Darren Scott on Laataand by Rian: ‘I’m back in South Africa because I have to work so I can pay for the treatment.’ Emotions ran high at times when Rian van Heerden talked to radio legend Darren Scott as his guest on Laataand by Rian.
Darren was first diagnosed with melanoma (skin cancer) in 1986. Since then, the cancer has returned repeatedly, including melanomas near his lungs that cause shortness of breath.
“The cancer came back with friends,” he told Rian.
Darren’s ex-wife, Sarah-Kate Accetta, and his two sons, Mark and Matthew, live in America. Sarah-Kate has started a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for the immunotherapy Darren is undergoing. Darren said the treatment occurs every three weeks and costs R80,000 per session. Immunotherapy has evolved from experimental to very expensive, he says, but more and more success stories are emerging among stage 4 cancer patients who are going into remission.
When Rian asked how he was really doing, Darren admitted that things were rough at times. He became emotional when talking about his sons and his father, Harry, who also lives in America.
“I’m back in South Africa because I have to work so I can pay for the treatment,” he said. “But if I can’t talk, I can’t work.”
He spoke about the fund that was set up when his son Mark was diagnosed with cancer at a year, and how it has since helped others as well. However, he said he hates asking people for money, which makes the path he’s now walking especially difficult.
Darren experienced firsthand how his involvement in charity work had helped others when the second guests of the evening walked in: Helen Smit and Tristan, her son.
Tristan was just two years old when Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels raised money for him to travel to America for brain cancer treatment. Today, he’s a thriving young man who has already completed two Cape Town Cycle Tours (formerly the
Argus Cycle Tour).
“The power of radio,” said an emotional Darren.
Laataand by Rian airs on Tuesdays at 21:00 on kykNET (DStv channel 144) and is also available on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
