My story in Mirror got me cancer op
Teacher’s vital treatment put on hold despite PM’s pledge
We wanted to show ministers falsely said care was available
A DAD told his cancer treatment was “on hold” due to coronavirus has had life-saving surgery after his case was highlighted in the Mirror.
Language teacher Dan Gough, 54, was diagnosed with a liver tumour in April and told an operation was his only hope.
But doctors at Liverpool’s Aintree University Hospital said they could only monitor him as surgery was unavailable.
It came just days before PM Boris Johnson pledged cancer patients would “get the treatment they need”.
The Mirror featured Dan’s plight in May and the next day he and wife Kerrie got a call to arrange a biopsy. In July, the dad-of-two had a third of his liver cut out at Aintree in a nine-hour operation he says “undoubtedly saved my life” and soon start six months’ chemotherapy.
Dan, from Chester said: “I’m very thankful to the Mirror.
“My consultant’s team called the day after the story and they’d seen it. He agreed with everything we said.
“As soon as they made the decision to look into my case, everything happened at lightning speed. This was never about c r i t i c i s i ng the hospital, their care has been amazing. We wanted to highlight how the Government hoodwinked the nation by claiming urgent care was available, l bl when our reality was very different.”
Dan’s shock diagnosis came after he saw his GP in December suffering with high blood pressure.
A scan revealed a blockage on his bile duct and medics confirmed he had a perihilar cholangiocarcinoma tumour.
Dan’s operation went ahead in July under specialist Stephen Fenwick.
“He asked Kerrie and me if we understood the procedure was as complicated
as it gets.” Dan recalled. “I asked what the alternative was and he said ‘oblivion’.” The cancer had spread to three lymph nodes but the surgery was a success. “They got it all – I was elated,” Dan said.
The Institute for Public Policy Research revealed last month cancer treatments had fallen by as much as 40% during the pandemic.
Dan added: “I think the Mirror story was a kick up the bum.
“The team at Aintree had been hamstrung by Government policy _ they’ve been faultless and I can’t praise them enough.”
DAN GOUGH ON HIS WAIT FOR VITAL TREATMENT