PrOGress Charity Articles

Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:38:50 GMT

February is Oesophageal Cancer Awareness month, dedicated to increasing public knowledge of the symptoms of the disease and the need for early diagnosis

PR OG RESS is encouraging its cancer patient supporters to take part in this important national campaign to help increase detection and save lives.

More details can be found on the websites of several of the leading national charities involved in supporting patients, families and carers as well as promoting awareness.

PR OG RESS focuses on those affected by oesophago-gastric cancers in the central south of England who receive their treatment and surgery at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, Surrey, the local centre of expertise.

The OPA Cancer Charity was formed in 1985 as the Ooesophageal Patients Association and now works across the UK with a stated mission to save lives, improve the quality of the lives of those diagnosed with this challenging condition, and to spearhead campaigns to increase awareness of symptoms.

It is one of several national charities involved in Oesophageal Cancer Awareness month.

Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month Resources

MORE INFORMATION

Paul Davison Appointed as Trustee

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:09:51 GMT

PR OG RESS is pleased to announce that Paul Davison has been appointed as a patient trustee

He fills the vacancy that resulted from the resignation of Dave Paterson due to ill health.

Paul was interviewed as a potential Trustee last year and was regarded as an ideal candidate. We had no hesitation in going back to him after Dave told us that he could not longer continue. We are grateful to Dave for all that he did during his time and he leaves with our thanks and best wishes.

Paul was diagnosed with a stage 3 oesophageal cancer in April 2022 and received much of his treatment at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford. His surgery was conducted in November of the same year and his chemotherapy concluded in April the following year.

Faced with all that goes with his diagnosis – the many procedures before surgery, the surgery itself and the cycles of chemo before and after – he realised just how challenging it all was, not just for him but those who love and care for him.

With a professional background in data and marketing, he decided to document his cancer “journey” by producing a series of short programmes on his YouTube channel . He said: “I called it “Let’s Use the C Word” as I believe cancer isn’t talked about openly enough and I felt my journey just highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and the impact this has on potential outcomes”.

Paul said that through his many conversations with his medical team at the RSCH he became aware of PR OG RESS and he “felt a passion to be involved and support the charity through my personal and professional experience”.

More details can be found under his Trustee profile as well as his case study .

Paul Davison

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:33:36 GMT

I didn’t feel unwell or have any noticeable symptoms, I just had what I would describe as occasional mild acid reflux and then during a couple of evening mealtimes I found it hard to swallow the first few mouthfuls.

Once I cleared them, I could then enjoy the meal as normal. We had a big family holiday planned so my wife suggested I get it checked so I could enjoy the holiday without worrying or experiencing similar symptoms whilst away. The next few weeks were a rollercoaster, kick started with an endoscopy, then various other tests which concluded with the fact I had Oesophageal cancer at the age of 46.

Following my referral to the specialist they completed an endoscopy and at this stage there were lots of reassurances that it could be one of many things. Further tests were completed including a biopsy and the outcome was I had a tumour at the base of my oesophagus and into the top of my stomach. Subsequent tests concluded that the cancer hadn’t spread any further and the fact that I was otherwise fit and healthy, treatment and surgery was possible and this started very quickly after the diagnosis.

Looking back, I think the worst part of this process was the not knowing, and whilst it may sound strange, once I was told I had cancer and that there was a treatment plan in place, I actually felt better.

Identification

The treatment pathway recommended was FLOT chemotherapy which would consist of 4 sessions spread two weeks apart. Then I would have a short break to build up my strength so I was in the best possible position to undergo the 12 hour surgery to remove the tumour, my Oesophagus, the upper part of my stomach and lymph nodes. Following another period of recovery, I would then repeat the same chemotherapy as before the surgery to ensure the cancer was completely gone.

Thanks to the talented team at Royal Surrey and advancements in medical science, I was able to have my stomach surgery using robotics and the Oesophagus element by keyhole (further advancements since mean both elements can be done by robotics).

