When Chris was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the summer of 2015, he was told his disease was inoperable and that he would die. There is a chance he would not live to Christmas 2015.

Getting news of a terminal pancreatic cancer prognosis is a shock to the system, one that you can never prepare yourself for.

Chris and his wife Alice were not ready to give up despite being told his cancer was inoperable and already at a too advanced stage to be recoverable. They themselves seeked out a second opinion with another oncologist, but heard the same news. Inoperable.

A chance meeting on a Saturday morning where Alice plays tennis changed their lives. It was here that they were told about Alivia and Alice began to explore the idea of using an expert health management and research company to get a second opinion. Alivia took Chris’ case and analysed his medical records searching far and wide for that needle in the haystack doctor who might be able to offer effective pancreatic cancer treatment to give Chris a realistic option to fight his disease.

Alivia found a number of pancreatic cancer specialists from all over the world. Once it was established that there was still a chance, Chris and Alice agreed for Alivia to conduct an Alivia Expert Panel Review of his condition. This is where Alivia collect a handful of doctors of excellence from around the world to form a bespoke multi-disciplinary committee, just for Chris and his case. The doctors discuss Chris’s case until they come up with an agreed direction for Chris’s future care.

Now, armed with his new pancreatic cancer treatment strategy, Chris and Alice have hope. They acknowledge that they still just have a remote chance, but a chance was all they were looking for.

The Expert Panel Review suggested a molecular analysis of Chris’s tumour followed by a combination of highly targeted chemotherapy drugs matched exclusively with Chris’s tumour. The plan was to try and shrink the tumour enough with this treatment that the pancreas could be operated on.

After months of arduous treatment, Chris was battered, but the treatment had worked to reduce his tumour. He was now ready to be operated on.

After a successful operation, Chris was now clear of the main tumour in his pancreas. There were a few more hurdles for Chris to overcome in the months and year since, but he retains Alivia to look after his medical needs. Chris has now outlived his initial diagnosis four times over.