Velindre Cancer Centre
In November I will make it my mission to raise £500 for Velindre Cancer Centre.
In 2016 my dad got diagnosed with stage 2c
Melanoma, this is a type of skin cancer where
if progression occurs can rapidly attack the
organs such as the lungs and brain. My dad
had a spot on his back, which over time grew
and grew and he eventually went to the
doctors. The doctors sent him for a biopsy and
it came back as melanoma, they operated and
took the cancerous skin and tissue around it.
In 2018, my dad noticed a lump in his neck, he
had multiple scans and the cancer had come
back and had spread to his Lymph nodes. He
had another operation that removed 35
lymph nodes from his neck and shoulder, 3 of which were cancerous and
underwent radiotherapy to kill any remaining
cancerous lymph nodes and after a few
months he got the
ALL CLEAR!
Then at the beginning of this year, my dad had
a PET scan and we had the dreaded news it
had returned again. Stage 4 Melanoma
this time and the lymph nodes on his lungs
were affected, along with cancerous lymph
nodes on his left flank and near his right
shoulder blade.
He has been undergoing immunotherapy
which boosts his immune system to fight off
the cancer and the doctors and nurses all
throughout his journey especially during the
pandemic have been outstanding and I cant
give them enough credit for what they’ve
done for my dad. His doctor, Dr Kumar has
been outstanding the last 4 years and his
secretary Valerie Harris is always on the end
of the phone whenever my dad needs advice
and always takes time to give him a call and
check up on him. Velindre is
desperate for fundraising as the pandemic
has taken a big hit to them and they need vital funds to support the patients and families
they have with them
To raise this money I’m going to be climbing
the equivalent of Mount Everest totalling
58,070 steps/ 3871 flights of stairs. I will
(attempt) to do this in 4 days.
Any donations would be so amazing and going
to such an amazing cancer centre too. The
NHS definitely doesn’t get the recognition it
deserves and I think this will boost their spirits
in Velindre.
Excessive sun exposure isn’t an accessory, and
this is proof you aren’t as safe as you think you
are!