Following a couple of days in ICU being encouraged to very quickly get on my feet and start moving around and undertake exercises, I was able to achieve the speediest recovery possible and remarkably was back home just over a week after my surgery!

The recovery process then began at home including continuing with my feeding tube providing me with 1,000 calories every night to help me whilst I built up my eating.

Treatment

One of the milestones that I will always recall (of which there are many in this process), was the removal of my feeding tube as this felt like confirmation that I was back up to speed. I am now back to eating everything I want, albeit in smaller portions and I would say I am now a fitter, slimmer (every cloud!) and healthier version of myself!

The taste side effects from the chemotherapy have gone and outside of feeling the cold more than before, especially in my fingers, I am back to leading a normal life, something I am eternally grateful for. I am back at work, have enjoyed a number of holidays and I even rode the fastest roller coaster in the world less than a year after my surgery!

This is all thanks to everyone who supported me through this journey including my wife, daughter, family and friends, my surgeon Shaun Preston, my Oncologist Seb Cummings, my dietician Fiona Huddy and all of the supporting team at Royal Surrey and beyond.

Life after treatment...

View more of Paul's videos on his YouTube channel here - where he shares his journey.

Christmas Carols Success

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:14:27 GMT

The event is expected to have raised more than £1,150 for the charity

Trustees of PR OG RESS would like to thank the many supporters who made our Christmas carol concert fund-raiser such a great success, giving us a huge boost as we enter 2026.

With the generous assistance of the Hogs Back Brewery at Tongham, near Farnham, Surrey, which agreed to host the event on 14th December 2025 was a sell-out. Almost 150 people attended to listen a young singers, the Godalming Band, and to join in Christmas favourites.

There was a great atmosphere, a bar to lubricate the vocal chords, and the audience was a convivial mix of oesophageal cancer patients, their families and friends, Royal Surrey Hospital Medical staff, Hogs Back brewery supporters and charity trustees.

The audience was in good voice but a special mention should go to our three young female singers, a trio from Guildford High School, Sofia, Emilia and Maeve, and to the young children who joined medical trustees Nima Abbassi-Ghadi and Madeliene Hewish to sing several carols and to be greeted with loud applause. They included Freya and Megan, children of medical trustee Fiona Huddy, and Madeleine’s daughter Lucy.

Special thanks go to our former patient trustee Dave Paterson (pictured opening the event) who used his close professional ties with the brewery to arrange our event, which was held on the afternoon of Sunday December 14th.

Unfortunately Dave has had to stand down due to health reasons and his place is to be taken by Paul Davison, who was one of the outstanding candidates when we held trustee interviews last year. Paul, who received treatment for stage 3 oesophageal cancer at the RSCH in 2022, is expected to be confirmed in his role at the next trustees meeting, after which he will be registered with the Charity Commission and his details will appear on this website.

Merry Harriers Meat Raffle Fundraiser Success

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:23:00 GMT

Raising way over the target of 1k

The charity meat raffle that takes place at the Merry Harriers pub in the village of Hambledon, Surrey, has concluded its eight-week run raising funds for PR OG RESS – reaching a remarkable total of £1,529.

In an earlier news story on this website, we reported that the pub is the “local” for Stewart Payne, one of our charity trustees. The pub’s owners Alex Winch and Sam Fiddian-Green agreed that he raffle, a popular and lively event, would raise money for PR OG RESS , starting at the beginning of October.

Since then the Saturday afternoon raffle has been well attended by villagers and visitors alike. PR OG RESS trustees would like to express their gratitude for such generosity. Stewart said: “I hoped we might reach £1,000 over the eight weeks allotted to our charity, so to raise more than £1,500 is a great result. I would like to thank pub manager Kelly, who runs the raffle, for her support and to Alex and Sam. All of the trustees are extremely grateful”.

On the final PR OG RESS raffle Stewart introduced Fiona Huddy and Anna McGuire, two of our charity’s medical trustees, explaining that they had been a part of the team at the Royal Surrey County Hospital caring for him at the time of his surgery for oesophageal cancer. Now, seven years later, he work alongside them with PR OG RESS .

