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Michael
Ellett, 60, was diagnosed in March 2007 with pancreatic and liver cancer and
was told that he would never recover. He was given six months to live by doctors,
but is now enjoying the life he was told he'd never see.
After responding to an advert in a national newspaper spotted by his brother-in-law,
Michael was given the opportunity to attend trials for a new vaccine being
developed especially for people with pancreatic and liver cancer. Michael
took up the offer and now, his cancer has almost disappeared.
Michael received a £1,000 grant from the John T Shuttleworth Ropner Memorial Fund, to pay for the costs of transport and accommodation needed to attend the trials. He got in touch with County Durham Foundation to let us know how he got on:
"Without your kind donation I would not have been able to take part in this trial at all. Christine and I cannot thank you enough for your generosity which has given me the chance to make the most of the extra time I have left. I now feel well enough and positive enough to start a plan for the future months."
The grandfather of six is one of just three people in the country who are taking part in the trial, which involves him having to go to Liverpool once a month. Michael hopes the drug, known only as GV1001 vaccine, will go on to help thousands more people fighting the same disease. He adds:
"I get a CT scan every three months, the first one showed the cancer had shrunk in both the pancreas and the liver - where I have two tumours. I was very nervous when I went for the second scan three months later, so when it came back that the cancer was non-visible, I couldn't believe it. I'm not out of the woods yet, but I feel a lot more positive."
Michael who is pictured above with his wife Chris, now travels to Clatterbridge
General Hospital, near Liverpool, once a week for chemotherapy and once a
month to have his vaccine.
"I'm still here and I never thought I'd see Christmas. It's
fantastic. It's been an emotional time because in all senses of the word,
I wasn't meant to be here. Once again thanks for your kind and generous donation."
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