Cancer victim says Prospect are superb

5:26pm Wednesday 11th January 2012 in News

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Tony Sheen has praised Prospect Hospice for the care it has given him during the year after he was told he would have just six months to live.

Honda worker Tony, 53, from Stratton, was given a prognosis of just six months more than a year ago when he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in November 2010.

“For me, it’s our own way of putting something back.”

- Tony Sheen

he was admitted to Prospect Hospice in Wroughton during the weekend before Christmas when the pain from his symptoms became too great to bear.

With the support of the expert teams at the hospice, Tony’s symptoms were controlled and managed to such an extent that he was able to return to the family home on Christmas Eve, and stay there until he was re-admitted to the hospice on Boxing Day.

he said he has defied all expectations thanks to the hsopice staff, as well as his family, friends and colleagues.

he has also shown his appreciation of the hospice’s care by donating £407 raised for him by his workmates towards the charity’s care.

“I really can’t thank them enough for all that they have done for me, and for my wife Carolyn too,” he said.

“The support has been incredible. That said, I was reluctant at first to accept that I needed the help of the hospice at all. I just wasn’t ready to hear it.”

Tony’s care since his diagnosis has involved the support of a Prospect Nurse Specialist – one of the community-based nurses who plan care packages for patients throughout their illness – and an occupational therapist, who has helped him and his wife adapt their home to meet his care needs.

Tony has also sought the support of the clinical psychologist who works with patients at the hospice and, when he has been at the great Western Hospital, he has been supported by the Prospect team there too.

During 2010, Carolyn regularly attended the monthly Carers’ Cafe that brings together people in the new and unfamiliar role of carer to share their experiences and offer mutual support. She has also attended a carers’ course run by the hospice’s family support team, and has also worked with the hospice’s welfare and benefits adviser to help lessen the financial concerns that are often well-known to carers.

Throughout 2011, the family has chosen to show its support for Prospect Hospice through a variety of events, with Tony’s full approval.

Son Luke and son-in-law Gareth both took part in the Swindon Half Marathon to raise funds in October, while future daughter-in-law Laura ran the same event for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Luke also took part in a sponsored rugby match for the Prospect Barbarians team in November, while Becky is planning a netball tournament for later this year.

Tony said: “I am very proud of them for getting involved because my illness could happen to anybody, and I want other people to receive the care I have had.

“For me, it’s our own way of putting something back.”

Tony has thanked the many friends he has made working for Honda over 25 years, where workers have been highly supportive ever since his diagnosis.

he also praised his GP Kerry Wallis, and the Jupiter Ward team at GWH, where Carolyn works.

he said: “There are many more I could thank too – and, of course, Carolyn especially. As long as I feel as well as I do now, I want to go on for as long as possible, enjoying the time that I have left with my family and friends.”

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My dog ate exactly 3 ounces of milk chocolate roughly 4 and a half hours ago and has shown no signs of illness or any of the other symptoms I read about.
Should I be worried?

NO you should not be too worried but you should keep an eye on him /her. I had my 9 lb maltese eat a box of rasinets along with the box and she's fine..been fine. If you notice him/her acting different then take him/her to the vet. just keep an eye out..make sure there is alot of fresh water around.

Your dog will probably be fine unless it is a toy sized dog. Even then it may be fine since it was milk chocolate and you know the exact amount.
Here's a chart that explains the toxicity per body weight and type of chocolate:
netpet.batw.net/articles/choc.tox…
Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate and Baker's chocolate is very toxic and lethal in small amounts.
A friend lost her Maltese last Christmas when it ate 8 pieces of dark chocolate.

It raises the heart rate for a time. I would call the dr. I doubt they will have you do much-baking chocolate is worse then milk for dogs. W/ a healthy dog, I don't think you have a problem.

My old dog Lady ate a whole bag of kisses and a box of russelstover's.

I don't know about your dog, but my entire family gave our dog chocolate for years and years and had no idea we weren't supposed to. She was a basset hound and had chocolate candy, choc. cake, choc. frosting, etc. frequently. She never had a problem that we knew of and it was years later before we even knew chocolate was bad for dogs.

