Overview
- John Robertson was diagnosed last month with stage 4 oesophageal adenocarcinoma that doctors say has spread to his liver, lungs, throat and right adrenal gland.
- He first noticed difficulty swallowing in February and lost around three stone before a GP referral led to a fast-tracked endoscopy that found a bleed and a tumour blocking about 75% of his oesophagus.
- Clinicians have given an approximate nine-month prognosis, he is on an all-liquid diet, is due to begin chemotherapy this month and may need a feeding tube to maintain nutrition.
- Robertson has launched a fundraising appeal to pay for private treatments and to apply for clinical trials in Germany and London that are not currently available through the NHS.
- The case highlights how oesophageal adenocarcinoma often presents late because symptoms appear after substantial tumour growth and it has forced the family to prioritise memory-making and practical planning.