i just heard from my family - my uncle is back in hospital again. the tumour has spread to the lower portion of his spine and affected the nerves and he has completely lost control of his legs and cannot move them at all. they've readmitted him to hospital for radiotherapy becaue they can no longer manage him at home. things had been going well for a while - he's going to live, he seemed more cheerful and lucid, he managed to recover to the point of being able to sit up and walk with a frame, they took him home, and three weeks later, when the crisis seemed all over - he's back in hospital, deterioriating again. i wish i were home to do something helpful.