Family is devastated by three cancer diagnoses
MUM, DAD AND STEPDAD GIVEN TERRIBLE NEWS
A WITHERNSEA family have been left devastated by three cancer diagnoses in the space of a few months during the coronavirus pandemic.
Aaron Temperton’s dad and stepdad were both diagnosed with cancer within a few months of each other, firstly in autumn 2019 and then at the start of lockdown in spring 2020, Yorkshire Live reports.
Now he is making an emotional plea via a crowdfunding campaign after his mum Sandra was also diagnosed. Tragically, unlike his dad and stepdad, who are both on the road to recovery, her cancer is terminal.
She is now determined to create lasting memories for them as a family.
Aaron’s father was diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2019 and he was the first to undergo treatment, with Aaron describing it as a “massive shock”.
Fortunately, his dad has been able to undergo an operation to have the cancer removed.
Just as the family, who have lived all over Yorkshire, were coming to terms with the horrendous news, Aaron’s stepdad Andy was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the beginning of lockdown.
Then, on Good Friday 2020, an ambulance was called for Aaron’s mum.
Aaron, of Withernsea, said: “The past 12 months have been pretty tough for everyone with coronavirus and multiple lockdowns, but on top of it all, my family have sadly had to deal with a lot more than that.
“It started in October 2019 when my dad was diagnosed with early stages of bowel cancer. This was obviously a massive shock and very upsetting.
“Luckily, it was found early enough and was removed via operation a month later. While he’s still on the mend, I’m glad to say after a few weeks’ rest, my dad was back at work and has been his silly self.
“I thought my family would never have to go through anything so scary like that again, but I was wrong.
“A couple of months later, as the pandemic really began, my mum’s partner Andy was diagnosed with prostate cancer. But, like my dad, it was caught early enough to be operated on and removed.”
The two diagnoses came within just three months of each other.
And more bad news was on the way.
Aaron said: “On Good Friday of 2020, my mum Sandra had horrendous pain on the right hand side of her chest.
“An ambulance was called and she was taken to Hull Royal where they did a chest X-ray to rule out coronavirus.
“Instead it was a mass chest cavity.
“As Covid-19 restrictions were in place, no one could sit with my mum as she found out.
“Once we all found this out, it was extremely upsetting for everyone. in her But we had hope, we had two family members on the road to recovery.
“Further tests were carried out at Castle Hill Hospital’s Queens Centre, which is highly rated for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“We discovered she had what is called a pleural tumor - a rare form of cancer that is found between the lungs and the chest wall.
“Because of the location, it is near impossible to operate so other treatment would be required.
“Mum first started with one dose of radiotherapy to try ease the pain and then on to chemotherapy.
“She had five sessions, but didn’t affect the tumour growth.
“The doctors then decided to try immunotherapy.
“At this point, mum has been going through treatment for nearly six months and it was taking a toll on her mental health.
“At her scan on January 5, the tumour has grown meaning the immunotherapy had no effect and carrying on with the treatment would make mum even more ill for no reason.
“They’ve told us that nothing else they can do.”
The family are now looking into other possible treatment, with an appointment booked at the Christie Trust, an NHS hospital that specialises in rare cancers.
Aaron has launched a gofundme campaign to help create lasting memories for the time the family have left together.
To donate, visit com/f/sandras-list it there’s