Ive heard its baking chocolate you have to be worried about, but you can pour hydrogenporixcide down his throat to make him vomit, about a tablespoon. call you vet asap! dont wait!

my dog has ate choclat before. not that much though. i don't think it will do anything but you might want to wach your dog. i know i won't kill her but it is bad for her. since it was milk chocolat i think your dog wil be fine. it won't kill her.

peolple say chocolate is bad for dogs but its true but also what is tru is that different dogs react different to the chocolate some it does not affect them some can die while others get diherya and well it all depends in your dogs immune system.

How much chocolate it takes to be dangerous depends upon the chocolate – milk chocolate has the least amount of theobromine, the chemical that's the problem, and very dark unsweetened the most, and on the size of the dog. according to the source below, a 50 lb dog would have to eat about 9 ounces of milk chocolate to have a toxic dose, and even then some dogs would be OK. so if your dog was about 15 lbs, 3 ounces might be of some concern. but check out this link, and you should be able to get a good idea of what might be dangerous for your dog.

My cat died on Christmas he wouldn't eat or drink and I took him to the vet that was going to a biopsy but said it wouldn't do any good since my cat wasn't eating and had difficulty breathing and was sinus congested.

i had a cat with a tumar in the mouth once my cat meowed a lot and wouldnt eat hard food

I don't really understand the question… Tumors may be local, or invasive. That means that there may not be symptoms at all other than the presence of a growth.
If the tumor is invasive, then you may see other symptoms, such as lack of appetite, consitpation, difficulty breathing, lameness… the list continues depending on the sort of cancer and the location.

Sat-started to have sore throat, nose started to feel a little blocked. Sun-Blocked nose, achey joints and temperature. Mon-Same symptoms but felt a little less lethargic, by the evening chest pain and a chesty cough had developed. Tue(today)- achey joints, chest pain, tickly throat, blocked nose and head. Do you think today will be my worse day? I don't want to be ill for Christmas

I heard on the news that those people who attended
the 10:30 mass and the 12:00pm mass at Our Lady of Lourdes,on DECEMBER 25TH may have been exposed to Hepatitis a virus. Guess who said the 10:30 and the 12:00 PM masses? YUP, none other than the MSGR Lisante, who was reportedly ill for Christmas. you can get your free vaccination , please do not take a chance with this virus. the information I copied is from WebMd:
Below are some questions you may have about hepatitis a and hepatitis B. the answers may surprise you.

Q: can a person have hepatitis a without having symptoms?

A: Yes. In fact, some people with hepatitis a, especially children, may have no symptoms.

Q: can I get hepatitis a virus from someone who is infected but doesn’t have symptoms of the disease?

A: Yes. In fact, someone infected with hepatitis a can transmit the virus to others up to 2 weeks before symptoms appear.

Q: after someone is exposed to hepatitis a virus, how soon may symptoms appear?

A: If symptoms of hepatitis a do appear, they usually appear 2-6 weeks after exposure to the virus.

Q: can hepatitis a virus live outside the body on common household surfaces?

A: Yes. Hepatitis a virus is able to survive for several hours on human hands and several days on environmental surfaces indoors. High temperatures, such as boiling or cooking food or liquids for at least 1 minute at 185°F (85°C), kill the virus, although freezing temperatures do not.

Q: can a person have hepatitis B virus without having symptoms?

A: Yes. In fact, a person can be infected with hepatitis B and spread it to someone else. Symptoms of hepatitis B may not develop for a few weeks to months after the infection occurs. some people are chronically infected and can spread the disease.

Q: can someone spread hepatitis B virus if they don’t have symptoms of the disease?

A: Yes. Most people with chronic (long-term) hepatitis B remain free of symptoms for years, but can still spread the virus during this time.

Q: can hepatitis B virus live outside the body on common household surfaces?

A: Yes. Hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body for many days.

Q: can condoms prevent the spread of hepatitis a or hepatitis B?

A: Condoms can help protect against the spread of hepatitis B during sex. Because hepatitis a is spread through infected feces, condoms offer no protection.

