'I'm willing to give up my house for chance to live'
A DAD of four sentenced to death by the cancer he has fought for years may have to risk his home to give him a little more precious time with his family.
Paul Popham has been told chemotherapy will do nothing to tackle his kidney cancer and he has just nine months to live.
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Paul Popham.
His only hope of living longer is controversial drug Sutent that could prolong his life.
But he fears he may have to remortgage his family home, as the drug costs around £30,000 a year.
He said: "Sutent will probably prolong my life by a year to 18 months.
"I will have to think of re-mortgaging the house if the LHB does not prescribe it."
Health bosses say Mr Popham has yet to apply for funding for the drug but the cancer sufferer is worried his appeal will be turned down as the drug is not readily available on the NHS.
The family of the 63-year-old, of Ullswater Crescent, in Morriston, have rallied to his side and launched a petition calling for Sutent to be available free for patients.
His Llangyfelach-based daughter Joanne is drawing the petition to help both her dad and others like him to win funding for the drug.
Mr Popham, a retired fitter and turner with Alcoa, said he was devastated after he discovered his kidney cancer had spread.
He said: "In 2005, I was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour on my kidney.
"To be honest, I was shocked — but the medics said 'do not worry, we will cut it out and we will take the kidney away and it will be okay'.
"There was no cancer there when I was going back to the clinic.
"But the last time, I think it was back in August that I was given a CT scan, they said the cancer had spread before they took my kidney out, but they were unable to detect it — it spread to my lung, stomach lining and bone."
He added: "In Morriston Hospital, they told me I would need chemotherapy, as they said the cancer had not gone and I would have to see the oncologist.
"When I went to see cancer expert John Wagstaff, he said basically the cancer had spread and the chemotherapy is no good for kidney cancer and would not work.
"He said Sutent was effective and prolonged life and the results were better."
Mr Popham said the treatment was expected to cost around £3,000 for a six-week course.
The drug is not widely available on the NHS and Pfizer — the company which produces Sutent — said it was disappointed that kidney cancer patients will face a further delay before the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) releases its final guidance on the funding of the drug. It was back in 1979 that Mr Popham started to suffer kidney failure problems.
He then underwent dialysis before undergoing two kidney transplants operations at the then Cardiff Royal Infirmary during 1985 and 1995.
Mr Popham said he appreciated what the NHS had done in the past to help him, but said he now feared he may need to re-mortgage his house if the LHB refused to fund the drug.
His 38-year-old daughter Joanne Popham, who is managing director of Aber Recruitment, said they were lobbying AMs, including Assembly Health Minister Edwina Hart, over the issue.
He added: "We will be launching a petition calling for Sutent to be made available on the NHS — we are hoping to collect just over 1,000 signatures, which we are hoping to take to the Assembly next week."
A spokeswoman for Swansea Local Health Board added: "Regrettably, the LHB is not able to comment on individual cases.
"However, we can confirm that no application for additional funding for this gentleman has been received by the LHB.
"If an application is received, we will consider this case in line with our Individual Patient Commissioning Policy."
Anyone wishing to sign the petition should contact sutentcampaign@ntlworld.com
11 Comments
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by peter popham, SWANSEA SA59NJ
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 12:31AM
“I hav e got to say what a fantastic human being he is he deservs evrything that God can over. But this goverment would rather pay for all the drugees and Imargrants They are paying more for housing benefitts than what it cost to save Pauls live god bless Paul”
by Caroline L Jeffs, Aberavon
Saturday, November 15 2008, 8:30PM
“I commend the family in keeping positive and fighting for what they should receive...and what we should all be able to access a 'free accesible NHS'. If this is not the case then why has this hardworking husband, dad and grandad paid his National contributions into the system for the past 30 years. How can anyone put a price on someones life...? This is disguisting and lets hope the NHS sees sense and pay this deserving, upstanding citizen what he is entitled to. Just remember this could be your Dad, brother or grandad fighting for life saving treatment...so join in and show your support to this well known and respected family.
Keep Positive Paul...and fight it all the way :)”
by Shane R, Aberavon
Saturday, November 15 2008, 3:25PM
“I think this is awful, a working man paying into the system all his life but when he needs help is denied access to our supposedly 'accesible and free NHS service'! Change your minds and help Paul....”
by darren long, landore
Friday, November 14 2008, 3:25PM
“i have kown paul for many years and what a man he is most of swansea know him .i wish the nhs sort them selfs out.I wish u all the best wally we rare all behind u love bambi”
by david clarke, loughor
Friday, November 14 2008, 12:16PM
“I have worked with Paul for over 30 years and he is a true gent,Paul deserves the chance to extend his life ,he has given so much to so many people in and out of the football community.Good luck Paul from all the boys at Alcoa myself and my family.Dave Clarke”
by Greg LANCE-WATKINS, www.KidneyCancerResource.com
Friday, November 14 2008, 4:40AM
“I had Kidney Cancer Nov 1998 - nephrectomy Sep 2001.
One has to ask oneself under which Act of Parliament a QUANGO is authorised to commit EUthenasia, or is this one of Wales' privileges under Devolved Irresponsibility?
To administer a drug that kills is MURDER to withold a drug that will maintain seems morally similar.
If Sutent can be witheld is it any different under law to witholding Oxygen?
Sutent is witheld on the grounds of economic expediency - it would seem apposite to ask when it will be expedient to open Harold Shipman Wards in NHS Hospitals?
Perhaps we at
www.KidneyCancerResource.com can offer help and support - been there, done that, got the Tshirt ;-)
Warm Hands & Good Luck to Paul and his family - you are not alone.
Regards,
Greg L-W.”
by Ryan Pridmore, Cwmdu
Thursday, November 13 2008, 9:04PM
“I have known Wally for 13 years and can say that he is one of the nicest men on the planet. Anyone that ever met him would tell you the same. I find it frustrating that Junkies can get methadone willy nilly yet Wally can't get what he needs. I think this country has its priorities all backwards. We look after the idiots instead of the tidy people. Good luck Wally.”
by Marie, Swansea
Thursday, November 13 2008, 7:19PM
“Perhaps we should be thinking about lobbying the companies that produce these drugs, making vast profits in the process. The NHS is stretched to its limits and funding such expensive drugs will inevitably mean cuts in other areas. (That doesn't mean to say that I don't think it should be funded - I do!).
Perhaps as a society, we need to view our habits....eating fatty foods, drinking too much, smoking are all risk factors for poor health. But they are all factors that can be changed and help to prevent future illnesses and diseases. Then more money would be available for drugs such as Sutent.......a drug that anyone of us may need at some point in the future.”
by g. shannon, townhill swansea
Thursday, November 13 2008, 6:47PM
“i was in school with paul,he has worked all his life and paid tax and ni . to think he cannot get treatment is a big shame on the lhb if they dont approve his treatment he has work with childrens football teams and kept them causing trouble ,he is first in line to help any charities that needed help now he needs help so please help him . glyn shannon.”
by nigel williams, Llangyfelach
Thursday, November 13 2008, 2:58PM
“This story just about sums up this country. Here we have a man who has worked all his life paying his taxes along the way and in his hour of need has been let down badly, perhaps if we cut back on all the benefits we are paying out then we would have more for the NHS after all we are taking about prolonging someone¿s life. I have known Wally for a long time, as he is a familiar face on the local football scene and was a good friend of my Grandfather. All the best Wally.
Nigel Williams, Llangyfelach”