They stepped forward to warm applause. Both said they were impressed by the community spirit of the pub and the good-natured way the raffle is held, adding that they wished the pub was their own local.

A big thank-you to the Merry Harriers and its customers and thanks to villagers David Edmiston for the photo and to Jon Petersen for the video.

The Walk of Life in Aid of PROGRESS

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:41:08 GMT

One Man, One Dog, and a Whole Lot of Miles - David Stride

If you’d told me in December 2023 that I’d be striding across Surrey to West Sussex less than 2 years later, I’d probably have asked if you’d mixed up your prescriptions. At that point, I’d just been handed a stage 4 oesophageal cancer diagnosis — the sort of phrase that makes time stop, the air freeze, and the future feel like it’s just fallen through a trapdoor.

Cue months of hospital visits, scans, prods, pokes, and a particularly dramatic “exploration surgery” (imagine a reconnaissance mission, but with scalpels). Chemotherapy followed — not exactly a spa treatment — and somehow, miraculously, the tumour shrank. Suddenly, the “huge surgery” was on the cards, followed by yet more chemo, and then the marathon of recovery began: learning how to eat again, rebuilding strength, and getting reacquainted with life itself.

Fast forward a few months, and there I was — out cycling with my faithful sidekick, Caroline the Collie (part sheepdog, part personal trainer) — when it hit me: I’m incredibly lucky to be here. And not just “I’ve-found-a-fiver” lucky. Proper, capital-L Lucky. I decided I needed to give something back to the incredible team at Royal Surrey County Hospital, whose skill and care had literally saved my life.

Being a lifelong cyclist, I thought, “I’ll do a sponsored ride — RSCH to Shoreham Beach!” Easy, right? Wrong. While I was more than ready to take on the miles, Caroline’s paws were not so keen on the abrasive Downs Link surface. After a brief committee meeting (me, the dog, and a cup of tea), I decided to swap wheels for walking boots. One day. One big walk.

Training began — just me and Caroline, striding out like a mismatched double act. Within six weeks, I was up to 10 miles a day, and my first “proper” training walk clocked in at 23 miles, straight after a hospital appointment. Talk about commitment.

Word spread, and soon my stepdaughter and her partner Ed (who lives with Ataxia and wanted to raise funds for Ataxia UK) decided to join in. The team was growing.

The Big Day dawned at 5 a.m., complete with torrential rain, a mobility scooter, an electric wheelchair, and a suspiciously optimistic sense of humour. A quick photo at the RSCH entrance, soggy smiles all round — and off we went!

Our support crew, aka my wife Jackie, was the day’s unsung hero — or at least she was until disaster struck at Bramley with a puncture. But not to worry: enter James, our son-in-law, who swooped in like a roadside superhero. From there, the support team expanded — joined by my other stepdaughter and my ever-cheerful mother-in-law — keeping everyone fed, motivated, and slightly less damp than we otherwise would’ve been. With the van back on the move, we powered through Cranleigh and Baynards Park, legs pumping, spirits high.

At the halfway point — The Milk Churn in Rudgwick — I was greeted like a returning explorer by family, including our 3-year-old granddaughter Sienna, who radiates more joy than a caffeine factory. I had cheese on toast which fuelled me up for the next leg of the journey.

From there, it was a relay of walking companions: my sister and niece (who may still be catching their breath), two friends through Christ’s Hospital, and then another changing of the guard at Southwater. The pace? Let’s just say enthusiastic.

By the time we hit Bramber, the rain had returned, but so had the rest of the crew — Jackie, James, both stepdaughters, my mother-in-law, our second dog Sydney, and even Alan the Grandog (the family mascot). Together — three generations, three dogs, slightly soggy but utterly determined — we crossed the final bridge into Shoreham after 13.5 hours on our feet.

And there, in the drizzle and the dark, was Sienna — bouncing up and down, shouting, “Well done, Grandpa! You did it!” Reader, I may have had something in my eye.

