My name is Derek Gamston. I am 59 years old and medically retired. In my early working life I worked as an industrial cleaner, I later spent 20 years working in the wholesale fruit and vegetable trade.
In the summer of 2005 my life changed dramatically. I met and fell in love with my partner Jane. We set up home together and in the spring of 2006 I decided to join Jane in her small catering business. We obtained a potentially lucrative contract supplying lunch time food to a large business in Wolverhampton. We were one week away from our launch date when I was admitted to hospital with chest pains. This was later diagnosed as Non small cell lung cancer.
My doctors said that the cancer was operable and potentially curative. On the 9th August 2006 the whole of my left lung was removed, one month later I was advised to undergo a course of Chemotherapy which was to last for three months. I decided to have the Chemo as the doctors said it would improve my chances of survival by 10% , I would also be given 5 years follow up. I got through the Chemo fairly well, although it left me exhausted and weak.
In late 2006 our first grandchild Erin was born. She was such a joy and inspiration and gave me strength to look towards the future with hope.
It took me 6 month to recover from the effects of Chemotherapy, by the summer of 2007 I was regaining my strength and once again able to spend time walking with our dogs, gardening and of course spending time with Erin. Jane and I also spent a wonderful week in the Scottish Highlands and Outer Hebridies,
In September 2007 I had a routine CT scan. I was told that there was swelling in a lymph node in my chest and that it could be due to cancer. The doctors ordered a PET scan in order to confirm the diagnosis. I could not believe that the cancer had returned as I was still feeling so well
On the 4th December 2007 I was informed that the PET scan has confirmed the cancer and that I had between 6 and 9 months to live. Both Jane and I were shocked and devastated at what we had been told. We had only just started our life together and had so much to look forward to.
The doctors offered more chemotherapy but this time it would only provide time and could not be curative. I decided against having more chemo as I felt it would rob me of any quality of life for the time I had left.
When I was first diagnosed we had obtained some literature from an organisation called Health Creation. The folders we received helped our understanding of the disease, the process we would be gong through, current medicine available, both orthodox and alternatives and advised on a healthy lifestyle to help in the fight against cancer. The material was compiled by Doctor Rosy Daniel.
We were advised to approach Dr Orange at Park Attwood clinic in Worcestershire for information on Intravenous Mistletoe. Park Attwood gave us details of the charity Yes to Life, who help people with cancer pay for complementary and alternative medicines. Yes to Life kindly gave us £400 towards the cost of the Mistletoe treatment and Mom again stepped in and gave us the remainder that we needed for me to spend 7 days at Park Attwood. I have just completed my treatment at Park Attwood. Dr Orange, Dr Maria, the nurses and staff are wonderful. Park Attwood is a haven full of love and hope. I will be returning to Park Attwood as an out patient for a while and then will inject myself with Mistletoe at home indefinitely.
