York: Dad seeks cancer treatments abroad for children’s sake

A father-of-two whose cancer has returned has said he is determined to “fight” it for his children.

Adam Gray, 37, from York, was first diagnosed with stage four pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer in 2020.

He said he was given just months to live, but in 2022 was told his cancer was in remission.

However, just before Christmas he discovered it had returned and is hoping to raise money to pay for treatment in the US.

When he was first diagnosed his wife Chrissy was pregnant with their first child.

He went through treatment including having half his liver removed in a seven-hour surgery, in order to rid the organ of disease.

Although warned his treatment would make him infertile, the couple went on to have a second child.

“I’ve got even more to fight for now and those two are a bundle of joy and best friends so I’ve really got to be around for them as long as possible and I will be – I’m sure I will be,” he said.

Mr Gray said being told his cancer had returned had been difficult to comprehend and he has “exhausted” his treatment options on the NHS.

After looking into getting alternative treatment in India and Germany, he said he is now hoping treatment in the US will extend his life and is trying to raise £85,000 to pay for it.

He said the procedure aims to “break up your tumours using radiofrequencies and injects them directly with quite a few immunotherapy drugs”.

Mr Gray said he had already tried everything he could think of.

“I’ve had seven types of chemotherapy, three types of radiotherapy and I’ve been in hospital for the last 12 days with sepsis so it’s all pretty difficult,” he said.

“It never stops – whether you’re getting treatment or some procedure in hospital, but that’s what it takes to keep stage four cancer at bay and give yourself the best chance to beat it.

“I still believe I can even though everyone says it’s unlikely – I’ve still got hope.”