Almost £50,000 raised for York man to have cancer treatment abroad

Don Jackson was told his tumour could not be operated on by the NHS as it was 5mm too big

Author: Kathy GreenPublished 27th Mar 2023
Last updated 30th Mar 2023

A York man diagnosed with cancer says he'll never stop thanking everyone who is fundraising so he can have treatment abroad.

Delays finding Don Jackson a liver transplant meant a tumour had grown 5mm too big to be operated on - and he was told he had just months left to live.

Almost £50,000 has now been raised and Don is undergoing chemo and radiotherapy in Turkey.

Speaking to us from there - he says he can't believe how much support he's had: "I've got five young children and I think people see someone who has not been given long to live, they want to give me a chance, want me to see my kids grown up, as I do, and be around for my loved ones. I'm just staggered by what they've done."

It just seems like everyone has got on board and everyone wants to help, they feel like I've been cheated, well they know I've been cheated. You just have to jump on a plane, not knowing where I'm going, you can't speak the language and you get here and find your way to the hospital."

After the chemo and radio therapy Don is looking to undergo 'embolization' which is injections into his liver lesions which will cost £22,000. Along with the cost of a liver transplant and hotel and living costs the total needed will now exceed £80,000.

In a statement Dr John Adams, Medical Director at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said: “The safety of our patients is our top priority. Our specialist clinical teams individually assess the suitability of each patient waiting for a liver transplant. The eligibility criteria for liver transplantation in the UK is based on nationally agreed guidelines, administered through the Liver Advisory Group, and aligned with international practice.”

You can see Don's fundraising page here

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