MP speaks of his cancer fight for the first time
LABOUR POLITICIAN HAD PUT INITIAL SYMPTOMS DOWN TO WORKLOAD
MP Grahame Morris has spoken for the first time about his cancer fight and thanked those who supported him as he battled back to health.
The 56-year-old Labour politician, who represents Easington, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma – which affects the network of vessels and glands around the body – following the toughest time in his political career.
He had put his extreme tiredness and unexplained weight loss down to the fact he dealing with a “tremendous workload” as one of the remaining shadow cabinet members during the crisis which hit the party in June last year.
Mr Morris struggled through to the recess to undergo tests, which revealed the true cause of his illness.
Since his diagnosis at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, he has been treated through a team led by consultant haematologist Graham Jackson, at the Freeman Hospital with rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The former Sunderland Royal Hospital laboratory scientific officer is now in remission, but further chemotherapy sessions are planned at the University College Hospital in London, allowing him to continue to work in Parliament.
He kept his health problems under wraps as he fought back, but has now told of how the condition and the gruelling rounds of drugs knocked him back and forced him to rest while he strived to fulfil his duties.
“The chemo sessions could be draining and I wasn’t well enough to get to London, but I was still able to work in the constituency” he said.
“For quite a few months I wasn’t able to participate in votes, and that’s why my voting record is so poor for that year.
“Before the General Election, I had a three-week cycle of chemo, which involved me going to the Freeman, then I would have a week off and then start again.
“It works to kill the cancer cells before the healthy cells, but is has some side effects, so I still can’t drive because I have a bit of blurry vision and I still can’t feel the ends of my finger tips, but that will get better.
“The extra chemo is belt and braces and I’ve had scans and thankfully everything looks fine.”
He added: “Friends and family were incredibly supportive, as were officers and members of my staff.
“Members of the Constituency Labour Party were stoical throughout and were absolutely terrific.”
Mr Morris, a former member of the select health committee, said: “I’m officially in remission, I feel restored and healthy and I’ve got my hair back, in so far as I didn’t have a full head in the first place, and I’ve put some weight on and my energy levels are up and I feel great.”