Des's fight against cancer & rehabilitation.

**Help Des Fight stagec? 4 Advanced Oesophageal cancer**

Our beloved Des has recently been diagnosed with advanced oesophageal adenocarcinoma (T3N3MX) which is now stage 4 , an aggressive and life-threatening form of cancer. This devastating news has shaken us to the core, but we are resolute in fighting this battle together.

Des has had his first consultation with Mr. Ward, his consultant at Royal Preston Hospital, who outlined the difficult journey ahead. The first step is a keyhole surgery to examine the tumour and assess how much can be safely removed. Unfortunately the procedure now has been taken off the table and Des is looking at 3 weeks - 6 months without treatment. And 12 months to 24 with treatments.

To prepare for this, Des will undergo a demanding chemotherapy regimen known as FLOT, one of the most aggressive treatments available. FLOT comes with severe side effects that will challenge Des both physically and emotionally. If you'd like to learn more about the treatment and its side effects, you can read about it [here](https://ctep.cancer.gov/protocolDevelopment/docs/regimes/SideEffects-FLOT.docx).

In an effort to reduce the impact of chemotherapy on Des’s body, we are exploring treatments to naturally shrink the tumour. These include herbal medicines, vitamin C and B12 IV infusions, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, infrared saunas, CBD, fenbendazole, ivermectin, mebendazole, and others.

We are reaching out to friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers for support during this incredibly difficult time. Des is unable to work and will not be able to for the foreseeable future, we are exploring new treatments in Germany to give Des the best chance of a 5 year plus life expectancy . We are currently navigating the complex process of applying for benefits and Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which is both daunting and time-consuming, and may take up to three months for initial payments to be received. We tragically underestimated the financial burden that would arise from this journey.

Your generosity will ease the financial strain and, more importantly, show Des that he is not alone in this fight.

Yesterday’s appointment opened Des’s eyes to the harsh reality of his diagnosis, and for the first time, I saw fear and hopelessness in his eyes.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us. Together, we can help Des face this challenge and give him the best possible chance to overcome this devastating disease.