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| Morrison Williamson
No Stranger to Cancer To help Yes to Life support Morrison, click here |
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 On October 31st 1993 my wife of 30 years, Sue, aged 48, following tests and biopsies, went under the surgeon’s knife for an operation on her thyroid for suspected cancer. After the operation the surgeon informed us that he had discovered that there was cancer within the thyroid and adjacent lymph nodes. We were devastated. Consequently he had to remove all of her thyroid and lymph nodes. In discussion after the operation with the surgeon the comments were, it’s going to be a long haul! How right he was, we had just been catapulted into the world of Cancer. Maximum radiotherapy followed shortly after, and drug therapy plus radioactive treatment that tested our resolve to the full.Less than three months later, I was dealt another massive blow, my dear mother suddenly passed away. I was very close to my mum and found it so hard to accept that she was no longer with us. Shortly afterwards I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which led eventually to going on to daily injections. We successfully managed to keep Sue's cancer at bay, until 8yrs later in 2001, following a routine check on a mole on her back and a biopsy (tissue sample), she was diagnosed with an unrelated second cancer, a deadly malignant melanoma! We were in total shock, how can you get cancer twice? After two major operations, chemotherapy plus drug therapy, we found our resolve was, once again, being tested even more than before. Staying totally positive, we had to be ready for anything that came our way. With the help of family, friends, doctors and nurses we battled on regardless. For two more years we battled both cancers but it was the melanoma, just a simple mole on her back that had been there for most of her life that turned out to be the more serious of the two cancers. It was during this time that a routine blood test revealed that I had a prostate PSA (prostate specific antigen - the marker used to gauge cancerous activity) reading that was too high. With everything else that was going on I decided to put it to one side and concentrate on Sue’s problems. Even though my Urologist had said he wanted to carry out more tests straight away, I was on a mission. Sue's problems were much greater, and there was no way I was going to be distracted. In November 2002 another blow was dealt, Sue’s mother collapsed and died, a tragic loss for Sue and to us all at this difficult time. On September 7th 2003 we celebrated our Ruby wedding anniversary [we were both aged 18 when we married in 1963 having met when we were just sixteen] with our three children, their partners and our four grandchildren. Sue was not at all well, but put on a brave face for this very special occasion. She dearly loved all her family and desperately wanted to live. On October 7th Sue collapsed in a coma at home. On the 10th October 2003 one month and three days after our anniversary, she passed away peacefully aged 58, surrounded by all of her family. I was in a daze, we had lost the cancer battle, and it was all over, or so I thought. The loss of Sue was so tragic, absolutely heartbreaking. She was so brave and courageous, never once complaining. She wanted so badly to live, to see her grandchildren grow up, for us both to grow old together. The funeral was magnificent, over three hundred people attending, showing their respects for such a brave and special person. I became reclusive, despite massive encouragement from friends and family I just wanted to be alone, to grieve. I felt just totally lost. Ten years of looking after Sue with her cancers had also taken its toll. Later in 2004 after much persuasion from family and friends I decided to resurface and from nowhere, along came Helen, almost like an angel. Some 20yrs my junior Helen jolted me back to life and together we enjoyed many things but most importantly I began to feel there was a purpose in life again. Helen helped me enormously. I was still grieving, and always will, but with Helen's continued support I found myself beginning to want to live again and to able to cope with life so much better. During this time though the matter of dealing with my prostate had taken a back seat, until 2006!! In early 2006, almost 3 years after Sue’s death, I developed very bad pelvic pains. Following a consultation with my Urologist, and having declined the invasive biopsy procedure, blood-tests, CT, MRI and bone scans were immediately carried out, confirming my worst fears, widespread prostate cancer which had spread into the pelvis, spine and ribs! I was referred to a consultant Oncologist who put together a treatment plan for me. I immediately commenced hormone therapy, plus radiotherapy. I was monitored regularly with blood tests. I responded well, except that I still suffered greatly with bone pain, which resulted in me having to take large doses of Co-Codamol and to using a wheelchair for most of the time. It was so bizarre, almost spooky, that I was now dealing with my own cancer and found myself visiting the same diagnostic and treatment clinics that I had been taking Sue to for so many years. I found myself drawing desperately on the experience that I had gained dealing with Sue’s cancer. Ironically it proved to be so invaluable. In September 2007 I had become hormone refractory, meaning I was no longer responding to the hormone therapy. At the same time due to the cancer and the treatments I was having, I developed a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) to my leg, which resulted in me receiving permanent warfarin therapy. At this stage my oncologist informed me that the survival prognosis for me at this stage would probably be between 9 and 18 months. He recommended immediate chemotherapy. After much consideration and remembering what happened to Sue, I declined the chemo and decided to research alternative treatment options alongside the orthodox treatment