How Hepatitis a Virus can Be Spread
Hepatitis a virus is found in the stool of persons with hepatitis a. it is usually spread through close personal contact. it can sometimes be spread by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with the hepatitis a virus. Hepatitis a virus can easily be passed to other people in the same household.

Here are some examples of how hepatitis a can be spread:

an infected person does not wash his or her hands properly after going to the bathroom, then touches other objects or food
a parent or caregiver does not properly wash his or her hands after changing diapers or cleaning up the stool of an infected person and then touches other objects or food
a person engages in certain sexual activities, such as oral-anal contact, with an infected person

“Watch Itchy”, you better get yourself and any friends you know that attended these masses to get your shots. it was reported on the news at 11 PM,last night, and the video showed Fr Cletus giving communion, but he did not say the 10:30 or the 12 noon mass, he had said the 9AM mass.
While not deadly, this virus can easily be spread,
and precautions should be taken, particularly for those attending school.Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, stomach pain, dark-colored urine and jaundice.

Lord ,protect those attending Our Lady of Lourdes
Massapequa Park Parish.

There has been a high volume of calls to the GP out of Hours Service from people with flu-like symptoms over the Christmas break so as a second long weekend approaches, the NHS Isle of Wight is urging people to stock up with home remedies for flu-like symptoms.  This will help health services run smoothly and ensure those with urgent symptoms receive treatment.

The majority of people with flu-like illnesses do not need to ring the Island’s out of Hours Service.   the very old, very young, pregnant women and people with serious chronic conditions are more susceptible to complications from flu and they may require medical attention.   People with a high fever need to drink plenty of fluids – especially the young and old – and those with conditions such as asthma and diabetes to consider whether they need a flu vaccination.

If people have flu-like illness they can speak with their community pharmacist who is a qualified expert and can give confidential advice on common minor illnesses like coughs and colds and headaches, as well as advice on the most effective over-the-counter remedies.  Extended opening hours (the late opening rota) are advertised in the County Press.

Advice about treating flu-like illness is also available from NHS Direct 24 hours a day by calling 0845 46 47 or by visiting nhsdirect.nhs.uk.  Qualified nurses can provide free, expert health advice and information.

NHS Isle of Wight’s Director of Public Health, Dr Jenifer Smith, said; “If you have flu like symptoms drink lots of fluids and avoid spreading your cold.   we want everyone to have fun and enjoyable New Year’s celebration and this can be achieved if everyone plays a role. Choose well is a simple message; before going to your GP, the Beacon Health Centre or the Emergency Department (A&E) think about whether this is the right choice to make and what other options you might have.  This will save time and take a huge amount of pressure off the emergency departments if everyone chooses well.”

Full details of how to choose well, including opening hours for local pharmacies, GP’s and other NHS services across Hampshire, visit iow.nhs.uk/choosewell

Choose well: What services do and when to use them

Self care – make sure your vaccinations, including flu, are up to date.  your GP or pharmacist can advise.   be prepared!   keep your home first aid kit stocked for problems like hangovers, colds and sneezes, sore throats and grazed knees.  Items like the following are good to keep to hand:

• Paracetamol and aspirin tablets (aspirin should not be given to children under 16 or people with asthma).
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen syrups for children.
• Mild laxatives to relieve constipation.
• Rehydration mixtures for diarrhoea or vomiting; use if feeling dehydrated.
• Indigestion remedy and travel sickness tablets for family trips.
• Tweezers and sharp scissors.
• Bandages, plasters and dressings.
• Thermometer to check for fever.

For more information visit iow.nhs.uk/selfcare.

NHS Direct – advice is available via NHS Direct 24 hours a day by calling 0845 46 47 or visit nhsdirect.nhs.uk.  NHS Direct provides free expert health advice and information. it is run by qualified nurses.

Pharmacies – visit your local pharmacy for help in treating minor ailments and for general health advice. many pharmacies have private consultation rooms. Pharmacists are trained to treat minor illness and to tell a minor ailment from something that might be more serious. If you need an over-the-counter medicine, a pharmacist can help you choose which is the best for you and your symptoms. they will also tell you when you need to see your doctor and when you can treat yourself with an over-the counter medicine. Visit iow.nhs.uk/pharmacy for more information.

