Diane Thomas
Diane is raising money for the Quiet Cancer Therapy Appeal
Fundraising for Royal Free Charity
Story
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As many of you know, two years ago, on 1st May,Tom our 16 year old son, was admitted to hospital for what we thought was a routine appendicectomy. Sadly he was diagnosed as having a malignant neuroendocrine tumour which had spread to his lymph glands. Following radical surgery at St Mark's Hospital and under their excellent care, Tom recovered well and was transferred to the care of the doctors at the Royal Free Hospital. We are so lucky to have the European Centre of Excellence for Neuroendocrine Tumours at the Royal Free, led by Prof Caplin. The Royal Free has an active research programme dedicated to furthering the understanding of what causes the cancer, how it grows, how it can be detected earlier and also for the development of new therapies. This year Tom has volunteered to participate in their research programme. As you can imagine, Tom's diagnosis turned our lives upside down but it is so reasurring that he is having the best care possible. In December Tom underwent another lot of scans and tests and we were releived that he was given the all clear in January this year. We have learnt to accept that this will be an annual anxiety for years to come. During this difficult time we have experienced the NHS at it's very best and I want to do a little something to say a huge 'thank you' to the all staff who are now monitoring Tom's health and trying to find out more about this 'Quiet Cancer'.
Once again, I am planning to swim a mile in the murky waters of Victoria Dock to raise money for 'The Quiet Cancer Therapy Appeal' administered by the Royal Free Hospital, London, the research unit for neuroendocrine tumours.
Tom was a fit, tall, healthy young man prior to his surgery - a realisation that this can happen to anyone. Tom is well again and hopefully will remain so but if there is a reaccurrance, I want to know I did something to progress the research into treament and hopefully prevention for others.
I thank you for any contribution you can give - every little helps. I realise I have done this fundraising swim twice before and ask a lot of family and friends but I am really grateful.
With love, thanks and much appreciation, Di x
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