Adam Alderson had only just embarked on what should have been the most exciting chapter of his life when he was given a devastating cancer diagnosis. Ashley Barnard reports

LIVING and working in Australia with his fiancé Laura, Adam Alderson was enjoying a care-free life.

But in a shattering turn of events, he learnt he had a rare cancer which he would be lucky to survive.

For many years Adam had suffered with bowel problems. Like many people with similar symptoms, he was misdiagnosed as having irritable bowel syndrome.

But tests in Australia confirmed he had pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a rare form of peritoneal cancer. His only option was to return to the UK for at the Christie Cancer Hospital in Manchester.

Adam says: “We were having the time of our lives, making friends, going out and partying, working hard and playing hard.

“The diagnosis came out of nowhere. I just collapsed. It’s the old cliché – it’s never going to happen to me."

On returning to the UK, Adam was immediately admitted to the Christie and preparations for an operation in the hope that surgeons could remove as much of the tumour as possible. The debulking procedure, known as cytoreductive surgery, would be coupled with washing the tumour in hot chemotherapy.

Knowing his operation should take up to 18 hours, when Adam came round just two hours later he realised there was a problem.

He says: “The faces on those around me told me all I needed to know. The surgeons explained the operation was too dangerous and as a result there was nothing more they could do.

“Just a few months earlier, I was looking forward to a life at the other side of the world, I was now told that I had as little as two years to live. I was only 35.”

Adam was put on palliative care. His days revolved around hospital visits, medication and the slow degeneration of his strength and quality of life.

The Northern Echo:

Adam in hospital on his 36th birthday, two months before his surgery

He continues: “I’m not known for my patience, and I have a very fiery temper so to be told that I was going to die and there was nothing I could do about it wasn’t sitting well with me. I turned to the internet and started to do some research.”

During a hospital visit Adam heard about former England and St Helens Rugby League player, Steve Prescott, who also had PMP.

Adam learnt that Steve had undergone pioneering surgery at Churchill Hospital in Oxford. The complex operation was a world first. It required the removal of Steve’s tumours followed by a multi-organ transplant.

The 32-hour operation was a success, however Steve died three weeks later as a result of graft-versus-host-disease, a complication that can occur following transplants.

The news was devastating for Adam but he also took strength from Steve’s attitude and determination.

Adam says: “I had and still do have a huge respect for Steve, I couldn’t let this legacy that he had started stop before it had begun. I decided there and then that this was an opportunity for me. I started researching and came up with the same name over and over again, Brendan Moran.”

Mr Moran, a surgeon from Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and PMP specialist, was working towards more progressive treatments of the disease that would focus on cure as opposed to prolonging life, and he agreed to see Adam.

By this time, Adam’s health was deteriorating. He was fed through a tube by Laura, and had lost so much weight he couldn’t get himself out of the bath.

He continues: “I was dying; my girlfriend could see it, my friends could see it and I was very aware of how little time I had left. This was my last chance.”

But Mr Moran explained that surgery would be too risky.

Adam continues: “Crushed is the only word I can use to describe that moment. My fight was over.”

Before leaving, Mr Moran asked Adam if he had heard of Steve Prescott. He explained that despite reports to the contrary – which made it clear the multi-organ transplant would not be repeated - there may be a chance of him having the same procedure.

Without hesitation Adam asked to be put forward.

At 2am, one day in the summer of 2015 the call came.

The 17-hour operation required 30 people working shifts and resulted in the removal of a 10kg tumour and Adam’s stomach, large bowel, small bowel, gallbladder, pancreas, appendix, spleen, his abdominal wall and most of his liver. He was then transplanted with multiple abdominal organs.

Doctors were surprised with Adam’s progress and a short time later later it was officially announced that the procedure had been a success. He would remain in hospital for several months and although his recovery was painful, he was alive.

The Northern Echo:

Adam on the day he was discharged from Oxford - three months after his operation

Adam says: “I really cannot thank the medical team enough. They believed in me and they took a risk – a big risk - but it has paid off. I also want to thank the donor family. The harsh reality is that someone has lost their life for someone else to live and I will never forget that or take it for granted. I will appreciate that for as long as I live.”

Adam and Laura are now embarking on their next adventure. They are planning their wedding later this year, and will then take on the Mongol rally, travelling 15,000 miles unassisted in a 15-year old Suzuki Jimny across 24 different countries to raise money for Steve Prescott Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support.

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