Emergency Dental Helpline – the Emergency Dental Helpline is available for emergency appointments.  Contact them on 0845 050 8345 or visit hampshiredentalhelpline.nhs.uk.

GP surgery – if the options above are not appropriate to your condition, you can call your surgery for an appointment with your GP or practice nurse.   your GP can help with vaccinations, prescriptions, medical advice and care.  many surgeries now have extended opening hours.  To find your local GP call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or visit iow.nhs.uk/gp or nhs.uk.   If your surgery is closed you can call the Island Health Line (out of hours service) on 0845 6031 007 to arrange to see a doctor.

Beacon Health Centre – the Beacon Health Centre at St Mary’s Hospital is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week for advice and treatment for minor illnesses or injury. No appointment is needed.  more information is available at  iow.nhs.uk/beacon.

Emergency Department – the Emergency Department at St Mary’s Hospital should be attended if a patient experiences chest pain, blacking out and severe blood loss. the Emergency Department is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Related News from Island Pulse

Wheelton pub chef dies of suspected swine flu

5:32pm Wednesday 12th January 2011

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A CHEF at a Wheelton pub has died of suspected swine flu.

Stephen Hall, 45, who worked at the Dressers Arms, was described by a long-term colleague as ‘a lovely man whose warmth and good humour was felt by everyone who met him’.

Mr Hall had been taken ill just after Christmas with symptoms of swine flu and admitted to Royal Bolton Hospital on December 31.

his condition worsened as he developed pneumonia and he died on Saturday after his life support machine was turned off.

He lived in Westhoughton with wife Lynda and also leaves two sons and a daughter and his first grandchild, Max, who was born four months ago.

Chris Jones, 31, head chef at the Dressers, had also worked with Mr Hall previously at the Blundell Arms on Chorley old Road in Horwich.

He said: “We were a team professionally and also became the best of friends.

“Stephen was a genuinely lovely fellow. the nicest bloke you could ever meet.

“He had a natural affinity with customers and was the face of our Sunday carvery, where he would meet the diners and share a laugh and a joke with them.

“He loved music and doted on his family. He was particularly excited in the last few months after his first grandchild was born.”

Chris added that Mr Hall had not shown any signs of illness before Christmas.

“I sent Stephen home early the day after Boxing Day as he said he wasn’t feeling well,” he said.

“From then on he just got more poorly.

“I spoke to his wife Lynda every day and was devastated on Saturday when she told me he had died.”

On December 19, Lindsay Goddard, 36, from Colne became the first East Lancashire person this winter to die after contracting the H1N1 virus.

Shortages of flu vaccine, which is administered to vulnerable groups, have been reported, with some doctors’ sugeries recently running out of doses after a massive rise in the number of cases

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MADISON, Wis. — Christmas feasting is over, and while that means rest for some, others will be in the hospital with heart problems.Bob Leschke is an ER physician with St. Mary’s Emergency Center in Sun Prairie. he said more people visit hospitals around the nation with heart problems on Dec. 26 than any other day of the year.”They chalk up their symptoms to a little indigestion or they say ‘I don’t have time to get this checked out.’ so they ignore their symptoms, perhaps until it’s too late,” Leschke said.according to a 2004 nationwide study by researchers at the University of California-San Diego, heart-related deaths increase 5 percent during the holidays.Leschke said eating fatty and salty foods or drinking too much wine can be among the biggest triggers. But the holidays pose other health risks too.”Around the holidays people have higher stress levels and they have higher strenuous activity levels, so more shoveling more moving furniture to get ready for family, more running around shopping,” Leschke said.some Madison residents, like Joseph Muenich, said they were more health conscious while cooking this Christmas.”We are kind of heart healthy this year. ?We hardly put any butter on anything anymore, no one eats mayonaise. It’s kinda just a new lifestyle,” Muenich said.Pat Heiden said she served more salad and toned down the seasoning too this year.”We monitor the food because my husband had bypass surgery two years ago, so … we’re very portion controlled,” Heiden said.Leschke said it’s crucial to recognize heart attack signals early to prevent further damage to heart muscles. the most common symptoms are chest pain, chest pressure, back pain and shortness of breath.”Your family is your family, and they would want you to be safe and healthy,” Leschke said.anyone experience heart attack symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

