Treatment

My partner Gemma and I a day after surgery to remove my right kidney and some lymph nodes.

Me and my partner Gemma, a day after surgery to remove my right kidney and some lymph nodes

Because my type of kidney cancer – Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma – is not one that fits with chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments, my first and only option after diagnosis was surgery. My consultant at Coventry University Hospital said this option was aimed at curing me – and surgeons were able to remove both an 11cm tumour and 11 inflamed lymph nodes.

However, six months later the cancer did return and this time, surgeons decided not to operate. Again, it left me with only one option – an immunotherapy treatment in Manchester called Interleukin-2, or IL-2.

As IL-2 was designed for the standard type of kidney cancer, it has only ever been given to three people who match the condition I have. This means it is unclear how successful it will be. However, the treatment has shown some very positive results overall so we are confident of my chances!

Click here to find out more about IL-2

Click here to find out more about The Christie – one of only two hospitals in the country to administer the treatment.