The Amazing Christie Hospital

What do these months have in common?

April 2009
July 2009
Nov 2009
Feb 2010
June 2010
Oct 2010
Jan 2011
July 2011
Jan 2012
Sep 2012

Yes, they are all months in which Quent has had a CLEAR SCAN!  Ten in all and each time, words cannot express how delighted - and especially how grateful - we are.

With the help of Dr Savage, we managed to get Quent to the top hospital with the top treatment and the top Doctor for his illness. Other hospitals were recommending no or different treatment and we are convinced that Quent would not be with us today if we'd accepted their advice. Don't get me wrong, they were good hospitals and good Doctors, doing their best for Quentin - but in our case their best wasn't as good as The Christie's best.We know that many cancer patients read this blog and our advice to you is to check out all the options. However much you trust the team you're under, there might just be a better treatment out there and it might just save your life.

Which leads me on to developments at The Christie. We met Jack Millar, one of the Fundraising Managers, before going for the scan and he told us of their vast ambition and excellent results. The hospital continues to grow and develop, adding new treatments, new treatment centres, new research centres, mobile chemotherapy units, beds for visiting relatives, a Maggie centre and so on. They strive for the best in every area of the cancer journey (research, education, treatment, pastoral care etc.). It's very exciting stuff! The Government has announced a £150m grant for two Proton B treatment centres in the UK, from 2017 (currently there are none), one at The Christie and one at UCLH, in London. UK cancer patients, especially children and brain cancer patients, currently often raise money for Proton B treatment in the USA. And Prof Hawkin's pioneering stem cell treatment continues with excellent results, particularly on stomach and skin cancer.

If you'd like to read more about the largest Cancer Centre in Europe, or even to donate money to those at the leading edge of cancer treatment and care, please see their website.

Another scan tomorrow

So, tomorrow we head up to Manchester for Quent's next scan.  Which gives me a chance to post something here. I feel I've been neglecting you. Indeed we spoke to Dr Savage last week and he said he misses the blog. He and Quent agreed that what used to be an exciting read had now become quite dull... and that maybe the scriptwriter had lost her way.  Well, contrary to most creative writing, this blog was actually designed to have a dramatic start and absolutely no "ending" whatsoever. Long may that last!

Someone from Canada was rather more kind, posting to say that we'd done an extraordinary job with the blog. It prompted us to read a few of the older posts and our overwhelming out-take was just how incredibly kind and supportive you all were (still are!).  So a very belated thanks for being there for us!

We, meanwhile, continue to follow the progress of Alex, our 5 year old friend who suffers from Neuroblastoma Cancer. Some of the guys who did the European Odyssey with Quentin are now cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats in aid of the Neuroblastoma Society........... They really do come up with the most innovative and inspiring ways to get a lads' holiday. See their excellent website / blog here and if you can, please make a donation.

We'll let you know as soon as we get the scan results. As they say in Olympic dressage, we're looking for a clear round.