North London man, 36, diagnosed with cancer and told he has 1 year to live hoping to marry ‘love of his life’

When Edward Lord backed a lorry into a lamppost outside Tracey Emin’s house he probably didn’t think the two would soon share one horrendous experience.

The art technician normally installs Francis Bacon paintings and Henry Moore sculptures for the rich and famous, but in recent weeks he has been bed bound with stage four colon cancer.

The devastating diagnosis comes six months since Croydon artist Tracey Emin revealed she had been given the all-clear. This happened despite doctors telling Tracey she had until Christmas 2020 when she was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Edward is hoping he can make a similar recovery.

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It started six weeks ago when the Wood Green man, 36, complained of pain above his belly, he said it was not “severe” just “quite tender”.

He went straight to the doctor and they gave him medicine for acid reflux, a week later though and the pain was back while visiting his parents in Norfolk – at the time he called 111 and they told him to see a GP.

When he finally got to the GP his doctor told him it was a gallbladder infection, which Edward has since found out is rare for a man of his age, still in pain he decided to go to A&E where he was given antibiotics and booked in for a scan.

Before he could get to his scan though he collapsed, he was told an ambulance would take two hours so a friend took him to hospital where he was given a CT scan.

This proved to be the turning point in his journey as concerned doctors decided to investigate worrying results further, a biopsy would later confirm lesions on his liver were evidence of stage four colon cancer and liver metastases.

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Edward says the news has been all the more devastating after meeting the “love of his life” Katherine Vagg, 34, who he proposed to at Christmas last year.

The couple had known each other through friends for years but it was in 2019 during a camping trip in Norfolk where they “fell in love” and now the “soul mates” have moved their wedding forward and plan to have kids if Edward’s treatment is successful.

Edward said: “We are both just clinging on to hope for our future together.

“We are in the foothills of our life and we both want a family together and to grow old together.

“Without doubt she is the love of my life and we are both very much meant to be together.

“I did not think that sort of thing really existed until I met Katherine.

“I feel very very blessed to have her in my life and that’s what’s keeping us going and keeping me strong.”

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Edward’s determination not to let cancer “take that away” has led his sister Kate Lord-Cranshaw to set up a fundraiser so he can afford special treatment unavailable on the NHS.

Though he is currently undergoing chemo, he was not eligible for a new treatment because of a rare gene mutation only present in 10% of the population.

Another antibody drug called ‘Avastin’ has proved helpful in early clinical trials but it costs £5000 a month, this was far too much for Edward who is still saving for a deposit on his first house.

So far they have raised over £40,000 in three days which should see Edward into next year, giving him time to get married and go into remission.

Edward says he does not want to stop there though.

Katherine Vagg and Edward Lord

Katherine Vagg and Edward Lord

He was horrified by the lack of funding for treatment and wants to make sure money goes to someone else if he does die, or better make a speedy recovery.

He said: “It shouldn’t just be the wealthy who have access to the best medical care”.

Having reached the £30,000 target in 24 hours they increased it to £100,000 with the hope of giving Edward more time and the chance to set up a charity fund for people in his situation.

His sister Kate said: “Edward has a gentle soul and is the kindest person I know – he is sensitive, caring, thoughtful and funny, and one of those people everyone warms to.

“He is the best uncle to my son, Eric and to our older brother Oliver’s daughters, Millie and Darcy.

“Edward’s cancer diagnosis has devastated us all, but we are so proud of his strength on this journey so far.”

In a video where Edward thanks people for their donations so far he says “I am determined to fight for my life, and I am determined to win.”

He also wanted to share his experience so others are proactive in seeking treatment, no matter how minor they think it is.

He says that if his cancer was caught earlier he would have had it removed surgically, not giving it a chance to spread to his liver.

To anyone who thinks they are wasting their doctor’s time, he said “you’re not”.

You can support Edward’s GoFundMe here .

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https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/north-london-man-36-diagnosed-21683364

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