Health Update March 2023

Over the last 10 years, lots of you have supported me and my family on our journey with cancer, which we as a family have really appreciated. I haven’t posted any updates since October 2016, which is good news as my health has been very stable since then. But I now do have some news to share with you all.

I still have an annual MRI scan and review with the team at Guys Hospital. My latest scan in December was a PET scan, my consultant called me a week later, which was a week before Christmas to let me know that something new had shown up on the scan, but he told me not to worry, as he would see me at our January appointment. So obliviously we didn’t worry much over Christmas! Not!

At the appointment, we were told there were some new areas of interest showing up in my chest and small spots elsewhere that need to be investigated further. My consultant Mr Obholzer also said that after 9 years clear he was surprised something new had now shown up. My case would need to be discussed at the next Multi-Discipline Team (MDT) meeting. We also talked about options. One of those options being a nuclear medicine treatment.

Sue and myself this week met the Nuclear Medicine team to talk about the direction of my treatment and get more information from them. We found out more details about the tumour so I have an area in my chest with larger growth and also have smaller spots on my lungs and on my spine.

The consultant then explained the way ahead. My particular tumour type is slowly growing and can respond well to a treatment with a radioactive drug called ‘Lutahera’. This drug has the ability to target and attach itself to any cancer cells and in turn kills these cells. The treatment will mean me being in hospital for around 24 hrs after a drug infusion and will mean I will be radioactive up to 2 weeks. I can meet with people but need to keep at a 2-meter distance away, Nothing new as we’ve practiced this during lockdown. I am likely to need up to 4 treatments with an 8-week gap between treatments and is unlikely to start until June.

We also found out that Guy’s hospital is the only hospital in the UK that offers this treatment and there are only 2 doctors who specialize in this area of medicine. So I feel very thankful that I am under this great team at Guy’s.

I have felt surprisingly calm and peaceful since finding out his news and understanding the way ahead, as the outlook doesn’t feel quite as daunting, compared to my original diagnosis and treatment which did have a very bleak outlook. As most of you know I have my Christian faith which I believe has got me through the tough times in the past and will get me through these coming months.

I do recall these words from one of my surgeons, Dr. Richard Oakley, who said to me at one of my reviews these words “You’ve had a remarkable recovery and you know, you’re a bit of a miracle!” He then went on to say “and you’ve also dodged a lot of bullets in the process and survived”. I told him “I’m here by the grace of God” after both Sue and myself had a number of conversations with him about our faith over the last couple of years. 

We really have appreciated all the support that so many of you have given us over the last 10 years and we value your ongoing support and prayers over these coming months. I will try to keep you updated on this blog, as and when we have any new news to share with you.

Thanks Neil & Sue