I was receiving. I scoured through the internet and began ordering the alternative products that were recommended for my cancer from the Really Healthy Company. With this combination I continued to respond well. Then another blow, on December 3rd my dearly loved older brother collapsed and died from a massive heart attack. I was in shock but with Helen's help managed to draw on my reserves. Christmas 2007 saw the arrival of Bertie a Lhasa Apso puppy, a real bundle of fluffy joy, bringing sunshine into our lives. However, sadly in February 2008, Helen's father passed away having lost his battle against his colon cancer. Very sad times for Helen, me and her family. Due to a further rise in my PSA and increased pain, it became necessary for me to have further radiotherapy to the pelvis and very reluctantly this time, to commence a course of chemotherapy. This was cut short after only two treatments due to a blood infection, which required admission into hospital. Thankfully, due to the infection the chemotherapy had to be discontinued. As I was still suffering from a lot of pain it was decided with the help of the Macmillan Nurse to add 80mg Morphine capsules daily to the 4000 mg Co-codamol that I was already taking plus oral Morphine as required. With the Oncologist's prognosis still ringing clearly in my ears I really felt that I had now reached the end of the road. In late 2008, following earlier bone and CT scans, it was shown that there was now lymph-node involvement to the pelvis and stomach, plus the media-sternum which I was told was unusual. My Oncologist arranged immediate radiotherapy treatment to the sternum. Once again I could hear the Oncologist's prognosis ringing in my ears. Not a good year but at least I was still alive and kicking! In June 2009 I was given a radioactive injection called Strontium 89 to combat the still existing bone pain. Following this treatment further scans showed that there was now only a small progression with the cancer in the bones and lymph nodes. However, further blood tests through 2009 showed that the PSA was increasing and in December I received another Strontium Radioactive injection. I also commenced additional treatment with another hormone drug that was combined with my existing hormone therapy. It’s now more than three years since diagnosis, it’s been really hard going but amazingly I’m still alive and have proven so far the consultants prognosis to be wrong. The combination of alternative and orthodox medicine seemed to be doing the trick. Through 2009 severe complications from my diabetes had affected my eyes and required me to have continuous laser treatment, which is still ongoing. Despite everything that was happening, Helen and I decided to get married and tied the knot on September 19th at the local registry office. It was a quiet ceremony with close family including Bertie and just a few friends. It was also in 2009 that I made contact with Yes to Life who very kindly arranged a telephone consultation with Patricia Peat from Cancer Options who I found to be extremely supportive, kind, caring and understanding. I received various recommendations from her regarding alternative treatments, including high dose vitamin C and D therapy plus oxygen therapy. She also recommended the use of a home sauna. Shortly afterwards delivery of the sauna was arranged by Yes To Life on a free loan basis. Due to the high cost of the oxygen and vitamin C and D therapy it has not yet been possible for me to start this therapy as I do not have enough money to cover this cost. In January 2010 it was good news! Not only had I, against all odds, reached my 65th birthday, but recent blood tests had showed a big reduction in the PSA . It would seem at this late stage of the disease that I had been granted extra time to continue my fight! Continuing the fight against cancer is not easy, the drugs and treatments are many, side effects sometimes debilitating. To survive you have to dig very deep, but being faced with my own mortality, have somehow always managed to find the strength to fight on. At all times I have had to stay fully focused. The emotional, physical and financial strains are enormous. Life is far too precious not to fight for it. So many people have helped and supported me along the way. On that note I cannot thank enough some of the people who have helped me. To mention just a few, Oncologists, Doctors, Nurses, family and friends, plus the Really Healthy Company, the Yes To Life team, and especially Patricia Peat and Karen. And, last but not least, my amazing wife Helen who has been there for me absolutely every single inch of the way. She is not only my wife, best friend and soul mate, but also my full time carer dealing with all my medical requirements including blood testing and the administering of four or more injections a day for my diabetes, the ordering and collection of all prescriptions, arranging all treatment appointments plus much more. There’s no way I could have coped without her. Alternative medicines are very expensive but essential. I know that I would not have survived as long as I have without them. However, I am not in a financial position to fund the treatments, so please, if you can, help me to carry on fighting, to be an inspiration to other cancer sufferers, by sharing my experiences and the successes that have been achieved. Click here to support Morrison through the charity Yes to Life. Virgin Money Giving Donating through Virgin Money Giving is quick, easy and totally secure, and donations can be made from anywhere in the world. If you're a UK taxpayer, Virgin Money Giving makes sure an extra 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, is added to your donation. To help Yes to Life support Morrison click here to go to his Virgin Money Giving page. If you'd rather support them with a cheque payment, please send a cheque made out to 'Yes to Life' to Morrison Williamson Appeal Yes to Life Unit 4, The Energy Centre Bowling Green Walk London N1 6AL |
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