Cancer Sufferer Given Months To Live In 2006 Has No Regrets On Blowing Pension On World Trips

Meet the man who was given six months to live nine years ago - but is still standing after cashing in his pension and travelling the world in style.

And he says he has absolutely no regrets about seriously splashing the cash on the series of lavish holidays.

Bryan Baldwin, 65, from Redditch, Worcs, was diagnosed with incurable renal cancer in May 2006 and told he’d be dead in half a year.

But now, almost ten years on, he’s moving to a luxury Isle of Wight property after years of living the life of, well, luxury.

After his diagnosis, Bryan, a former salesman, cashed in on his private pension and went on several holidays with his wife Susan, 53.

They saw all the sights in San Francisco, Mexico, Orlando, Tunisia, Barbados, Egypt, Spain, Turkey and even the bright lights of Las Vegas.

Since 2006, Bryan’s spent £40,000 on his lifetime bucket list – spending over £15,000 on his dream holidays and £20,000 on a new luxury garden.

He said: “When I heard the diagnosis I saw it more as an opportunity than anything else.

“I never let it get me down and actually saw it as a reason to go out and enjoy everything I’ve wanted to do for years.

“I’ve always wanted to travel the world but work always got in the way. In some ways the diagnosis was a blessing in disguise because it really gave me the get-go to do it.

“As soon as I got the news I cashed in on my pension and toured America with Susan. It really was a dream come true and we’ve not looked back since.

“Every day’s a blessing so there’s never any time for negative thoughts – I feel great and just try to be positive all the time.”

Bryan initially suffered with a bad cough but was found to have renal cancer and tumours that had spread to his lungs in May 2006.

In August, he had his kidney removed before, in September 2006, Bryan was advised to take Nexovar, a new drug at the time, to extend his life expectancy but only by a further eighteen months.

No-one expected him to still be standing, least of all Bryan, but he puts his survival down to family backing and will-power – with a little help the continued prescription of Nexovar on the way.

He said: “It’s been a bumpy ride at times - I’ve had to put up with losing my hair and feeling drowsy but it’s a small price to pay for still being here to tell the tale.”

Dr Emilio Porfiri, consultant in medical oncology at Birmingham’s QE Hospital, said: “Bryan was diagnosed with renal cancer in May 2006.

“The initial prognosis was grim as the tumours had spread to his lungs but after Bryan started on the Nexofar medication, the tumours went into remission.

“That has been the situation since January 2007 as Bryan has responded extremely well to the drugs and to the treatment.

“In my experience this is an exceptional case. Bryan has survived for an incredible length of time and after such a grim prognosis his story is quite remarkable.”

(Pictures credited to Caters)