had ('had' is a good word ) was early stage cancer, it was entirely removed and had not spread. I now have to make a decision on whether to "watch and wait" for any symptoms (around 10-15% chance of something coming back) or have a preventative dose of chemotherapy (<5% chance of anything coming back). As the numbers for immigration look better with chemo and it is only one very low dose of a single drug, then that's the route I'm going down. Nice consultant will then provide a report covering all of this along with an electronic copy of my CAT scan as proof the dreaded lurgi hasn't spread to hand over to immigration. In theory all the NZ health service is setting itself up for is a blood test every 6 months for the next few years.

The only pain with this is a delay to the medicals, but it does mean I can enjoy my dads 60th birthday this weekend and have a few weeks for the liver and kidneys to recover! Every cloud as they say.........

Matewx

Perhaps a more knowedged person will come along, but I seem to think that NZIS look at how much you "may" "potentially" cost them... Now remember am not an expert, but would it not be wiser to seek some help & assistance from an expert/agent?

Am kinda worried that they will see cancer (even though you had it & no longer have it) as a medical condition bla bla bla..... Not trying to bring you down... Just want you to consider all your options & potential hurdles!

I had kidney surgery 10 yrs ago & boy didnt they drive me round the bend with this... Took over 2months of going back n forth!!

All the best & keep posting

teeym

Yes - I'm still expecting some fun and games from them on this.

I'm currently working on the advice of my consultant who has had someone in "a similar position" successfully get a visa sorted. Apparently once I've had the dose of chemo then I'm well beyond their stipulated 90% cure figure and the all medical expenses that can be expected will be a blood test once every six months for the next 4 1/2 years. The good doctor has assured me that this will all be in writing in my medical records and should make a compelling case for me. I suppose if you get a stroppy doc on the medical panel it could drag out a bit, but and all that!

teeym

Out of interest, the CD of my CAT scan had come in the post when I popped home at lunch today. Dead interesting - although I don't really recognise myself from the inside!

Still wondering whether I should be happy or mildly insulted that the attached report chose to describe my bowel loops (whatever they are) as "unremarkable".

Psychopandy

I bet that having an 'unremarkable' bowel is a very good thing.
Congratulations on being clear of the cancer - im glad its all worked out for you. Just hope now that you can get through this next bit with the NZIS.

Good luck and

All the best Psycho x

teeym

Cheers for that Psycho - things are moving on by the day now! I've just had a nurse on the phone who is trying to get my pre-chemo testing and what-not sorted out in advance of my next appointment. Hopefully this will speed the arrival of a set of medical records with "properly cured" or the equivalent medical term stamped on them in red.

My motivation is currently being maintained at super-high levels by my dear, sweet other half reminding me on a daily basis to pull my finger out as there are recruitment consultants with decent jobs going begging in the Land of the Long White Cloud and if I could just "get over it" and scrape through my medical we can be on our way.......

Psychopandy

Where you got to pull your finger out of??? then again i dont need to know

I think i like your lady - she sounds like my sort of woman!

It is a long slog but it can be done. We did it - thankfully without much hassle, but it still seemed stressful.
At least you have pre-empted the problems that may come your way. Its always best to try and stay 1 step ahead of the game

What kind of job you looking for?
I know that the IT sector is turning on the upside a bit. My OH has had a couple of recruitment consultants offering him stuff in the last couple of weeks. He made contact when he was there in May/june.

teeym

She's one in a million......

Strangely enough, we also did the "make contact in May" thing - what a pain it was coming back!!!

Anyway, she's the one who is having to do the serious job hunting - as a Chartered Accountant, she's got the earning power and I'll have to go where she's wanted and find something to keep me off the streets!

Ideally - from a financial point anyway - this would be in some form of mechanical/project engineering, but seeing as in the past I've been known to briefly turn my hand to journalism, leisure, warehouse/factory stuff, maintenance planning, driving, summer camp counseling, expediting, labouring and facilites management, then I'll give most things a try. Nothing if not versatile me!

Matewx

Good you're flexible...

Be ready too!

OH is a mechanical engineer & nothing... Anything he applies to outside Mechanical Engineering he does not even get noticed as irrelevant experience... Job wise it's tough right now in NZ... By the time u guys get over, it (hopefully) will have change!

Spacecake799

Hi,
Just to let you know, my MIL came here with us as visitors and applied for residency knowing she had had breast cancer.
It was indeed raised by the medicals and she had to get documentation about the cancer and treatment from her UK doctor.

Residency was granted without further problems.

Hope this gives you some extra hope.

Carole

Matewx

WOW!
this is excellent news... Thanks Spacecake

teeym hang in there mate (!!) there's hope!