Why I want to remember every single minute of this year to forget
Newlywed given just weeks to live continues to defy the odds Cancer survivor Donald Reid
It has been a year to forget for most of us but Donald Reid has treasured every minute after being told he only had weeks to live.
The 59-year-old received a shock diagnosis of incurable cancer in July but, thanks to pioneering treatment, has defied the odds, got married and is looking forward to marking his milestone 60th birthday next month.
Donald, from Kippford, Kirkcudbrightshire, said: “Let’s just say I will never forget 2020. Being told I might not live was hard, but it has just shown me you need to grab life with both hands.”
Donald, a former Royal Navy navigating and diving officer, learned he had the rare bowel cancer pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) after undergoing emergency surgery for a burst appendix.
“I had just woken up after the operation and the consultant told me there and then. They found it when they went in and cut 14 inches of the bowel away,” he said.
“I had no idea before that. If I wasn’t lying down, you could have knocked me down with a feather! But I was thankful they found it. If they hadn’t I certainly wouldn’t be here today.”
Donald and his family were shocked by the prognosis, which gave him eight weeks to live at best.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I’ve had a full life but being told you don’t have long left was hard. There were still so many things I wanted to do…and getting married to my partner Fiona was first on the list.”
The couple tied the knot at Balmaghie, near Castle Douglas, in October while Donald was undergoing chemotherapy.
“It was an amazing day and I’m so glad we did it,” said Donald. “One of the things cancer taught me was that there’s no point in waiting. We had talked about getting married and I realised we should just do it as soon as possible.”
But he has had some difficult days. “When I went for my first session of chemotherapy, I walked out without having it as I just couldn’t face it,” he said.
However, he soon changed his mind and, starting in August, had four cycles of oxaliplatin, delivered as an IV infusion on the first day, followed by capecitabine tablets for 14 days and then a week off.
Cancer Research UK scientists carried out vital work to develop both of the drugs Donald was treated with, including leading clinical trials to learn how to best use both oxaliplatin and capecitabine.
And, with no side effects, Donald decided to seize the opportunity to give something back. In the months since his diagnosis, he has cycled hundreds of miles to raise more than £12,500 for Cancer Research UK. He is now appealing for donations to help the charity, which must address the loss of research funding caused by the pandemic, with lockdowns around the UK continuing to affect its shops.
“If I can give someone else a chance, then I would say my time has been well spent,” said Donald. “The care, support and empathy that I have received from medical staff over the past few months has been amazing.”
Donald finished chemotherapy last month and, at the beginning of December, his consultant told him that his scan was clear.
Now he must wait to speak to another radiologist before the end of the year to find out whether more surgery should go ahead.
Donald said: “I am feeling good and the latest scan shows much better news than I could ever have hoped to hear. We don’t know exactly what the future holds.
“It’s just a case of ‘wait and see’. But I’m feeling well and had a fabulous Christmas with my new wife. And I turn 60 in January so there is lots to look forward to.”
Cancer Research UK’S work into prevention, diagnosis and treatment has been at the heart of the progress that has seen survival in the UK double in the past 40 years. Linda Summerhayes, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Scotland, said: “We’re grateful to Donald for helping to underline the power of research in saving lives.
“One in two people will get cancer in their lifetime, which is why we are absolutely determined to continue to create better cancer treatments for tomorrow. Cancer Research UK has played a role in developing eight of the world’s top 10 cancer drugs and we’re working to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.”
Being told I might not live was hard, but it has shown me you need to grab life with both hands