FATHER’S CANCER BATTLE VOW TO KIDS
He heads for English clinic after doctors give up hope
A dad-of-two told he only has months to live has vowed to battle a rare but aggressive form of cancer so he can spend precious time with his young family.
David Scott, 41, was given the devastating news that he has stage 4 signet ring cell cancer of the bladder at the beginning of the year and after a failed operation, he and his wife Karen, 42, were told by doctors there was nothing else that could be done.
But determined to be around for his boys – Ashton, 12, and Sean, 10 – for as long as possible, he and Karen found a clinic in England which could offer David and family, originally from Calderwood, the hope of lifeextending treatment. Dad David, who has undergone his first round of treatment, said: “It’s been absolutely horrendous, just so much to take in.”
A dad diagnosed with a rare but extremely aggressive form of cancer has vowed to fight to spend as much time as possible with his beloved family.
Father-of-two David Scott, 41, was given the devastating news that he has Stage 4 Signet Ring Cell cancer of the bladder in January.
Since 2014 there have only been 100 cases worldwide.
The earth-shattering prognosis was a “death sentence” to engineer David and wife Karen, 42, who are doting parents to Ashton, 12 and Sean, 10.
Despite being told by doctors he only has months to live, the couple researched what options were available and found a clinic near Winchester, Hampshire which could offer David life-extending Sono-Photo Dynamic Therapy (SPDT).
He has undergone his first round of treatment thanks to the overwhelming response to a JustGiving appeal which raised £15,000 in just a few days before climbing to £22,000.
The family, originally from Calderwood in East Kilbride, are hoping to take the figure up to £25,000 to cover additional costs such as medication and possible further follow-up treatments and are awaiting results to see if the first round will offer hope to David. “Our world was shattered when I was given the
awful diagnosis,” David told the News.
“I thought I was still a reasonably fit and healthy guy – I didn’t feel really ill – but after several urine infections which antibiotics didn’t clear more tests were carried out in December.
“My blood count kept dropping, which rang alarm bells, and very quickly I was in hospital. I didn’t think I would be able to spend Christmas with the family but, thankfully, I was allowed out briefly then taken straight back in.
“This type of cancer is extremely difficult to diagnose and is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’.
“If it hadn’t been for the urine infections we may never have known.”
The type of cancer David has doesn’t respond well to radiotherapy or chemotherapy so one of the only options was a 10-to-15hour operation to remove his bladder.
However, surgeons discovered the cancer had spread and to carry on with the operation would have been life-threatening.
“It was absolutely horrendous and just so much to take in,” David continued.
“We had to sit down with the children before the surgery in case I didn’t make it to try and explain my diagnosis which was just
heartbreaking. We were all in floods of tears.
“After the failed surgery I was told I had six to 12 months at the very most but the message from doctors was ‘go away and make the most of the time you have left with your family’. I was offered chemo but more as a courtesy as it would do very little other than make me feel extremely unwell.
“The news hit us all extremely hard – we barely left the house and I spent three days being physically sick.”
However, the family decided they would not accept that nothing could be done and found the Dove Clinic in Winchester.
“We came out of the first consultation feeling a lot more positive,” David said. “They weren’t saying there was a cure but they gave us hope that treatment was available which could prolong my life.
“I want to be around for my children for as long as I can. I want to see my sister married in September, my mum’s 70th later in the year and I want to spend this Christmas with my family.
“We will fight tooth and nail and I am doing and will do everything I can to prolong my life – it’s what’s getting us through.”
And it is this determination wife Karen says is driving the family on.
“It has been a rollercoaster of emotions,” she admitted. “I am petrified but it is so important to have hope and something positive to hold on to and a goal.
“We are not giving up under any circumstances and I would love nothing more than for David to see his children growing up.”
Karen added: “The response to the JustGiving page and from the entire community – both in East Kilbride and our new neighbours in Blantyre – has been overwhelming. “We reached half our initial target in a matter of hours and I was in bits when I realised and read all the messages.
“There are numerous businesses, groups and individuals who have supported us including my work colleagues at St Leonards Tesco, St Leonard’s Primary and its PTA, St Leonard’s RC Church, the 3rd East Kilbride Scout group, David’s colleagues at Millers Vanguard in Bury, Greater Manchester and so many more.
“We can’t thank each and every person enough.”
Visit https://www. justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/davidsfight if you wish to support the Scott family.
The news hit us all extremely hard – we barely left the house