By Sally Churchward

IT WAS the news they had been hoping for.

Musician and artist Greg Gilbert’s latest scan has revealed the cancer treatment, paid for by a huge crowdfunding campaign, is working.

He and his partner, Stacey Heale, have spoken exclusively to the Echo about the results and what they mean for their family.

Father of two Greg who is frontman of Southampton band Delays, discovered a year and a half ago that he had stage four bowel cancer, which had spread to his lungs.

His partner, Stacey, launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for treatment not available on the NHS.

The campaign went viral, hitting its initial £100,000 target in 48 hours, and has now raised more than £212,000.

The couple have been using this money to pay for Avastin which they have been advised is the best treatment for Greg.

Now the couple have been told that the the tumours in Greg’s lungs are shrinking, and others have cavities in them.

This means that the treatment is effective, and Greg can continue with it in his battle against cancer.

“We were very nervous, especially as Greg has been quite ill with a persistent cold and cough,” said Stacey.

“I was afraid that they would say the cancer had spread and that the treatment wasn’t working.

“The relief was huge when they said that it is being effective.”

Greg, from Bitterne Park, added: “The results were better than I’d envisioned. I feel very fortunate. It was such good news that I didn’t know how to express it, so I think I sounded a bit casual, when I was actually elated.”

He added he is hugely grateful to be in a position to be able to pay for treatment not available on the NHS, and acutely aware that many people are not so fortunate.

“I never feel I can find appropriate words to say how grateful we are for people’s generosity, not just in terms of donations but also the kind messages we receive,” he said. “I can’t imagine what it must be like not to have that emotional and financial support.

“I don’t have to bang the drum for the NHS, because I’m in a fortunate position. thanks to peoples generosity, but I feel it’s morally right to look after society’s less fortunate. I’m so grateful. With cancer, you live yard by yard, and a good scan result buys you a few more yards. It lets me look up a bit.”

Stacey echoed Greg’s gratitude. She added: “We could have been looking at a very different outcome to the scan without the money. It’s all about options. Cancer can be clever and become resistant. The money gives us the options we need to fight it.”

She adds that the couple can now make some plans for the forthcoming months, and are looking forward to spending some quality time together.