Head and neck cancer surgeon Ewen Thomson has paid tribute to his younger brother Iain, who died after a year-long battle with oesophageal cancer. Iain passed away at a hospice in Kirkcaldy, Fife, aged 56, on July 25.
A shock diagnosis
Iain first visited his GP in August after losing his appetite and experiencing weight loss. He was given a fast track cancer referral, but scans soon revealed that the cancer was already at an advanced stage. Surgery was ruled out, and he underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy instead.
Initially, Iain responded well to treatment, but his condition deteriorated rapidly over the last couple of months. He is survived by his wife, Linda.
Family's struggle
Ewen, 60, said the family has "struggled" since his brother's passing and that the way his life ended feels "surreal." He told Glasgow Live: "It was quickly apparent that the cancer was pretty advanced already."
"He stopped chemo earlier this year, but remained on immunotherapy. He started to feel a lot of pain and lost a lot of weight in just a matter of weeks. He was told he would probably have two months around six weeks ago, and spend his last days in the hospice."
"He was listening to his favourite band - Stiff Little Fingers - when he passed. It's not been easy, and it was quite a shock at the end and seems a bit unreal."
Raising funds in memory
Ewen, originally from Dunfermline, described his brother as "gregarious without wanting to be the centre of attention. He liked being with loved ones and going to Germany to watch football matches."
Now, Ewen is planning to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of his late brother. He will take part in the Tour de 4 2026, cycling the 56-mile red route, and has already raised more than £2,000.
Ewen, who works in Glasgow, said: "I work closely with Macmillan cancer services and I wondered about raising money specifically for oesophageal cancer, but they deal with all sorts of cancer, including head and neck that I work in. But I thought to raise money for them, as they do such a great job."
