Story
Cancer. That horrible word. We are fast learning it doesn't just happen to someone else or someone else's family..in April 2017 'Mal' youngest of six siblings was taken ill and in May he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. He & his wife Chris and the family were devastated.Chris did some research into the condition & discovered the tumour was small & had been diagnosed early.A biopsy was needed for typifying & staging the cancer-this took two separate endoscopic procedures. He was prescribed 24 fortnightly infusions of Folfirinox, a powerful chemotherapy which zeros the white blood cells. He was fitted with a PICC line and started chemo in July. He was unable to go anywhere, it completely wiped him out. In late October after a couple of admissions to hospital. He had a scan which showed the tumour had grown. Chris got the vital information that it had not spread & they were changing the chemo to GemCap - weekly infusion and tablets (21day cycles) Scan in January 2018 showed tumour had shrunk by almost 1cm! he's considered stable! He will have two more cycles, then another scan. As well as conventional treatment Mal is practising gentle Chinese exercise & having Acupuncture weekly. The doctor gives him excellent dietary advice. Their next step depends on how much the tumour has shrunk. They are hoping to be a candidate for robotic surgery, but if not they may give radiotherapy... So cancer doesn't just happen to other people. On Sunday 3rd June 'Team Tanner' will be running for 'Mal' At times like these you feel so helpless. But what I love about this family is that we do ‘something’ especially for those we love, Let's see what we can do guys! We Love You Mal & Chis xx