Alan McLoughlin RIP

"In light of questions about my situation, and some incorrect information being circulated, I feel it necessary to clarify some of my circumstances.

I am currently living with renal cell carcinoma.

It is probably best to briefly explain the sequence of events.

I was first diagnosed with a kidney tumour in September 2012, as was publicised at the time. That was removed, and I then went on a drug trial, although they didn’t find enough evidence that the trial was successful.

In November 2019, I was given more bad news, that the cancer had spread to my remaining kidney, into my chest wall and my lung. I underwent immunotherapy that unfortunately didn’t work, and I was in hospital several days due to side effects that affected my kidney.

That did get resolved, and I started taking another drug, a once-a-day tablet called Cabozantinib.

This had a positive effect, as all three tumours were shrinking. I went for a scan in January 2021, and things looked stable.

Unfortunately, the scan didn’t go beyond my thorax, so it missed a tumour growing in my vertebrae. It was only when I began to feel a pinched nerve in my shoulder that I realised there was another issue. I ended up being rushed to hospital in Swindon with a fractured neck, as the tumour had caused my vertebrae to crumble. Three weeks ago, I had an operation in John Radcliffe Hospital to try and take out as much of the tumour as possible, and to build a cage to support my neck.

That was successful and I am currently back home, about to go on radiotherapy treatment for my neck as well as a new programme of medication.

So I hope that goes well.

Thanks for your time, as I just wanted to clarify my circumstances. I would appreciate if my privacy could be respected in the meantime, but I will be available to speak again in due course."