A decorated RAF helicopter pilot was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer that could be caused by fumes from his plane.
Nevertheless, Philip “Pip” Harding praised the ‘potentially lifelining’ support he received from power.
The 53-year-old veteran of Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland received the shock diagnosis of Stadium four brain cancer in March 2024.
The Wallingford-based Father-of-five, who was initially only given months to live, underwent a new treatment that apparently shrunk its crop significantly by heating and destroying the cancer cells.
The treatment involves 36 sessions, each costing £ 1,000 each and is largely funded by Pip’s family and RAF colleagues, which could collect the entire £ 36,000 within two weeks.
Earlier this year, an investigation was launched by the Ministry of Defense (MOD) in members of the Army who received cancer diagnoses, after claiming that some helicopters exposed the teams to toxic fumes.
Some former staff also take legal action.
PIP acknowledged that there was a chance that was the cause of his diagnosis, and he could act on the matter in the future, but the RAF was “really surprisingly” and “potentially saved (his) life” with his support.
“Although I have not acted now, this is something that can get to the point,” he said.
“I don’t know that it comes from helicopters. I just know that there can be a chance.
“I don’t stand here and throw out threats – the air force was really surprising in how they treated me.
“They were so supportive and saved my life as possible.
“(The treatment is extraordinary – it is not a definite healing, but it seems to work on me right now, which is just tremendous, and I am so grateful for the support I had.”
After being “born in the air force” to RAF parents, Pip earned his pilot’s license at the age of 17 before even learning to drive.
After the university, where he met his wife Claire, he joined the RAF and sent them to train as a support helicopter pilot – by rising the ranks to group captain and becoming an OBE to tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
PIP launched one of the two helicopters carrying casualty after an IRA splinter group exploded a car bomb in Omagh on August 15, 1998 and killed 29 and injured 220.
But in November 2023, while working with American forces in Hawaii, Pip had “a bit of an incident” where he “could” unconscious and not speak “after receiving a vaccination in the Covid.
“We thought it should have been a minor reaction to the stab,” he said.
But after further ‘slightly unusual’ reactions, Pip’s wife Claire persuaded him to visit a doctor.
In March 2024, an American major sat down and broke the news.
“I have grown this crop on the side of my brain, which probably – depending on the treatment – means I had to live between six and 12 months,” Pip said.
“My initial reaction was very quiet.
“Over time, I became more emotional – you suddenly realize:” I have this incredible marriage, this incredible woman, plus five beautiful children, and I am on my way out. “
Pip said his only option was “a full -scale operation where they pull the side of your face and pull away a little of your skull to attack the tumor”.
Over the Easter last year, he had a ‘lovely three-week holiday’ with his wife and his five children, 25, Johnny, 23, Bobbie (20), Harry (18) and William (15)-where they “talked about it and tackled it.
“Things stabilized a little, but the MRI scans I still showed that the crop was quite big,” he said.
He decided to return to the UK in September 2024. Not long after, a small group of friends arranged a meal for him.
“It was striking. Word distribution, and literally 400 people turned up to a Hangar party dinner, “he said.
‘There was a big light bulb’ pip ‘above the bar. There was a RAF band that played. There was a big RAF flag that everyone signed.
“I wasn’t very good at the time, but could get up at the end and say a few words.”
A month later, Pip’s doctor informed him of a new treatment called oncothermia.
Malignant brain cancer (brain cancer) symptoms
Nhs
Common symptoms include:
- headache (often in the morning worse and if it coughs or exciting)
- Fit (attacks)
- Feeling sick (vomit) regularly
- Memory problems or changes in personality
- weakness, vision problems or speech problems that get worse
According to the Cancer Charity Yes to Life, oncothermia involves the target of cancer cells “through both focused and controlled heat and an electric field by passing cancer tissue.”
Pip said: ‘It basically heats the brain tumor in your head, but it is done very smart.
“I lie down on the bed, and this thing is very close to the left side of my head, where the brain tumor is, snapped up and shoots in this heat.
“It goes through the outer skin to the tumor and raises the temperature to about 45 degrees Celsius, and basically only destroys the crop.”
PIP was scheduled for 36 -hour treatments along with chemotherapy.
After only six sessions, an MRI scan revealed that the crop in size had reduced from seven to 1.7 centimeters in diameter.
Unfortunately, the leading treatment is not covered by the NHS and costs £ 1000 per session.
Pip agreed to cover the amount himself, but his family, friends and RAF colleagues refused to hear it.
“Within two weeks, they raised £ 36,000,” he said.
Pip said he is now halfway through his treatment plan and praised the ‘incredible’ support he received through a GoFundMe erected by friends.
“I’m fighting, and I’m very happy to still serve,” said Pip, who remains a RAF group captain.
“I have stories to tell, and hopefully cadets to talk to, and I will continue until I’m really no longer needed.”
PIP’s fundraising page can be found on GoFundMe.
