Hein created a podcast about his battle with his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. In this podcast, you’ll hear the story of Hein and his family. Themes that surfaced during sleepless nights, such as fear, struggle, pain, and jealousy, are discussed. Conversations with loved ones explore Hein’s personal experiences and the stories of those around him.
This podcast is meant to inform and inspire. It stems from the uncertainty that drove Hein to sleepless nights shortly after his diagnosis. It’s a tribute to those who also face daunting challenges and still find the strength to make the most of them.
Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
It started in February, when Hein developed abdominal pain, felt listless, and lost weight. So, he went to the doctor. An ultrasound and CT scan followed, and boom: the diagnosis of inoperable pancreatic cancer.
He writes: “Our world as we knew it collapsed. Our future vanished like snow in the sun. We entered a new, surreal world of fear, pain, panic, powerlessness, uncertainty, dilemmas, and change. And above all, one of surviving from chemo to chemo and learning to cope with everything that entails.”
“Between chemo treatments, I rediscovered my old passion as a sound designer. During sleepless nights, I started writing down my thoughts, and that’s how the idea for a podcast came about. It’s meant to inform those around us, our loved ones, but also fellow sufferers and those involved, about what happens when you receive such a sentence. It also gives us a purpose, something to work on, something beautiful to create, a distraction between the ugly moments of dealing with chemo side effects. Recorded at our kitchen table, with Masja faithfully by my side.”
Podcast ‘If later is now’
“Listen to ‘Als later nu is’. In the meantime, we will be working on the next episodes in the coming weeks. You can help us reach the right people by promoting the podcast where you think it will be appreciated. That’s the power of this network.”
Finally, Hein writes: “Since I started this podcast, I’ve dared to share more about our process. Because that’s life too. And more than ever, our motto is Dream, Dare, Do.”