Help raise funds to complete Adrian’s GBM/brain cancer treatment

Dear Friends,

As some of you know, in March last year, Adrian was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme. The journey over the last several months has been a rocky roller-coaster.

Glioblastoma is a grade IV brain tumour -- an extremely aggressive brain cancer. “Standard of care” treatments include surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, followed by radiotherapy and oral chemotherapy. Despite this treatment the median survival rate is 15-17 months after diagnosis. This is partly because brain tumours are often detected only after the onset of neurological symptoms -- in Adrian’s case, loss of his left finger movement.

Following the standard treatments, the excellent Dr. Peter Woo at Kwong Wah Hospital (alumnus of King George V school -- where Emma & Sophie go!) and Dr. Aya El Helali at Queen Mary Hospital recommended that Adrian try experimental therapies. One of these, “Tumour Treating Fields” involves strapping electrodes to his bare scalp for 24 hours a day, three days at a time. (You may have seen Adrian wearing these like a spaghetti-hatted trooper!) Another involves infusions of Avastin (“Ava”), together with an oral medication called Selumetinib (“Sally”), which is a repurposed drug originally intended to treat a rare genetic condition in paediatrics, but can also prevent tumour cells from growing. Together, these therapies held the line for several months. Sally seems to have done what she could, and Adrian is now taking Irinotecan (“Irene”) chemo infusions instead.

Medical insurance only went some distance, and the costs are adding up. The PVW Foundation has generously helped with 6 months donations to cover some drug costs, and the Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Care Foundation has also subsidised the cost of the TTF. Despite this, Adrian and Norie have paid over HK$1,300,000 out of pocket for these therapies since July 2022. All surgery and treatments have been through the wonderful Hong Kong public health system and amazing doctors, but the expensive ones have had to be self-funded due to their experimental nature.

Hong Kong is Adrian’s home. He has always dedicated himself to our community, of late even typing one-handed updates for his beloved Sai Kung Stingrays Netball club, and cheering the loudest from his wheelchair at the games and year-end gathering. His forbearance, dignity and gentle sense of humour remain unchanged. (Read below his experience in his own words.)

Last year, Norie and Adrian were overwhelmed with gratitude that so many of you had reached out to them and knowing Adrian is truly loved. And now today, with Adrian having had to retire, and Norie having given up employment to devote herself to full time caregiving, we are turning to you for help.

Please help! Any amount raised above the fundraising goal or unspent on Adrian’s treatments will be donated to the wonderful Hong Kong-based PVW Brain Tumor Foundation to support other brain cancer patients in need.

Thank you all in advance for your generous support.

With gratitude,

Adrian’s friends

(P.S. The fundraising goal and donation amounts are denominated in Hong Kong dollars. The site will accept payments in HKD from "almost any credit card and debit card, no matter where the donor lives".)

Reflections by Adrian

Who am I?

First and foremost a husband and dad, revelling in a wonderful family: Norie and I and Sophie and Emma. Cheesy but true.

For 30 years I've been technical director at Clarity English – a publishing company which I started with another business partner– this has just been the best and most satisfying job.

In the past few years I became highly involved with netball in Hong Kong. First as a supporter for the two girls, then helping out with Sai Kung Stingrays, their club. Then I became an umpire, and also took over as head of netball for Stingrays, running the admin side. Finally I was able to help run HK Junior Netball League for a year, until the tumour struck. Nothing beats a full day of netball in Mongkok when your own kids are playing and you have a whistle – it means for a short time everyone has to listen to you and do what you say no matter if you are wrong or right!

March 2022: How it started

Saturday I was fine. Sunday I was fine. Monday crack of dawn no complaints from anyone when I walked the dogs. But it started to go wrong at work on Monday when I couldn't properly type the single word I've typed most in life. A.d.r.i.a.n. Left little fingers just not hitting their target. On Wednesday I went to the doctor after I felt a hand on my back and it turned out to be my own, caught up in my backpack strap. Straight to A&E he said. One CT scan later and I transferred to a hospital with a neuro department. An MRI later and I learnt that I had a tumour in my brain… but what sort?

Most hospital doctors wear shiny brown brogues or crocs. So when a pair of black DMs swum into view by my bed, I felt in the presence of someone different. Dr Peter Woo explained he didn't like the look of the tumour so straight into the operating theatre for me. Like a true maverick he smuggled the whole family into a little space at the end of the corridor, during the height of Covid, to tell us the biopsy showed glioblastoma – a highly cancerous tumour.

The next influential doctor I met also had fantastic shoes, though Dr Aya leans towards beautifully coloured heels. She has guided us through lots of treatments and ups and downs with immense humanity and skill....more updates to follow.