Caroline the Collie completed every step by my side and even raised £30 herself (not sure how — probably charm and good looks).

That day wasn’t just a walk. It was a 13.5 hour celebration — of survival, teamwork, and gratitude to every single member of the Royal Surrey County Hospital team, whose brilliance made it all possible.

If this story inspires even one person facing a similar diagnosis to keep going, then every mile, every blister, and every soggy sock was worth it.

Christmas Carols Fundraiser

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:50:59 GMT

Hogs Back Brewery in Surrey raising funds for PR OG RESS

On Sunday 14th December from 3pm – 5pm, the Tap will be hosting an afternoon of song, with all ticket proceeds going to PR OG RESS .

Featuring:

The Godalming Band

Trio of Voices – Maeve, Emilia and Sophia

Booking is essential and prices are:

Adult £5 per ticket

Child £2.50 per ticket

Under 3’s - free

Book your tickets here →

Fifi Morris

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:23:12 GMT

My story began with an endoscopy at Runnymede Hospital in October 2018.

It diagnosed the reason for my difficulty in swallowing and a persistent cough and was short and to the point: 3cm malignant carcinoma of the oesophagus, Stage 3. Three ‘hot’ lymph nodes in my neck were also irritating my trachea, causing the cough.

With my first grandchild due at the end of October, it was the last thing I wanted to hear.

In November, I was selected to take part in the KEYNOTE 590 trial sponsored by MSD, to investigate a combination of conventional chemotherapy drugs plus pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug. This was a blind trial so I do not know if I had the full combination but the side effects were severe and I had to leave the trial after one infusion.

Better news came after Christmas when a further PET scan ‘demonstrated a dramatic response’ in spite of the side effects. This reduction in the tumour made surgery a realistic possibility and I had to decide whether to opt for surgery (oesophagectomy, with a recovery time up to a year) or ongoing, essentially palliative chemotherapy.

Identification

Discussions with my prospective surgeon, my oncologist and my family and close friends followed. The final decision was to go for surgery, although it was made clear what a big operation this would be. It was a difficult decision because the reduced tumour eased my swallowing difficulties and my cough. It was tempting to think that this improvement could last.

The final decision was helped by my oncologist’s advice that surgery offered the chance of a complete cure; it was vindicated by a late scan which showed that the tumour was developing again.

My surgery took place in March 2019 over ten and a half hours. I was in intensive care for 5 days in RSCH, then a further 5 days in general care, full of wires and tubes. Gradually these all came out, except for my feeding tube which delivered 1000 calories a night for the next few months.

I was allowed home after 10 days as scheduled, with a box of liquid food bags. My recovery was gradual but always positive; as one of my daughters said, “If we had known you would be this well, this soon, we would not have hesitated”. I have had regular PET scans since, none of which have shown any sign of the cancer returning.

Treatment

Now in July 2025, I am well, eating anything I like and taking no tablets except for vitamin pills. And I have four grandchildren ranging in age from six to one and proud as punch of every one of them!

I want to thank Shaun Preston (gastro-oesophageal surgeon), Lisa Pitkin (ENT surgeon), Dr Ajay Mehta (oncologist), Dr Madeleine Hewish (oncologist), Fiona Huddy (specialist dietician), all the nurse specialists and staff and, of course, my family, who have helped me on my journey and enabled me to meet and enjoy my grandchildren.

Life after treatment...

Meat Raffle at The Merry Harriers Pub

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:10:08 GMT

A country pub in Hambledon, Surrey has begun raising funds for PR OG RESS at the meat raffle

The Merry Harriers in the village of Hambledon, Surrey, is the “local” of one of our patient Trustees, Stewart Payne. This pub donated a raffle prize of a meal for two at our launch in July, and now it continues its association with PR OG RESS by donating all the money raised by its meat draw throughout the Autumn.

