Thank you, Sir Bobby Robson
SHE was given only months to live and more than six years later grateful Rona Bojke, is living proof that cancer treatment works.
And she was ready to say a big thank you to Sir Bobby Robson for helping to set up the pioneering centre based at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care are at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital as it celebrated its 10th anniversary on Saturday.
It is down to big-hearted former Newcastle United manager and the medical team at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre that she is here to tell her tale.
And she choked back tears as she spoke of the man who has helped her fight her battle.
“He’s a lovely man, I met him with my son twice,” said Rona, 59, of Wallsend, North Tyneside, at the celebration party held at the centre.
“He’s here with us today, this proves what a sort of man he was, he’s the spirit of the place, he never gave up, even when he was ill he was wanting to help others.”
After watching a moving video in honour of Sir Bobby, where his wife Lady Elsie along with ex footballers Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker spoke in his honour, Rona added: “I got quite emotional watching the video, there were some lovely things said about him.
“Clinical trials are so vital and that is why I’m here today.”
Rona’s story started in November 2012 after being admitted to hospital for pneumonia. But after fluid was drained from around her heart, it was discovered she had terminal lung cancer – despite her having never smoked.
Rona added: “I was given two to three months to live. It was terminal lung cancer, because it got into the blood, it had gone everywhere.”
Rona feared for her future and was determined to live for her then teenage son Greg and husband Andy.
And after being introduced to the centre, she’s been through treatment involving two drugs on trial, two sets of standard intravenous chemotherapy, another drug and now on two chemo tablets a day – of which has kept her cancer at bay for the past two-and-a-half years.
“I give myself goals and one of them was to see my son’s 21st birthday. And on January 12 he turned 21 and at the party I thanked God for letting me be here. “I don’t make bargains with God, I just ask for more
time.