CHICAGO — the best Christmas presents don’t always come in brightly wrapped packages. Just ask 7-year-old Abby Oates of Chicago. this holiday, she and hundreds of other kids will treasure the gift they’ve received from Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster: a chance at a normal life.

at the age of 4, Abby was diagnosed with 22q11.2 deletion, also known as DiGeorge syndrome/IVFS. Dempster and his wife, Jenny, have stepped up to raise awareness of the disorder and help families deal with it. They know firsthand about the struggles associated with 22q11.2 because their daughter, Riley, has it.

DiGeorge is caused by deletions within the 22q11.2 chromosome. There are many different variations of the disorder, but it has interfered with Riley’s ability to eat and swallow.

Born on April 1, 2009, Riley became a regular at Children’s Memorial Hospital in her first six months. she needed surgery to put in a tracheostomy tube and a gastric tube for feeding as well as a procedure called a Nissen fundoplication, which reduces the reflux into her esophagus. try explaining that to a 6-month-old kid.

Jenny Dempster went to the Internet for information, which is how she met Abby’s mom, Eliza Oates, on a website for parents dealing with 22q11.2. Abby celebrated her seventh birthday on Dec. 15. she has a rare congenital heart defect and functions now with one lung, a paralyzed diaphragm and slightly low immune function. She’s had two open heart surgeries.

but if you saw her at school or playing with Dempster’s 4-year-old son, Brady, you’d think everything was normal.

“She’s kind of a success story for us,” Eliza Oates said of her daughter. “She was always sick as a baby — lots of trips to the doctor, ear infection, sinus infection, those things. Finally at age 4, we got the diagnosis. We’ve teamed up with Ryan and Jenny, and I help out whenever I can. We’re so thankful for them.”

In its first year, the Dempsters’ foundation raised more than $450,000 through its fundraisers and granted $185,600 to charitable organizations working with families of children with 22q as well as to local Chicagoland charities.

the list of events included the first Casino Night and Concert held in July at the House of Blues in Chicago. In August, about 200 people attended a fundraiser at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab in Chicago. Also in August, more than 200 people took part in the “Slow and Steady 22q Walk” in Glen Ellyn, Ill.

the Candyality candy-maker has donated $1 per pound of its Cubbie Gummie Bears to the Foundation. the Loyola men’s basketball team joined the fight, and on Dec. 11, $1 from the sale of each ticket for the Ramblers’ game against Kansas State plus sales from a raffle were donated to the foundation.

the Cubs players rallied around Dempster to create a cookbook with their favorite recipes. the book is available on Cubs.com, and proceeds go to Dempster’s foundation. Dempster said a woman at a nearby sushi restaurant recently asked for 50 copies to give as holiday gifts.

D’Agostino’s Pizza and Pub, located near Wrigley Field on Addison Street, donates $1 to the foundation for every pizza purchased on the 22nd of each month. the restaurant has hosted two fundraisers for the Dempsters’ foundation, including one Dec. 10 that was attended by Ted Lilly and Kerry Wood. Ryan Dempster likes to order D’Agostino’s chicken parmesan on the nights before he pitches for the Cubs.

It’s that kind of grassroots effort that has contributed to the foundation’s cause.

“It’s been more than I ever expected,” Dempster said of the response he’s gotten. “Aside from all the money we’ve raised, just the awareness [has improved]. There’s hospitals testing for it now because of our story coming out and I think that’s an amazing thing. that says a lot about the parents who came before us because where would we be without them? the response has been overwhelming.”

at 18 months, Riley was taking eight to 10 steps without any help. She’s come a long way since those first six months when she spent almost all of her time at the hospital.

“I think one of the biggest things that you have to come to realize with these kids is that it’s a syndrome,” Dempster said. “Just because she gets through something doesn’t mean she’s not going to have something else. There are going to be things we have to be careful with. She’s always going to have some immune problems where it’s tougher for her to fight off a cold than somebody else. As a whole, she’s doing great, she’s doing really well.”

