Help Shaun fund life extending cancer treatment

Hi all,

I’ve gotten myself into a pickle. HELP! 

 

I got pretty ill in 2019 and, after months of faff with doctors, I finally took myself for a private colonoscopy to try and get them to take me seriously. Unfortunately it revealed a large tumour in my lower rectum. At this point the NHS took me under its wing and have been absolutely brilliant but more on that later. 

 

Scans revealed that the cancer had spread beyond the primary tumour to my lymph nodes and liver. The diagnosis was Stage 4 Metastatic cancer and my life expectancy was not good at all. Initial thoughts were that I probably had 18 months and any treatment would be palliative (designed to make life comfortable rather than to cure). 

 

This is not a fun conversation to have. Avoid it if you can. 

 

I could write an essay on what happened next but it would take too long (call me if you really want to hear it. Set aside an hour or so). Keeping it brief, I started chemotherapy twice a month for 3 months. That went unexpectedly well and my brilliant doctors came up with an 18 month plan in the hope of getting me to a stage where I might have a slim chance of beating it. 

 

I went through more than 20 rounds of pretty punchy chemotherapy, 25 sessions of pelvic radiotherapy, had half of my liver cut out, three other operations on my liver, some lymph nodes chopped out, my rectum cut out (I shit you not) and a colostomy created. Oh, and I got a hernia too! Amazingly, all the visible cancer was removed from my body. 

 

This is not fun either. Avoid it if you can. 

 

I was pretty broken but recovering and the doctors gave me 3 months off treatment. I was  scanned at the end of that 3 months to see if any new cancer had developed. Unfortunately it had. I was immediately put back into another 3 month course of intense chemotherapy which I have just completed. 

 

The chemotherapy is still working well but beating cancer is not an option for me now so the name of the game is to stay alive as long as possible. The NHS have been amazing and will continue to look after me but I’ve pretty much run out of options for further treatment with them outside of chemotherapy. I need to look further afield. 

 

The future of cancer treatment would appear to be in immunotherapy and I want to join the program at the CeGat Clinic in Tubingen, Germany. These people are REALLY clever. They will create a  personal cancer vaccine for me. The goal will be to train my body to recognise cancer in my system and actively fight it – something that the body doesn’t do naturally. This alongside chemotherapy will hopefully increase my odds of being around to get on your nerves for a while longer. 

The latest scans (last week) show a really good response to the chemotherapy and, for now, we seem to have a leash on the bugger.

 

I imagine you’ve figured out that this is why I am asking for help. The treatment isn’t cheap. I had just gone self-employed when I got ill and had to cancel all of the work I had for the year ahead. Then CoVid!

I’m embarrassed to say it but I’m pretty broke and my ability to go back to work is limited for the time being. 

 

Everything I raise will go only towards the cost of the immunotherapy treatment, other medical bills or travel for treatment. Any funds left over when I’m gone will go to great cancer charities.

 

The numbers aren’t bad – about a 50% chance of a 5 year life expectancy and a little over 25% chance of 10 years. If I get through another year those odds get better. If my vaccine works the odds get better again. Science being science, the longer I stay in the game the more the medical options progress and then who knows what’s around the corner for patients like me.

 

 Thanks for taking the time to read this. It wasn’t easy to write. It isn’t easy to ask for help. If I’ve ever bought you a pint, sorted out a guest list, whatever, please consider putting a few quid in the pot. I know it has been a terrible few years so don’t feel bad if you can’t but let me make it clear that fabric have given me a file containing all of the guest lists since 1999. Quite a few of your names will be on there….. 

 

Finally, I wouldn’t be in this sorry state if I had paid more attention to what my body was telling me. I put it off for ages, made excuses why I was too busy to get to the doctor and told myself it would get better. Ultimately that’s my fault. Please don’t be stupid like I was. It’s scary to face it but what I have been through is much worse. Catch cancer early and you will give yourself much better odds of beating it. You or someone very close to you is going to get cancer so be prepared. Insist on careful diagnosis from your doctor. Go for a second opinion if you are unsure. Read up on what to look out for. 

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/ is a great place to start.

 

I’m available to anyone who wants to know more or needs support for themselves or a friend. 

Much love to you all,

Shaun x