The sad reality about cancer is that symptoms often appear after the disease has progressed. James from Manchester understands this all too well. After experiencing a bout of acute symptoms, he was given the diagnosis everyone fears: “inoperable” pancreatic cancer.
Speaking to Pancreatic Cancer UK, James recalled the events that led up to that fateful moment.
“My symptoms escalated quite suddenly really. I’d started to become quite tired and began gradually losing my appetite – I didn’t think much of it and put it down to my age and physically demanding line of work,” James explained.
James was due to go on a cruise on 8th August 2016 with his wife and on the 7th went out for a farewell dinner with my family.
“During the meal my family noticed that my eyes were yellow, I was exhausted and couldn’t finish my dinner,” James said.
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Later that evening he went to the hospital (to be cautious as he was going away the next day) as he’d historically suffered from acid reflux and thought it was all interlinked.
During his initial consultation James was admitted and informed that they needed to carry out further tests as they were unsure what was causing the symptoms.
“I’d asked if it was anything sinister as I was due to go away the following day and the consultant replied ‘I wouldn’t advise leaving Manchester, never mind the country.'”
Upon admission, James’ bilirubin levels were high and he was informed that there was “something” blocking the blood flow from the pancreas to the liver, which was causing the jaundice.
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On 15th June 2017 James had an unexpected phone call asking me to go in to hospital for a scan.
“I hoped this was linked to the NanoKnife, but was afraid to hope.”
Following the results of the scan James was informed that he was now a possible candidate for the NanoKnife which was soon coming to Manchester and was going to meet the doctor.
James went in to meet with the doctor and a HPB specialist nurse, who were “incredibly thorough and provided me with much hope and reassurance”.
To ensure James was eligible for the trial, I had to conduct fitness tests, his breathing had to be monitored, he had a further PET scan and his stent needed to be changed to a plastic one instead of the metal one I had fitted.
Following the PET scan James was informed that a further CT scan was needed on my liver as “there was something there”.
He continued: “We were devastated as naturally you think the worst and we were so close to being able to have this treatment and now it was a possibility that I’d no longer be eligible. “After four long days the results were back and the doctor explained that the results were clear and he’d see me on Monday for the treatment – the relief was unimaginable!”
Recovery from NanoKnife
On 2nd September 2017 James was the first person in Manchester to receive the NanoKnife®.
He spent a week in hospital and then was discharged. The recovery from the major treatment was quite slow and was prescribed morphine to manage the pain.
“In December 2017 my scan results showed that the tumour was inactive and that there was only debris left from the tumour. The routine scan in March 2018 showed the same,” James said.
Since his treatment finished he returned to work in March 2018.
“I still have routine scans every three months. The level of care I received over my journey has been phenomenal and having a strong support network around me was key.”
According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, irreversible electroporation is only available in a few hospitals in the UK.
“If it is suitable for you but isn’t available at your hospital, your doctor may be able to refer you to a hospital that does provide it. It may also be available privately,” notes the charity.
