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Cheers - an extra 21 years of life! Cheers - an extra 21 years of life!
(1 day later)
By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC NewsBy Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News
Celebrating a new lease of lifeCelebrating a new lease of life
When surgeons told Ken Hunt that his bowel cancer had spread to his liver things looked very gloomy indeed.When surgeons told Ken Hunt that his bowel cancer had spread to his liver things looked very gloomy indeed.
The senior surgeons of the day told Mr Hunt that they could do nothing - and that if nothing was done he would die.The senior surgeons of the day told Mr Hunt that they could do nothing - and that if nothing was done he would die.
But a young surgeon just setting out on his career agreed to operate.But a young surgeon just setting out on his career agreed to operate.
And today the pair are celebrating the fact that Mr Hunt has enjoyed an extra 21 years of life that neither initially expected him to see.And today the pair are celebrating the fact that Mr Hunt has enjoyed an extra 21 years of life that neither initially expected him to see.
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Mr Hunt initially presented with bowel cancer 22 years ago. This was removed, but he developed a secondary cancer in the liver. Mr Hunt, 77, from Tadley in Hampshire, initially presented with bowel cancer 22 years ago. This was removed, but he developed a secondary cancer in the liver.
"I went to the Royal Marsden in London to go through the scanners and they discovered there were these spots on my liver," he said."I went to the Royal Marsden in London to go through the scanners and they discovered there were these spots on my liver," he said.
I did not really worry much about the future I am the sort who thinks what is to be is to be Ken HuntI did not really worry much about the future I am the sort who thinks what is to be is to be Ken Hunt
But Mr Merv Rees, trustee of the Pelican Cancer Foundation and consultant liver surgeon at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, who was in charge of the original bowel operation, was not deterred.But Mr Merv Rees, trustee of the Pelican Cancer Foundation and consultant liver surgeon at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, who was in charge of the original bowel operation, was not deterred.
At the time he was one of only a few in the world to attempt liver surgery of this sort.At the time he was one of only a few in the world to attempt liver surgery of this sort.
World guidelines of the time said that liver surgery like this should only be carried out if the cancer was in one side of the liver and in no more than three places.World guidelines of the time said that liver surgery like this should only be carried out if the cancer was in one side of the liver and in no more than three places.
Mr Hunt presented had six cancerous nodules, spread over both sides of his liver.Mr Hunt presented had six cancerous nodules, spread over both sides of his liver.
Mr Rees admitted that the case seemed hopeless - but was determined to operate nonetheless.Mr Rees admitted that the case seemed hopeless - but was determined to operate nonetheless.
"It seemed so unfair," he said. "I decided to take him on, on the basis that if people said you can take one nodule out, why can't you take more out?"It seemed so unfair," he said. "I decided to take him on, on the basis that if people said you can take one nodule out, why can't you take more out?
Further tumoursFurther tumours
"We took six lumps out at first and from both sides of the liver."We took six lumps out at first and from both sides of the liver.
"One lump was 6cm across - we took quite a bit of the liver out.""One lump was 6cm across - we took quite a bit of the liver out."
Mr Hunt survived and his liver re-grew. But unfortunately he went on to develop further tumours.Mr Hunt survived and his liver re-grew. But unfortunately he went on to develop further tumours.
"A year later he turned up with two more nodules, one of which was 4cm," said Mr Rees."A year later he turned up with two more nodules, one of which was 4cm," said Mr Rees.
"I was doubly cross that he had had the bad luck to have even more nodules, so we re-operated on the liver.""I was doubly cross that he had had the bad luck to have even more nodules, so we re-operated on the liver."
Mr Rees proved to be something of a trail blazer in giving patients like Mr Hunt a realistic chance of surviving.Mr Rees proved to be something of a trail blazer in giving patients like Mr Hunt a realistic chance of surviving.
"We have now operated on over 1,300 and he was one of the first," he said."We have now operated on over 1,300 and he was one of the first," he said.
Mr Hunt said he had been philosophical about his chances and had taken each day slowly.Mr Hunt said he had been philosophical about his chances and had taken each day slowly.
We did manage to do it and he did survive and he is the first of many people who can benefit from this Mr Merv ReesWe did manage to do it and he did survive and he is the first of many people who can benefit from this Mr Merv Rees
"I did not really worry much about the future - I am the sort who thinks what is to be is to be.""I did not really worry much about the future - I am the sort who thinks what is to be is to be."
But Mr Rees admits he was more pessimistic.But Mr Rees admits he was more pessimistic.
"When I started I probably did not expect him to survive as long," he said."When I started I probably did not expect him to survive as long," he said.
"I argued that the only way we would really know would be to take on people like Mr Hunt to see whether it would work."I argued that the only way we would really know would be to take on people like Mr Hunt to see whether it would work.
"In those days I was regarded as slightly off beat and off the wall and obviously needed watching because I was doing some strange things."In those days I was regarded as slightly off beat and off the wall and obviously needed watching because I was doing some strange things.
One of the keys to success was that Mr Rees was able to carry out the operation without generating large amounts of blood.One of the keys to success was that Mr Rees was able to carry out the operation without generating large amounts of blood.
"Previously it had been very bloody with a blood transfusion required, but we showed that you could do it and need a blood transfusion only rarely."Previously it had been very bloody with a blood transfusion required, but we showed that you could do it and need a blood transfusion only rarely.
"We had a technique I learnt in Germany, using instruments that were new and more precise so we could do it in a more controlled way.""We had a technique I learnt in Germany, using instruments that were new and more precise so we could do it in a more controlled way."
"We did manage to do it and he did survive and he is the first of many people who can benefit from this."We did manage to do it and he did survive and he is the first of many people who can benefit from this.
"It is a privilege to have been able to do it to him.""It is a privilege to have been able to do it to him."
Mr Rees said that many things had changed over the years - now the operation time has halved to just three hours.Mr Rees said that many things had changed over the years - now the operation time has halved to just three hours.
Jean Slocombe, senior cancer information nurse at Cancer Research UK, agreed that Mr Hunt's was an inspiring tale.Jean Slocombe, senior cancer information nurse at Cancer Research UK, agreed that Mr Hunt's was an inspiring tale.
"Being cancer free for over 20 years is great news," she said."Being cancer free for over 20 years is great news," she said.
But she warned that surgery for cancer that has spread to the liver is not a suitable option for every patient - and does not always result in a cure.But she warned that surgery for cancer that has spread to the liver is not a suitable option for every patient - and does not always result in a cure.
"It is possible that very tiny cancer cells can be left behind and nowadays surgery may be followed by chemotherapy to mop up these cancer cells.""It is possible that very tiny cancer cells can be left behind and nowadays surgery may be followed by chemotherapy to mop up these cancer cells."
Mr Hunt, who has now lost both his legs due to diabetes complications, said he would always be grateful to Mr Rees.Mr Hunt, who has now lost both his legs due to diabetes complications, said he would always be grateful to Mr Rees.
"I never envisaged lasting another 21 years," he said."I never envisaged lasting another 21 years," he said.
"Mr Rees was fabulous - the senior surgeons of the day said it could not be done, and yet he did it.""Mr Rees was fabulous - the senior surgeons of the day said it could not be done, and yet he did it."