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Three islanders whose lives have all been touched by cancer, and an immunology professor, have opened up about their ultimate Christmas wishes.
Emma, Lorna, Xano and his mum Sonia have all received support from Cancer Research UK Jersey, which raises funds for research into the causes of cancer.
They shared their reflections on the illness with Express...
Emma (40) from St. Peter, had her Christmas wish granted early – after her six-year-old daughter asked Father Christmas to take her cancer away.
Pictured: Emma and her daughters.
Mum-of-two Emma was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer earlier this year but has now been told she is free of the disease.
“My latest scan showed there was no sign of cancer," Emma said. "When we told our youngest, Amelia, the good news, she told me she had asked Father Christmas to take my cancer away.
“However, I’m one of the lucky ones. We just wish Father Christmas could take everyone’s cancer away. It’s thanks to my amazing colorectal team and charities like Cancer Research UK - and maybe a little Christmas magic - that I’m still here.”
Last year, Xano de Sousa (11), who was treated for neuroblastoma as a four-year-old, opened the new Cancer Research UK shop in St. Helier.
Pictured: Xano was treated for neuroblastoma when he was just four.
Sadly, Xano’s cancer returned earlier this year and he is back in treatment. He just has one Christmas hope: “I wish that cancer didn’t exist.”
Xano and his mum Sonia have family in Portugal. Sonia said: “We wish we could be with our family and the people we love for Christmas, with no land and no sea to separate us. And we wish the same for everyone, whatever they are going through in life.”
Lorna, who is receiving treatment for incurable breast cancer, has two wishes.
Pictured: Lorna would like to see everyone stay a child at heart.
“I wish every adult would regain their childlike wonder at the world. And I wish it could be made illegal - throughout the world - for people to advertise fake treatments and cures.”
Around 1,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Jersey every year. Currently two in four people survive for 10 years or more after a diagnosis. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, three in four people survive for 10 years or more.
“Our wish is for local businesses to consider making CRUK Jersey their chosen charity to support in 2020," Richard Hughes, Chairman of the Cancer Research UK Jersey fundraising committee, said.
"Companies can help in many ways, from encouraging staff to donate quality used clothing to our shop in Halkett Place, to entering teams in our events such as Race for Life and Relay for Life, or sponsoring fundraising activities.”
Pictured: Dr Edd James, Associate Professor in cancer immunology.
Most cancer patients from Jersey are treated in Southampton, and Dr Edd James, Associate Professor in cancer immunology at the Cancer Research UK Southampton Centre, has his own Christmas wish for patients – to be able to offer them kinder treatments.
Kerry Gready, a Research Nurse at the Southampton Centre, said: “My wish is that more people get to spend Christmas at home with their families, although we keep working over the Christmas period because there are always patients who need treatment.”
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