The first one was on Saturday September 21st and Stewart was joined by many other pub regulars, together with Fiona Huddy and Dave Paterson, who are also PR OG RESS Trustees. Fiona is a specialist dietitian at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, where Stewart was treated and operated on for stage 3 oesophageal cancer, and Dave is a recovering patient.

Also present was another Hambledon villager, Ron Baker, who was operated on for the same cancer earlier this year and, with his wife Christine, was making his first visit to the pub since his major surgery.

Stewart gave a short address to explain the purpose of the new charity and how it hopes to offer support in whatever way required to patients at RSCH receiving treatment for this challenging condition. It also aims to increase awareness of its symptoms. Often oesophago-gastric cancers are not detected until a late stage, by which time surgery may not be possible.

He also thanked the owners of the Merry Harriers for their continued support and Alpa Cox, a local resident and website developer in Hambledon, who created the PR OG RESS website .

If you fancy a drink and or a meal in a lovely rural setting and giving to support to PR OG RESS at the same time, the Saturday afternoon weekly meat draw is a fun occasion and always supports local good causes. PR OG RESS will be the beneficiary for the next eight weeks. The raffle usually takes place at 5.15pm on Saturdays and all are welcome.

Please come and say hello if you make it there. If you would like to donate directly to the charity you can do so here .

The image shows Stewart saying a few words before the first raffle took place. Standing against the pub wall are Trustees Dave Paterson and Fiona Huddy and recovering patient Ron Baker

Dave Paterson

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:56:57 GMT

Having experienced almost no illness in my long and distinguished career as a human being, I was somewhat surprised to be told, following an endoscopy, “You have Cancer”.

My diagnosis had only been possible via this route following a protracted series of GP appointments, culminating in me happening to tell the Paramedic Practitioner at my local surgery that a friend chanced to remind me that I had twice had an attack of the hiccups when sat next to her at dinner. He recommended the endoscopy “Just to be on the safe side” and changed my life; and most likely saved it too. Thank you Karl.

Working in a very social environment with many points of contact, I had assumed in late 2022 and early 2023 that I was experiencing re-infections of covid, as so many of my brewery colleagues seemed to be having. I had a continual sore throat and feelings of tiredness and occasional nausea – but nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. Eventually, and completely against type, I went to the doctor where I was examined thoroughly (ears, nose, throat, chest) and was told to rest and self-medicate. Even more against type, I went back again three weeks later when the throat had remained sore. The only available appointment was with the Paramedic Practitioner Karl Goodall, with whom I had a similar set of examinations all to no avail. Then he asked: “Are there any other symptoms? No matter how odd”. That prompted me to remember a conversation with a friend who had happened to mention that I had hiccupped at dinner. I was sent for an endoscopy straight away.

Identification

I was diagnosed with an Oesophageal tumour which then necessitated chemotherapy which, although a difficult treatment with many peculiar side-effects, was successful enough to allow me to undergo a 13 hour surgery to remove the tumour, lymph nodes and Oesophagus and form a new connection to my digestive tract using my stomach to form a new Oesophagus. I was lucky enough to be operated on robotically by the incredible surgical team at Royal Surry County Hospital and but for a slight concern over one investigative scan, would have been home in just over a week, which, for such an extensive surgery, was almost unbelievable. This technological advance is just one of the incredible innovations and programmes that make the hospital stand out as a beacon of excellence in Cancer care, nationally and even internationally. I was so well taken care of during my recovery period that I feel it has given me an incredible insight into the workings of the whole hospital and how focused and detailed the treatment plan is but also how best to navigate your time during such an all-consuming and difficult period in unusual circumstances and surroundings.

Treatment

Following additional chemotherapy and a period of rehabilitation I resumed life, significantly changed, significantly lighter but significantly “better”. The changes I experienced in my everyday life were mainly linked to eating – little and often with some exclusions – and drinking – no carbonation for me I’m afraid. But I followed a healthier diet in terms of volumes and thought about what, how much and when I ate a lot more. As taste gradually came back I could enjoy eating and drinking more, but differently and significantly more inventively.

