Let me start from the beginning. My name is John Campolini. I come from an Italian background and started my early life with my parents and sister in South London before eventually moving to Beckenham. As an Italian family, we did what most Italians did after the Second World War, and we made ice cream – gallons of it-which was sold to the general public from various outlets.
In 2013, I started to suffer from heartburn or acid reflux, especially at, night and I bought some over-the-counter medication which had little to no effect. After a visit to my GP who prescribed a month’s supply of medication with the words that if it did not improve, I was to return for further investigations. Well, I returned to my GP who ordered an endoscopy which although unpleasant, eventually helped save my life!
After the first endoscopy, my consultant said that he had found nothing but wanted to bring me back in a year’s time for a second endoscopy. A year later, during that endoscopy, attended by my consultant who was watching his registrar examining me, my consultant took over and after looking at the scans on screen and ordered some biopsies. This was when I realised that I might have a problem. After having the medical equipment removed from my mouth, I asked my consultant, “Do we have a problem,” to which his reply was a very short, “Yep”! He suggested waiting for the results of the biopsies and seeing him again in three days time, which I did. After exchanging pleasantries, he asked me if I had any ideas about what might be wrong.
I told him that I thought I had cancer to which he responded that I was correct but also very lucky! Just being told I had cancer and then being told I was lucky was difficult to take in all at once.
He went on to say that the plan was not to treat me but to cure me and that my case had already been transferred to St Thomas’ Hospital, London and my first appointment was in three days. I duly presented myself to St Thomas’, was talking to a cancer specialist nurse when the door opened and in came a man who was ultimately to save my life, Bob Mason, one of England’s authority on Oesophageal Cancer. We had a full and frank discussion regarding my position and he explained what he proposed to do surgically. So, a fair bit of plumbing had to be done! We spoke about timing for the operation we agreed on 11th of November 2014, which was Armistice Day. I presented myself at St Thomas’ on the 10th, was prepared for surgery on the 11th and as I was about to be anesthetised, I remembered that I might not wake up from the operation and said my prayers and asked the Good Lord to look after me which I am glad to say he did. The operation was a lengthy one and I was then put on life support, then transferred to the Intensive Care, then high dependency and then a general ward. After 4 weeks, I was finally home for Christmas complete with a feeding tube. Thankfully, the tube was removed 2 days before Christmas and I was able to have Christmas Dinner with my long- suffering family, even if it was a small portion.
I then made a major mistake by having a small piece of Christmas Pudding which caused me no end of problems, stomach wise!
I had been told that I was to take some time off from work and that it would take at least 12 months to fully recover. I appealed for and received a 6-month leave from the Criminal Justice System ( I was a Presiding Justice at Camberwell Green Court) but returned after just 2 months, much to everyone’s surprise, and a few years later, at the age of 70, I retired after 36 years of sitting in Courts.
Some time during this period, and during a routine check up at St Thomas’ after Bob Mason had retired and his position had been taken over by James Gossage. One of the 4-man surgical team that operated on me, I was asked by James if I would consider joining the Oesophageal Patients Association as a Trustee. He explained what the OPA was and I remember my response exactly, “ After all you have done for me, I can’t refuse” and I became a Trustee and am now in my fourth year as Chair. At every opportunity, I do my best to make Oesophageal Cancer more well- known as early diagnosis and treatment can save lives. It is one of the most serious forms of cancer, because when the symptoms finally appear, it is often too late. Anyone who is taking medicine for reflux etc, should make sure they receive an endoscopy which at present is the best way of finding out if there is a problem.
