He’s looking forward to rugby world cup”
JOY FOR IRFON AND FAMILY AFTER SUCCESSFUL OP
ACANCER patient forced to move to England to get a drug unavailable in Wales is recovering in hospital and looking forward to returning home after undergoing a seven-hour operation.
Father-of-five Irfon Williams recently had surgery to remove tumours in his liver and bowel.
Irfon, 45, a nurse manager from Bangor, was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year, and the disease then spread to his liver.
He moved to Ellesmere Port so he could get a three-month course of Cetuximab after it was refused by his local Betsi Cadwaladr health board and a Welsh Government appeals panel.
Treatment with the drug meant his tumours had shrunk enough to allow surgery to go ahead.
Following the operation, Irfon’s wife Rebecca, who is also a nurse, said: “Irfon is recovering well despite a few setbacks following his major surgery.
“He has been unwell because of an infection and remained on the critical care ward until Tuesday.
“The infection is being treated successfully, and he has been moved out of critical care and is bouncing back quickly.
Rebecca said they were hoping Irfon would be able to come home to Bangor at the beginning of this week.
“Irfon has had hundreds of get well wishes, which he is very grateful for. We are all very much looking forward to having him home,” she said.
“He’s got to take it easy over the next week. He should have a little rest after such a major operation. He’s got to take time out.
“He’s been treated with antibiotics and his blood tests are coming back better now.
“He’s on the general surgical ward now and the surgeons are pleased with the progress he’s making.”
She added: “He’s young and fit which has certainly helped. He’s very young to have bowel cancer unfortunately.
“He’s back on his feet and trying to take walks around the ward every day. He’s looking forward to watching the Rugby World Cup when he comes home.”
Before the operation in Liverpool, Irfon said: “It’s been quite a journey and I am so grateful for the care and support I have had from my wonderful consultants at Christie and Aintree, the nurses there and on Alaw in Bangor, my wonderful wife and all the family, my mates, friends, the #hawlifyw crew and the whole community who have supported me, #hawlifyw (#FightingChance) and #teamirfon.
“Thanks everybody from the bottom of my heart. In many ways I’m a lucky man.”
Irfon established the #teamir- fon campaign with Betsi Cadwaladr NHS charity Awyr Las last year to help pay for wigs and headwear for patients, complementary therapies, training to enable staff to better identify depression in the patients they treat, and a dedicated counselling room at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.
He also set up the #HawliFyw campaign to help ensure all patients get the help and medicines they need.