However, I experienced a setback, inasmuch as I had a recurrence of the cancer following a short period after my initial treatment plan. Nothing could have been done to prevent this – just bad luck I’m afraid – so I restarted the treatment path as before. Chemotherapy treatment for a defined period then opened up the chance of radiotherapy twinned with chemotherapy which meant a whole new set of departments with whom to interact! Following that intensive treatment I find myself in a good place, open to additional, more experimental treatments as well as some focusing on my mental and attitudinal well-being and whilst I would clearly not have wished to experience this again, I can learn from past experiences and hopefully offer more profound and informed advice through the vehicle of the charity. So, here I am.

Life after treatment...

Ceri Steele

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:49:55 GMT

When I started having difficulty swallowing in July 2019, I had no idea that there was anything wrong. As things got worse over the next couple of months, I went to my doctor who referred me for an gastroscopy.

Two weeks later, I was diagnosed with locally advanced squamous cell oesophageal cancer. This diagnosis came out of the blue - I didn't fit the typical oesophageal cancer patient profile, being female, in my early 50’s, a non-smoker and very moderate drinker.

I was referred to the Royal Surrey, under the care of the upper GI team, and my treatment was a curative pathway of chemoradiotherapy. By this time, my dysphagia was getting worse and I was fitted with a jejunostomy feeding tube. Within days, my food intake was reduced to liquids only and, just after Christmas 2019, I was unable to swallow anything.

Identification

My chemotherapy treatment, which was initially cisplatin and capecitabine, was changed to carboplatin and taxol (paclitaxel) and, for the last five weeks, I had daily radiotherapy as well. My active treatment finished in the middle of February 2020 and then we had to wait for the inflammation in my oesophagus to calm down.

At the beginning of June 2020, I had a follow up gastroscopy which failed so I had to return for a second one with dilatation a week later. Due to COVID restrictions, I was told, over the telephone, that my cancer hadn't gone and I was offered the chance of salvage surgery. This involved a total oesophagectomy which I had in August 2020.

Treatment

After the surgery, I had a series of complications along with a lot of anxiety that had to be dealt with. But, I am so lucky because I have a super supportive family, I have wonderful friends and I had, and still have, the most amazing team looking after me at the Royal Surrey.

I consider myself to be so lucky to have had my treatment at the Royal Surrey - the support and expertise available there is the best, and the upper GI team, especially, go above and beyond for their patients. They have my unending gratitude for everything they have done for me.

Life after treatment...

Charity Launch July 2025

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 13:29:22 GMT

Over 80 people attended the launch on July 13th

Patients and their families gathered together on a sunny Sunday afternoon with the eight PR OG RESS Trustees as well as the medics involved in the treatment of this challenging cancer.

The Board comprises of four medical Trustees and four patient Trustees. Now up to full strength and registered with the Charity Commission in accordance with our Constitution, PR OG RESS can now move forward with its ambition of supporting people diagnosed with oesophagael and gastric cancers and raising awareness of the condition.

Left to right Noel Baker (patient Trustees), Madeleine Hewish (consultant oncologist and medical Trustee), Stewart Payne (patient Trustee), Patricia Wilson (new patient Trustee), Fiona Huddy (specialist dietitian and medical Trustee), Dave Paterson (new patient Trustee), Anna McGuire (specialist nurse and medical Trustee) and Nima Abbassi-Ghadi (consultant surgeon and medical Trustee)

Details of all Trustees can be found here .

The geographic focus of the charity is broadly within Surrey, Sussex and parts of North Hampshire from where patients being treated at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford are likely to come from. So it was appropriate that the launch took place at the beautiful rural venue of Gate Street Barn, in the Surrey Hills countryside near Bramley, fairly central to many patients.

The event was a fund-raiser in itself, with all present asked to make a donation to attend and a raffle with some excellent gifted prizes was well supported.

Event (tickets and raffle) raised £3,334 and donations at the time of the launch raised a separate £1,615 with more having donated since.

