Help Russ Fight Cancer
This fundraising page has been set up by Russ’ partner to help raise money for the next treatment on his journey to battling cancer.
An infectious personality who has influenced the lives of many, Russ is a bright and cheerful character, an IT Manger who remains positive no matter how hard things get. He’s a foodie who can cook up a storm with ingredients from his veg patch, an enthusiastic traveller who loves to explore new cultures and taste different cuisines, a summertime angler and most recently, an artist with his newfound love for oil painting. Russ is kind-hearted, sensitive, an amazing father to his daughter, he is a brother, a son, and my partner, but most importantly, Russ is a fighter who, despite having been told the worst, is committed to not giving up.
In May 2018, at the age of just 37, Russ was told the devastating news that he had an aggressive form of Stage 4 Colon Cancer that had spread to his liver and pelvis. Sat in the consultation room Russ was told the hope for his future was minimal, surgery was not possible and unfortunately, due to the spread, treatment options were limited. This was devastating and we left the hospital feeling nothing more than empty.
As ever the optimist, Russ hoped to go on his upcoming holiday of a lifetime, however under advice from the hospital Russ was not well enough and needed to cancel the holiday to start chemotherapy as soon as possible. The aggressiveness of his cancer diagnosis and the seriousness of his condition hit Russ and the family hard, in just a few weeks the disease had taken control and was consuming his life.
June 2018 saw Russ begin chemotherapy. After 3 cycles he was rushed to St James Hospital in Leeds with severe tummy pain and nausea. The tumour in his bowel had collapsed causing obstruction and a perforation that required emergency surgery. Russ underwent a 6 hour operation which led to a significant milestone in his journey – removal of the primary tumour! Every step in a cancer journey is significant and this was the first for Russ.
Forever the fighter that he is, Russ pushed himself to recovery and was discharged just days after the operation, he was back to the oncology unit for chemotherapy to continue treating the secondary tumours just weeks after his surgery.
Russ received further cycles of chemotherapy, battling the side effects and mental challenge. However, in January 2019 the cancer progressed. The only option was to start the second and final combination of chemotherapy drugs available. It was devastating news that after not even one year, we had reached the heart-breaking point of nothing more being available if this did not work.
Starting the second chemotherapy Russ had an outstanding response. His markers more than halved, growth and spread of the tumours had stopped, things were under control and he was finally back to enjoying life and being the bright and joyful character he is. Unfortunately, we both knew the effects of chemotherapy were limited and Russ wasn’t ready to give up.
Russ began further researching his illness, he signed up to forums, followed twitter pages and blogs, dialled into conferences and talks all over the world, everything and anything he could do to give him just one more chance and that little glimmer of hope. In July 2019 Russ attended the Christie Hospital, Manchester, one of Europe’s leadings cancer hospitals, and opted for his tumours to undergo both Next Generation Sequencing and Drug Sensitivity Testing.
Next Generation Sequencing studies a person’s individual tumour looking for mutations and/or proteins whist Drug Sensitivity examines how tumours may react to a variety of drugs. Knowing the fingerprint of a tumour helps guide oncologists to make supported decisions and draw up the most effective treatment plans. Anxiously taking the call from the hospital, Russ was astounded to find out his tumour was HER2 Positive, a gene most commonly found in breast cancer. With only a 3% chance of the finding, the consultant continued to say a drug to treat this type of cancer is widely used in the NHS and for the first time on Russ’ journey the possibility of remission was mentioned.
Herceptin (Trastuzumab) is a breast cancer drug and as such is not licenced in the UK for use on colon cancer. Despite his tumours having tested positive for the gene and a subsequent high chance of the drug having a successful impact, Russ is unable to obtain the drug via the NHS or private insurance due to licencing. For a chance to slow down the tumour growth, stop the spread and maybe even remission, we must self-fund Herceptin at an estimated cost of £1,500 per cycle. The drug will be combined with three other chemotherapies given every 3 weeks to create an aggressive but hopefully effective treatment plan, providing Russ the best chance at survival. The duration of treatment is unknown, as such we’re looking to raise £25,000 to help cover a years worth of cycles for Russ, any money unused will be donated to the charities who have helped Russ on his journey.
Russ has remained the warm hearted, sensitive, joyous person he is throughout all of this. Through struggles of side effects and mental pain, he always walks out of treatment with a smile knowing he has battled one more cycle. He has touched the hearts of those around him beyond belief, helping people look at the wider picture in life and teaching them to stay positive no matter how hard things get. Russ and his family would be forever thankful for anything you can donate to help him continue his journey and receive the potential lifesaving treatment.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any donation you make.
Hayley x
