Long story short:
Some people may already know this but in 2012 I had an appendicectomy due to appendicitis and following routine pathology a few months later I received a letter. I was told that in my appendix they had found a carcinoid tumour. Now due to the size and placement of the tumour there were conflicting guidelines from the UK and EU medical boards on how to follow up this discovery. So, after many months of doctors appointments and tests and scans in Portsmouth and London and with the help of incredible NHS staff we came to the conclusion that further surgery was needed. Firstly incase the tumour had spread and also to stop any spread had it already occurred. Summer 2013 I had a limited right hemicollectomy. My stay doubled in time due to complications but after 10 days I was released and fortunately the pathology came back clear, no spread and no further action needed (woo!). The difficulty of the situation due to conflicting UK and EU guidelines meant extra tests and investigations were needed. Experts in the field were also contacted for further opinions and all of the staff who assisted me along the way were absolutely magical, my family and I are eternally greatful. Now the point of this story is not what happened to me, the point of this story is that without the extra effort put into my case and every case every single day by the amazing doctors and nurses, people would not receive the incredible treatment and advice that they do. Without the support and donations to charities such as The Christie this would not be possible. The Christie hospital treats cancer patients including patients with gastrointestinal cancers every day. It just so happens that a surgeon, Mr Omar Aziz, who treated me and who we had much correspondence with, when I was at St Marks in London, is now a consultant in the Christie Hospital. So I know first hand the kind of care that this establishment provides. Not only that but it is a local charity who treats thousands of patients every year. They are the largest single cancer treatment centre in Europe and are currently constructing a proton beam therapy treatment building. The research that goes on in this institute is at the forefront of cancer research. I will be making a donation myself. Any amount you can give to support this wonderful charity would be greatly appreciated.

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