THROUGHOUT his 18-month battle with leukaemia Adrian Sudbury has ridden a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows.

After being told a few weeks ago that further treatment was unlikely to help and that his leukaemia was terminal, he has now received news that there is a drug which may help him.

However, the chances of it leading to a recovery are slim.

Adrian’s unusual strain of leukaemia has so far resisted chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and drugs Glivec and Imatinib.

On Friday doctors told Adrian that tests showed that another drug, Dasatinib, may help.

It is effective against classic chronic myeloid leukaemia, but doctors do not know how it will work for Adrian.

Adrian has begun taking the medication, but is being careful not to raise his hopes of a cure.

He said: “I was quite resigned to my fate. Friday’s news was as cruel as it was kind.

“There is no-one else to compare with exactly how this drug is going to work in me. It raises this slim, tiny, glimmer of hope that we can achieve a remission.

“But the likelihood of this, considering the extent to which the leukaemia has returned, is verging on the impossible.’’

Adrian is suffering exhaustion as a result of his leukaemia and says he feels it is unlikely the drug would reverse all the damage done by the disease.

He says: “I’m all for prolonging my life obviously, but not if I’m feeling like this. Another six months of being bedridden is not what I need at all.

“If I get rid of the leukaemia then it’s back to living long term with ‘graft versus host’ disease and a very poor quality of life.

“This is not the miracle people have been praying for. Emotionally, I wish I’d never had that phone call.”

For more about Adrian’s story visit http://baldyblog.freshblogs.co.uk

For information about being a donor visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk or www.blood.co.uk or call 0845 7711 711.

Petition latest

A PETITION on the Downing Street website pushing for better education now has 5,448 signatures.

Adrian has previously won backing for his idea from Prime Minister Gordon Brown, other ministers and the Liberal Democrats. Now the Conservative Party has added its support.

Speaking on behalf of the party and its leader, David Cameron, Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “Adrian Sudbury has shown extraordinary courage throughout his campaign.

“I fully support his aim to raise awareness about bone marrow donations.

“As many people as possible should be encouraged to sign up for the register on a voluntary basis if they are in a position to do so.”