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Statement by Diane Robertson (Jenner) 2002 (S991)

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Actual Text:	Statement by Mrs Diane Donald Robertson (Jenner) John Crichton Jenner (known as Ian Jenner) came to Australia to live with me in October 1999. We where married in Australia on 1st April 2000. In late March 2000, Ian visited our local General Practitioner (GP) after suffering a mild stomach complaint. The GP suggested a CAT scan to check for possible gallstones or a stomach ulcer. The scan revealed a growth on the right kidney that was strongly suspected as being cancerous. An Urologist, Dr Tony Gianduzzo , was consulted on 3rd April 2000, and he confirmed a diagnosis of a primary cancer on lan's left kidney and scheduled surgery for removal of the affected kidney. The kidney was removed in May 2000 without sign of secondary cancers. From May 2000, Ian had regular checks with the consulting Urologist. In October 2000, Ian became unwell with constant diarrhoea and was referred to a Gastroenterologist (Dr Don Walker ) in November 2000. Dr Walker was unable to diagnose the cause of lan's continued ill health despite numerous pathology tests. Further consultation with a Brisbane based Gastroenterologist, Dr Roderick Roberts , also failed to identify the cause of lan's diarrhoea. On 15th November 2000, Ian attended an Ultrasound that was part of the post¬operative checks required by the Urologist. On this occasion suspected cancerous growths were noted on lan's bladder. Dr Tony Gianduzzo successfully removed the growths from lan's Bladder on 21st November 2000. Pathology confirmed that these growths were a second primary cancer unrelated to the earlier cancer on lan's kidney. At the time, specialist and general medical staff commented on how unusual it was to suffer two unrelated primary cancers. A regime of three-monthly cystoscopies was prescribed as a preventative measure to ensure that the bladder cancers did not reappear. Cystoscopy assessments on 8th February 2001 and 10th May 2001 showed no recurrence of the bladder cancer. Again, throughout this time Ian suffered continuous bouts of severe diarrhoea. Dr Walker, the consulting Gastroenterologist, could find no definitive cause for the recurring diarrhoea. Over the period May 2000 to May 2001, Ian had lost over 30 kgs. In May 2001 after the second cystoscopy, Dr Tony Gianduzzo, requested a precautionary CAT Scan of the chest and abdominal area. This was performed on 14th May 2001. The scan revealed a mass on the pancreas and multiple metastases in the liver. On 17 May 2001, Dr Gianduzzo confirmed a third primary cancer (pancreatic) with secondaries in the liver. Both Dr Walker and Dr Gianduzzo discussed with Ian how unusual multiple primary cancers were and both showed considerable interest when lan's involvement in the British nuclear test programme was mentioned. I accompanied Ian on his return to Southampton in the UK on 31st May 2001. Without exception, General Practitioner / Specialist medical staff in Southampton commented on how unusual it was to suffer three primary cancers. The consulting Oncologist at Southampton Hospital also stated that he was aware of a number of similar multiple primary cancer cases amongst veterans of the UK Nuclear Test Programme. Ian passed away on 18th July 2001, the cause of death being recorded as: i) metastatic pancreatic carcinoma; ii) renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma - bladder On my return to Australia in October 2001, I was advised by the RSL Atomic Association to contact the British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association. My correspondence with this association confirmed that lan's medical history was an all too common story shared by many others nuclear test veterans. I have also forwarded a copy of this application and my statement to this association for their records. After lan's retirement from the RAF, he was self employed and managed a Nanny Agency from his home in East Sussex. Ian sold the Nanny business in late 1998 and retired from the workforce. Clearly, lan's post-RAF service working life did not expose him to any environmental conditions that could be reasonably connected with his ill-health. Consequently, I believe that on the balance of probabilities, lan's involvement in the British Nuclear Test programme and his service as a RAF maintenance engineer (cleaning and servicing aircraft which flew within the nuclear test area) was a direct contributor to his death. Further, the likelihood of contracting a third primary cancer within a 14 month period, from other than occupation related causes, seems remote. I therefore believe that my husband's premature death, at age 64, was caused by his RAF service. Mrs Diane Donald Robertson (Jenner) 2nd March 2002
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