Yesterday Dorothy and I heard the results of my latest scan - the current
medication seems to be working. It has eliminated the immediately dangerous
cancer lying between two main blood vessels and has reduced in size the other
cancer also residing within my liver.


This is remarkable news and totally unexpected. This time last year the messages
were

- if there were 100 of you in this room maybe 10 might be here in a year's time

- the medications do not increase longevity

- prepare for the worst



Statistically the probabilities have been so heavily weighted against any
progress with chemotherapy that the actual outcome in July was never discussed
as an option. By September I was advised that my body could no longer cope with
a continuation of chemotherapy. Instead I was prescribed a second treatment,
immunology. Immunology has an even weaker performance and is in effect 'the end
of the line'- after that there is no treatment left. So a positive response to
that treatment also not just astounding - it fundamentally alters my outlook for
the better. I have nothing but admiration for the staff of the hospitals I have
been treated in - they and the cancer charities are doing a difficult and
wonderful job.



This last year has been an ordeal. The cancers have often been immediately
life-threatening and the medications have caused, and continue to cause, a wide
variety of side-effects some which are painful and unpleasant. Those
side-effects have caused constant fear of cancer spreading and growing. But the
medications have already saved my life and seem to be continuing to do so. I am
not out of the woods yet as the cancer is what they call 'systemic' and there is
still one measurable one which remains to be cleared. Maintaining and focussing
my immune system to battle the cancer is my somewhat precarious survival.
However the outlook now is so radically different to that which we expected.



Our celebrations at this news are tempered by knowledge of the many who we have
been in contact with over the last year who have not had such good fortune. It
is so sad to hear of mothers, fathers and indeed children themselves who
succumbed to the disease and our thoughts are with those and others battling and
those who have lost loved ones. Their guidance and help has been priceless.



My message to family, friends and colleagues is simply - THANKS



So many of you have quietly taken me aside with offers of help or to advise that
I am in your prayers. One thing this disease does is to make you appreciate the
gift of life and another is that it brings out the very best in people. Thankyou
for being good friends indeed over the last year.



It is difficult to contact everyone at once so I apologise for the 'electronic'
message to everyone on my contact list. Obviously we are both stunned and
delighted



Wishing you a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR



Ian


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