Life sustaining medication for Jim Elliott

Dear friends, family, and supporters of James (Jimmy / Jim) Elliott.

Some of you know me some may not, I am the best friend of Jim Elliott whom I have had the pleasure and delight of knowing for more than 30 years.

In August 2019 at just 41 years of age, father of two Jim, was working as an engineer on a yacht applying his trade when he started experiencing severe headaches. His concerned colleagues onboard supported getting Jim to hospital, where he had a scan which revealed a four cm mass in his brain. He was flown to London where he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive, inoperable brain tumour. A grade 4, right thalamic glioblastoma multiform (GBM). Statistically, nine to 15 months of life left, from diagnosis. This earth-shattering news smashes apart your life and the reality that you live in and leaves a gaping hole in everything that has occupied your life to date. Jim’s straight shooting hospital consultant gave a prognosis outlining and informing Jimmy your life will be of ‘Years not decades’, due to Jim’s age and health and the tumour being MGMT methylated (treatment is more effective than for non-Methylated).

Totalling 122 weeks of the most destructive treatment the body must endure to help fight the cancer, where the side effects are sometimes worse that the treatment itself.

Throughout the numerous cycles of treatment, the tumour has fluctuated in size and aggression. Jim’s last option now is to use a drug named (Bevacizumab), which is not available on the NHS, at a personal cost of £10,000 per 4-month cycle. This drug has provided Jimmy with a greatly valued respite, enabling small pleasures like the taste of food and the ability to be able to walk across the room unaided without total exhaustion.

Due to the longevity of Jim’s existence from the initial diagnosis, only limited funding is now available to help Jim with his treatment on the NHS.

Jim’s current situation is ‘progression-free’ (non-curative). Bevacizumab received accelerated approval in the USA but is not authorised in the UK and as such, is not funded by the NHS. Bevacizumab is not chemotherapy but restricts blood supply to the tumour, stalling growth. Its use was made available to Jim via his neuro-oncology team but is self-funded. As a result, the NHS will not fund additional care, examples are MRI scans, blood tests, or administering treatment. Life for Jim is not without challenges, but the treatment allows him to maintain independence and dignity.

Two years after the diagnosis and mid-chemotherapy, Jim completed a half-marathon hike along the North Cornish coast raising funds for a cancer support group, I would like everyone to help support Jim in his time of need through ‘this go fund me’ challenge.

My aim is to run the Royan Marathon to raise £10,000 for Jimmy’s next 4-month lifesaving cycle of (Bevacizumab) and to help with the cost of treatment and transport.

https://www.marathonroyancotedebeaute.fr/marathon.html

I would like to thank everyone who has provided support in all forms, helping Jimmy throughout this phase of his life.