Light shines for life

By Kelly Yates
A NARRE Warren leukaemia survivor says he feels his health is better now than before he was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the blood.
Dean Lynch will light a balloon this September to celebrate being a blood cancer survivor by taking part in the Leukaemia Foundation Light the Night event.
The 41-year-old was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 1995.
Mr Lynch told the News his leukaemia transformed into a more aggressive phase despite being treated with chemotherapy and other drugs for a number of years.
“My only option was to undergo a bone marrow transplant and I received bone marrow from an unrelated donor in Sydney in 1998,” he said.
“I had a really positive attitude and knew I had to beat it.”
During Mr Lynch’s recovery from his transplant he was unable to return to work and did what he could to make ends meet while attending the many appointments needed to monitor his recovery.
He is now in remission and said he is making the most of life.
Mr Lynch, who has been living in Narre Warren for 10 years, set up his own mortgage broking business in 2002 and is busy planning his wedding in October.
“I am fitter and I take more care of myself than before and have learnt that life is too precious,” he said.
“I want to let people know they, too, can beat it.”
Mr Lynch will be the first to light a white balloon at Light the Night Melbourne on Wednesday 16 September from 5.30pm at the Alexandra Gardens as a White Balloon Ambassador.
Others will light a gold balloon to remember someone who has died from blood cancer or a blue balloon to give hope and show support.
Mr Lynch has been involved with the Leukaemia Foundation for more than 12 months after deciding he wanted to lend a helping hand.
The Leukaemia Foundation is the only national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the care and cure of patients and families living with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders.
The Casey community can support the Leukaemia Foundation by visiting www.lightthenight.org.au or calling 1800 500 088.