A complimentary drink on arrival was supplemented by canapes and music and the venue provided a pay bar and staff to hand out food.

Once the formalities were over, guests spilled out into the gardens with many seeking out the Trustees who were available to explain more about the charity and the work ahead.

Patient Trustee Stewart Payne made a short welcoming speech and then handed over to Mr Nima Abbassi-Ghadi, consultant Oesophago-Gastric Surgeon and one of the four medical Trustees, who gave an overview of the illness and outlined latest research and advances in treatment and surgery.

Recently released statistics, which received widespread news coverage, confirmed that oesophageal cancer remains one of the most deadly, along with pancreatic and lung cancers.

Advances are being made all the time, as Nima outlines in his launch speech. Nevertheless, patients diagnosed with OG cancer and their families face enormous consequences; medical, surgical, mental, physical and often financial.

Our new PR OG RESS charity has the express aim of supporting them in whatever way it can. Please follow the charity website to read more and use the contact form to get in touch. It is early days. Fund raising events will follow, and suggestions and offers of help will be welcomed.

We expect the demands on the charity to be many and varied. PR OG RESS , its Trustees and supporters stand ready to assist in whatever fashion its resources will allow.

Photo Credit: Jason Blackwood

Stewart Payne

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:46:54 GMT

All was going well until, without ever feeling ill, I was diagnosed with a stage 3 oesophageal cancer on my 63rd birthday, in August 2016.

Some three years earlier I had mentioned to my GP - almost in passing - that sometimes I awoke with what I described as “heartburn”. She immediately picked up on this, and without any exaggeration, saved my life.

My GP insisted I had an endoscopy (camera examination down the throat) just in case it was something more serious. This revealed that I had a Barrett’s oesophagus within a hiatal hernia. This abnormality of the cell lining in the food pipe is not uncommon. I was prescribed omeprazole to treat my reflux and told that I would be examined again in due course.

It is important to remember that this condition does not automatically lead to developing cancer. But it can, and in my case, it did.

When I was recalled for a follow-up endoscopy three year later, I felt fine. The omeprazole had removed my reflux and I almost didn’t bother with the procedure. It is a good job that I did. This time it revealed I had oesophageal cancer.

The diagnosis was made at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford. Everything moved very quickly and many procedures on the NHS followed to determine what stage the cancer was at and whether it had spread. It was at stage 3 of 4. My surgical team were surprised that I had not experienced any difficulty in swallowing, usually the first indication of this cancer.

Identification

The seriousness of my condition was made very clear to me.

I was otherwise fit and well and, as the cancer did not appear to have presented itself anywhere else, I was told I could be operated on. This is major surgery, anything up to 12 hours, in my case to remove a large section of my oesophagus and stomach, the tumour being at the junction between the two.

My surgery was likened to a “train crash” and I was told that, being opened up from above my belly button, and separately, across my back from my shoulder, I would look as if I had been bitten by a shark.

It is worth mentioning at this point that in the seven years since my operation, much more can now be done by keyhole surgery.

My NHS team of surgeon, oncologist, specialist nurse and dietitian were excellent; matter-of-fact, helpful and encouraging. After three cycles of chemotherapy, I was operated on in early January 2017. More chemo followed. I felt beaten up but remained positive throughout.

Treatment

Obviously, I had to make adjustments to my lifestyle, particularly in relation to food. Seven years on I have been declared cancer-free, I am fit, active, slimmer – and grateful for the wonderful care I received at the RSCH.

I am more cautious about how much I eat, but my appetite came back after a few months and I enjoy my food. After a while my weight stabilised.

I have nothing artificial inside of me – just the remains of my oesophagus and stomach pulled together to form a tube. Remarkably, the only medicine I take is a single anti-reflux tablet a day and a supplementary multi-vitamin.

It has been a roller-coaster ride. My wife, family and friends were a great support and I have nothing but respect for my medical team and the NHS.

I am delighted to have an opportunity to use my experience to help with those facing up to the challenges this cancer brings by being a trustee of our charity, PR OG RESS .