Dad celebrates five years since ‘months to live’ cancer diagnosis

A father-of-two is celebrating, five years on from being given a terminal diagnosis of just months.

Matt Eamer from Surrey was rushed to hospital in 2020, where surgeons removed two-thirds of his bowel during an emergency operation. A few days later, they confirmed his diagnosis of stage four cancer. However, following new treatment expected to buy him a few more months, the cancer disappeared.

Under Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, patients deemed to be terminally ill and with less than six months to live would be allowed to receive help to kill themselves. The legislation will be debated in the House of Lords later this year.

Milestone

Matt said: “I can still remember the person’s voice when she phoned and said, ‘the plan for your diagnosis has changed… we’re talking months not years from a survival point of view’”.

He explained how, on his 40th birthday, he was told that his treatment had failed and the cancer had advanced further: “It was a very dramatic, movie-like point. It was a pivotal change. They said, ‘we’ve gone in, it’s gone further, we’re going to try these new drugs.’ My wife Sarah collapsed to the floor.”

Now, five years on, he is still undergoing treatment but clear on cancer. Matt plans to take part in Sir Chris Hoy’s charity cycle in September to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK. He said: “It’s marking a milestone in a meaningful, positive way.”

Being diagnosed with stage four cancer, he said, causes you “to think about how you spend your time”. He added:”The reality is the ‘bucket and spade things’, the little moments. I spend more time looking at my kids’ faces, taking them to a show or swimming in the sea — they are heightened.”

Temporary despair

Rue Grewal was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2017. She has shared how the diagnosis caused her to spiral into despair, and is certain she would have chosen assisted suicide then if it had been available to her.

She described going through “a moment – or period – of despair that felt permanent, but wasn’t” and said she understood how easily a person can fall into thoughts “that it would be better – for you, for everyone – if you just slipped away”.

Now she is a district councillor and works with the cancer support charity One Vision. She has spoken against assisted suicide, criticising its lack of safeguards for terminally ill people struggling with their mental health.