So is Jenny, who is pregnant with the couple’s third child, due in January. the Dempsters will have plenty of family over for the holidays. Riley is a little more aware of all of the festivities going on.

“She finds all this Christmas stuff pretty interesting,” Dempster said. “Brady’s at the age where he thinks in a few nights, he’s going to go to sleep and then Santa is coming, so that’s really cool.”

Dempster, 33, remembers being Brady’s age and all of the excitement that Christmas brings.

“As you become parents, you get to live being a kid all over again,” he said. “That’s what it is because you see yourself going through the same stages and that’s a lot of fun.”

Eliza Oates and her husband, John, were Cubs fans before meeting Dempster. Because of the pitcher’s efforts, they’re now more than fans. They’re friends but also teammates as they battle 22q.

“The fact that [the Dempsters] have opened themselves up and supported other families like us and allowed us to become friends with them is really special,” Eliza said.

Abby was diagnosed shortly after Christmas in 2007.

“It wasn’t a great holiday but at least we had an answer because four years of struggling and not knowing what was wrong was getting to be worse,” Eliza said. “We got an answer, put a team of doctors in place, moved forward and went from there.

“We have a fabulous pediatrician but pediatricians don’t know [about 22q],” she said. “The key is to get doctors to recognize a host of symptoms and hopefully then get earlier diagnosis for kids missed early on.”

That’s the Dempsters’ goal. if you get a moment this holiday, say thanks to people like Ryan and Jenny, who are giving back so families like the Oateses don’t have to struggle as much with confusing medical diagnoses as they did with Abby.

“They’ve been pretty great for us,” Eliza Oates said. “Ryan’s got a heart of gold.”

When he first started suffering from sharp pains in the summer of 2009 – usually when he was having a pint with friends after work, or after a round of golf – he assumed it was heartburn. Antacids made no difference. his GP thought it might be an ulcer; tablets did not help. Blood tests found diabetes, for which he was treated, yet still the pains continued. Mr Jones began to worry.

“I started to do some research on the internet, and I wondered if it might be pancreatitis, an inflammation that could explain the diabetes, because the pancreas produces insulin. I went back to my GP and asked to be referred to a specialist in pancreatic disease.”

Scans detected some kind of mass in the organ. It could be scar tissue, or a benign lump, the businessman was told. two weeks before Christmas he received the results of a biopsy. It was cancer, it was advanced, and it was inoperable. the expected prognosis was 12 to 14 months.

“I was only 43, my son was then not yet 15, and he has special needs,” says Mr Jones. “The idea that I could be gone in a year, that I would leave him was just not something I could accept. Everyone in my family was crying, but I felt totally numb.”

In fact, he says, he never accepted the prognosis. “I never thought this might be my last Christmas. I couldn’t let myself think that. I thought, well that’s the average, I might get more. I decided whatever they said, I would settle for three years. that would mean my boy had finished school; it was enough time to sort out my business and my will. Three years would do.”

Searching online, he read about experimental trials for patients with pancreatic cancer. “When you’ve got nothing to get hold of, when you have nowhere to go, you grab at anything,” says Mr Jones. He asked his specialist at Poole Hospital if there were any such trials in which he could take part. within weeks, he had signed up for one of the most ground-breaking pieces of medical research of recent decades.

Five years ago, a group of scientists embarked on a radical trial. In recent years, most of the advances in treatment of pancreatic cancer had involved improved targeting of radiation, to deliver the burning rays most precisely to the cancer, and to limit damage to the tissue around it. but at the same time, scientists were increasingly aware of the role of genes in making some cancers more resistant to radiation than others.

The question was, could anything be done to switch off some of the molecular reactions that occur with cancer, and to make tumours more sensitive to radiation, so that they shrunk sufficiently that they could be removed. the group of scientists, now based at the Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology, in Oxford, decided to see whether a drug called Nelfinavir, used for the treatment of HIV, could change the way tumours responded to radiation.

