FICPI PRESIDENT TAKEN ILL
Progress report -June 2002

In early March, just as he was to leave for the ExCo meeting in Newport Beach, our President was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

He underwent emergency surgery which removed 95% of the tumour, the remainder being entwined in the brain such that surgical removal could have left permanent brain damage. Pathological tests showed the tumour to be malignant and virulent.

Malcolm is now undergoing chemotherapeutical treatment. Fortunately, a drug is now available that can be taken orally and that does not cause the usual side effects associated with chemotherapy. The initial partial paralysis has now gone and there does not appear to be any remaining damage to brain function.

Malcolm is tolerating the treatment very well and is already spending short periods of time at the office.

He is able to attend to his FICPI duties by email, telefax and telephone from home.

Unfortunately, he is not yet able to travel internationally to attend meetings. These have been very ably handled by Francis Ahner, our Vice-President, supported by Jean-Jacques Joly, our Secretary General, and the other members of the Bureau.

It is expected that Malcolm will be able to travel to Prague for the scheduled Forum and ExCo in October.

We are sure that Malcolm's rapid and continuing recovery can be attributed to a large extent to the nursing skills of Maggie, well known as the FICPI Nurse.