IRFON HIT BY MORE TUMOURS
I’m ready to fight this again
A FATHER-OF-FIVE battling cancer has suffered a devastating setback.
Campaigner Irfon Williams shared the heartbreaking news on his Facebook page that three tumours have returned to his liver and some have spread to his lungs.
The retired senior nurse from Bangor, who announced in December he was in remission from the disease, said: “Unfortunately, following a scan about a month ago, I had the news that three tumours have returned to the liver and some have spread to the lungs.
“Today I met a doctor at the Royal Liverpool Hospital and he was very positive.
“I’ll be receiving treatment to burn the liver tumours soon. There’s no need to worry too much about the lungs at this stage, but I will need treatment to target them in the near future. I feel well and ready for it once again.”
Following the announcement, his post attracted hundreds of supportive comments from wellwishers.
He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and later became the face of the fight against the disease in North Wales, launching the #TeamIrfon campaign to support patients on Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor’s Alaw Unit. Originally aiming to raise £20,000, the campaign has now raised more than £100,000.
Irfon, 46, criticised the Welsh Govern- ment when his bid to get the NHS in Wales to pay for a potentially life-prolonging drug was turned down, leaving him no option but to cross the border into England for treatment.
After months of campaigning by #hawlifyw, set up by Irfon, the Government bowed to pressure in December, confirming Cetuximab and cystic fibrosis drug Ivacaftor are to be made routinely available to patients in Wales.
In May, Irfon welcomed a commitment by First Minister Carwyn Jones to end the “postcode lottery” for drugs in Wales before the end of August. He also set up a mental health training company, Hanner Llawn.
Four months ago Irfon announced the disease had returned to his liver. He had a major operation in Liverpool to remove the tumours, but they have returned.