Twelve patients with inoperable tumours were enrolled on a phase I trial, used to establish the safety and toxicity of a drug. they were given daily doses of the drug before radiation therapy. At the end of the trial, led by Dr Thomas Brunner, the patients were scanned again.

The research team was stunned by the results. of 10 patients who completed the course, six were able to have previously inoperable tumours removed. across the group, overall average survival time more than doubled. More remarkably still, in one case the combination of drug treatment and radiotherapy had eradicated every living cancer cell, with no trace of disease found by surgeons.

“There was a complete pathological response. No sign of the cancer at all. It had completely disappeared.”

The excitement from Professor Gillies McKenna, the head of the Gray Institute, is palpable. He quickly checks himself. forty years pioneering advances in cancer treatment make him all too aware of the desperation of those diagnosed with advanced disease, and the rush to pin “miracle” labels on significant, but faltering, steps.

Yet four years since the trial started, the man remains free of cancer. a female patient, who had 90 per cent of cancer cells destroyed, also remains healthy, more than three years on.

“We are really excited about this,” says Prof McKenna. “We are still several years away from proving that this is a major breakthrough, because this was a small trial. but to get these kinds of results for pancreatic cancer – well, we just couldn’t help but prick up our ears.”

Early this year, the team embarked on a larger phase II trial. Kevin Jones is among 80 patients being recruited to try the experimental technique. He began treatment in March.

“They never gave any false promises,” says Mr Jones. “It had taken years of research to get to this point, and the results they had were on a small group. Why would there be a major breakthrough now? well, the way I saw it, why not?”

For two weeks, he took a daily dose of the HIV drug. for six more weeks, he underwent daily radiation treatment at Oxford’s Churchill Hospital. Regular measurements of tumour markers, which reflect the extent of disease, showed dramatic improvements. but by the end of the treatment, he felt terrible.

“I felt really sick, I couldn’t eat and I didn’t have much strength. I decided to take a holiday with my son in case it was the last one we had,” says Mr Jones.

He took his son Brett, who has Asperger’s syndrome, to Canada, where they had been building a holiday home. “It was a special time, bonding, building this home together. Whatever else happened, I was grateful for that time.”

He returned to England to undergo further scans. In June, the research team asked him to come for a consultation with one of the hospital’s surgeons. “They showed me the scan. Where there had previously been a solid mass of two-and-a-half inches, there was now a faint outline, with a hole in the middle.”

The research team and surgeons were cautious, warning him it was impossible to say from seeing the scans whether any of the tissues were cancerous. Nevertheless, says Mr Jones: “I walked out of that room feeling 10ft tall.”

In July, he underwent surgery to remove the mass. It was then that surgeons told him that not a single cancer cell had been found; every deadly tissue had been destroyed. He was now the second such case to emerge from the Oxford trials.

“They couldn’t believe it. the surgeon who operated said he had never seen anything like it,” says Mr Jones.

In such unchartered territory, no one can predict whether his cancer will return.

He says: “The surgeons said to me, ‘Don’t think in terms of three years, or five years, you might have two decades – you might have more.’ This time last year I’d have settled for three years. Now I might be cured.”

The centre is still recruiting patients for the current trial, which will run for two years. Scientists like Prof McKenna, who returned to Britain to set up the institute, after 40 years leading radiation therapy programmes across the US, believe the evidence emerging may be “the tip of an iceberg” – giving scientists valuable lessons about ways to both block the progress of many aggressive cancers, and to enable different types of tumours to respond better to treatment.

But medical breakthroughs are expensive. the institute, set up just two years ago, receives most of its funding from Cancer Research UK, which is funded by donations from the public. Prof McKenna has had to fight hard to ensure funding for research into treatments, such as radiation therapy, which can be neglected.

“People dismiss radiotherapy as somehow being old-fashioned, as something that would die out when new treatments were being invented,” he says. “Actually, that prediction was almost 100 per cent wrong; some of the most dramatic improvements in cancer over the past decade have come from this field.

“Our teams are here and we are ready to go to work, but we are totally dependent on the generosity of the public to make the breakthroughs we need.”

 to find out about trials for advanced pancreatic cancer: rob.ox.ac.uk