Cancer patient makes bid to buy more time

May 8 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal

A GRANDFATHER who has been given just months to live is facing a desperate race against time to fund an experimental cancer treatment that will allow him precious time to spend with his family.

Colin Glease, 45, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last June, and says he now needs to raise £20,000 to prolong his life through drugs not yet available on the NHS.

He explained: “I’ve had a serious bowel condition, ulcerative colitis, for about five years, and have been in and out of hospital with it.

“But last year when I went in for treatment, I knew something else was wrong and when they went to do a colostomy operation they found the tumour. It was devastating.”

Colin, a former self-employed delivery driver of Lilly Gardens, Stanley, County Durham, has a six-week-old grandson Kenzie, and a six-month-old granddaughter, Amber, and his youngest son Jack is only eight.

He went on: “Initially I was started on chemotherapy called Gemcytobene, and was told that with chemo I’d live about six to 12 months, and without only three to six.

“There was no contest, and I’m at the 10-month mark now, but six weeks ago a CT scan revealed the primary tumour had grown again, and I’m just desperate for more time. I’ve been told I might not live till Christmas.”

Colin and his wife Jeanette, 41, researched his condition and discovered the Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze, of Dirty Dancing fame, had the same type of cancer as him.

Colin said: “He was using a drug called Valatinib, and apparently responded well. We even tried to contact his doctors about it but they said they couldn’t help.”

Valatinib is not currently licensed for use in the UK and is still in its experimental stages in the US and Europe, but Colin is willing to travel in order to prolong his life.

He said: “There’s another couple of drugs we’ve been recommended but even they aren’t available on the NHS and we’ve been told they cost in the region of about £1,000 a week. I’m still determined. I’ll go private and will even try to get treatment in America or Europe, so that I can try Valatinib.

“I’ll do anything as long as I get the best treatment to shrink the tumour and give me some more time.”

Colin and his family are determined to raise as much money as possible. “I’m feeling OK at the minute and have managed to put some more weight back on and build myself back up again. Having the bairns around helps. It’s great and I want to see them grow up for as long as possible. I’m planning on doing a skydive next month to raise some of the funds and local bars and shops have already said they’ll have collection buckets, so I’m really hopeful. People so far have been very generous.”

A spokeswoman for the North of England Cancer Network said about Valatinib: “This drug is not licensed yet for use in the UK and as such has not been considered by the North of England Cancer Network.

“The network, which comprises representatives from across the NHS in the North East, including cancer specialists, would only consider drugs that were licensed in this country for treatment.”

A spokeswoman for County Durham Primary Care Trust added that it would not consider funding any drug that was not licensed for use in the UK.