Dad was diagnosed in September 2015 with a very rare type of cancer called a pheocromocytoma which is a type of cancer that forms on the adrenal gland (the gland that controls the production and regulation of hormones such as adrenaline). We were told that there is a one in a million chance of developing this type of cancer but we all knew that he was one in a million! 

Sadly dad's cancer was even rarer in that it was also malignant where most of these cancers are benine. Sadly we lost dad to this awful illness on September 25th this year when he was only 55 years old, it was just over a year after he was diagnosed. 

Doctors believe that dad had this growing in his body for many years but even when he started developing symptoms over a year before he was diagnosed doctors time and time again put it down to stress. We were later told by the consultant not to blame the doctors for misdiagnosing dad because it is so rare that very few doctors would even consider it. 

When it came to treatment once again very few doctors understood the cancer and so dad had to be treated at the Royal Free Hospital under a team of specialised consultants. This cancer reeks havoc with your body as the adrenaline causes your heart to constantly race (doctors compared it to feeling as if you have constantly just ran a marathon). Everytime dad went into hospital it was a learning curve for not only us but also the doctors treating him.

Back in the beginning of September I was told that I have inherited a gene from dad which makes me at a greater risk of developing this type of cancer and I will now have to have yearly screening for the rest of my life; thankfully Candice does not carry the gene. 

This is why it is so important to us that reasearch is done into this type of cancer and that doctors are educated on not only how to treat it but also how to diagnose it. 

The NET Patient Foundation does just this as it provides support and advice to people who are diagnosed with these cancers (which doctors often cannot initially provide); they also do research and clinical trials and they raise much needed awareness of these cancers. 

Dad was a truly wonderful man and was a inspiration to everyone, he never complained and always stayed positive. He was a fantastic dad to me and Candice and was the best husband that he could possibly be for my mum. 

We are so grateful to anyone who decides to donate, whether it be £1 or £100 every penny really does make a difference! 

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Rosie Wren

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.