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Search forTreatment has 'halved the size' of Croydon PCSO's cancer
Monday, August 18, 2008, 07:00
The Advertiser told last month how Croydon PCSO Oliver White had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in April, a cancer of the body's lymph nodes.
If caught early it is one of the most survivable types of cancer – and a recent CT scan has revealed Oliver, 26, is already doing better than expected.
Oliver, who works with the Broad Green Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "I had a scan a couple of weeks ago and it's halved in size so after four treatments that's really good news.
"I certainly wasn't expecting it, I don't know if the doctors were."
Oliver previously told how he had been diagnosed thanks to the vigilance of his brother and sister.
"The only thing that told me something was wrong was a lump on my shoulder that I hadn't even noticed," he said.
"It was my brother and sister who told me about it. It was quite a slow-growing one.
"It was only under pressure from them and others that I went to see the doctor and had various tests."
Oliver, from South Croydon, is now so optimistic he is looking forward to the possibility of finishing his treatment earlier than expected.
He had his latest round of six bouts of chemotherapy yesterday (Thursday) and newly-born son Joshua and partner Natalie Alderman, 25, are keeping him going.
The Royal Marsden Hospital, in Sutton, is also funding a promising drug – rituximab – which Oliver thinks could speed up his recovery even more.
He said: "It's the cancerous cells that have halved in size. They're all over my body really – mainly above and below my abdomen.
"My progress may have put me ahead of schedule. Natalie is really happy about it.
"I'm certainly a bit more hopeful now and the treatment should all be done by November if not earlier. I'm quite looking forward to the end of the year."
To raise money for the Royal Marsden which is treating him, Oliver had his head shaved on July 16.
He was joined by Sergeant Pete Taylor and PCSO Dan Fitzgerald who wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with him and get their heads shaved too.
A total of £1,100 has been raised to date – go to www.justgiving.com/baldyblokes to add to the total.
CHARITY FUNDRAISERS: PCSO Dan Fitzgerald, PCSO Oliver White and Sergeant Pete Taylor
CCRks160708e by Kevin Shaw
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