Sas Hero went to remove wisdom tooth – then given 10 years to live

Bob Perry, 70 years old, was an army veteran and then a detective who investigated the murders and drug deals, but his retirement was destroyed by a mysterious illness

Bob Perry, a 70 -year -old SAS veteran, who received a decade to live after a wisdom tooth extraction led to a rare diagnosis of cancer, is promoted for an epic cycling to mark the 10 -year milestone. Bob, who served in the army and the SAS before becoming a police detective investigating the murders and drug agreements, became ill after his retirement in 2011.

Its symptoms, including fatigue, speech, muscle convulsions, loss of limbs, night sweats and skin problems, were initially attributed to its age and then incorrectly diagnosed as rigid-syndrome. However, a blood test in October 2015, caused by a bleeding during a wisdom teeth removal, revealed that it had Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (WM), a rare form of blood cancer, and his doctors gave him 10 years to live.

Now, a decade later and nine years after chemotherapy, Bob is getting ready for the Club des Cingles Cycle Ride. This exhausting challenge will see him rise to Mont Ventoux in southern France three times, covering 137 kilometers (85 miles) and climbing 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) in one day, all to raise £ 10,000 for hospitals.

Bob from Poole, Dorset, said: “I was looking for something a little different to celebrate – first of all it is 70 and still alive and second to celebrate 10 years after I was told that I had 10 years to live.

Having joined the army in just 17, Bob served with the Royal Engineers for a decade as a diver in underwater construction, demolition and search missions. His career took a turn at the age of 27, when he became part of the Elite SAS, with missions to countries such as Malaysia, Canada, Kenya, Oman and Belize.

Later, he took his skills to the police, working as a detective in a variety of crime units ranging from surveillance and intelligence to drugs and homicide.

From his time at the Special Air Service, he reflected: “From 27 to 30 I was in the Special Air Service and you are somewhat convinced yourself that you are only 200 men who are going to save the planet, you are the ones who are promoted for all this.

Despite the challenges of health, Bob remains optimistic because of his enormous experiences: “But all this education and this experience of these different roles, I hope, made me a positive person who can do good for people, whether he talks about (WM) or trying to raise money.”

Bob first got sick in 2011, but doctors struggled to find out what was wrong, suggesting that his symptoms could be due to his age. He revealed that his mysterious illness prevented him from lifting his shoulders, preventing daily duties, such as placing a coat, washing his hair, or even with Cuppa.

“He took me out. I entered a real dark, dark place,” he confessed. In 2013, Bob was incorrectly diagnosed with hard -based syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder characterized by muscle stiffness and convulsions.

He worked with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a treatment where antibodies are administered to the immune system.

In 2015, he began to bleed largely during wisdom tooth extraction, urging his dentist to advise him to see his GP on potential blood problems. After seeing his doctor in October 2015, while at Cardiff with his wife Deborah Perry for the World Rugby World Cup, he said there were problems with his blood and needed more tests, including a bone biopsy.

This led to the diagnosis of WM. Bob started chemotherapy within 48 hours of WM’s diagnosis and recalled that the night before his treatment was initiated he gave a steroid tablet beam.

He shared that since he got them: “I didn’t have a spasm or spasm, my shoulder started working, all is well since then, it was almost like a miracle, but I don’t believe in miracles, it was just incredible.”

Bob has seen a remarkable improvement in his health since he underwent chemotherapy from October 2015 to April 2016, which helped him regain shoulder mobility, eliminate fatigue, and end muscle spasms, pride.

Post-chemotherapy, Bob did not need any medication for his cancer and is actively monitored with regular blood tests and consultant visits every three months. He recently met with his adviser on April 10 and received the All-Clear for the next six months, coinciding with the 10-year sign of his diagnosis.

He said: “(For) some people treatment does not work, some people who only work in part, some people take only two years of it, but the good thing about this particular situation is that there are new and innovative drugs that come together, not to cure it, but as alternative therapies.”

Since completing his chemotherapy, Bob took cycling and completed London in Paris in 2023 to make money for WMUK. In August, it is set to face the challenge of the Club des Cingles, with the aim of conquering Mont Ventoux in France three times in one day, covering 137 kilometers (85 miles) with a climb of 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles).

Bob aims to raise £ 10,000 for Dorset NHS Charity University Hospitals. Half of the chapters derived will go to the quiet room at the puzzle building at Bournemouth Hospital where it is treated, while the other half will be used to support Dorset Hospitals. Bob plans to finish the bike ride either on August 27 or 28, just two weeks shy from his 71st birthday.

Ever since he falls ill, Bob has been involved in charity. Volunteers for the WMUK, serves the Board of Directors for the International Macroglobulinemia International Foundation of Waldenstrom (IWMF) and co-organizes veterans charity called Bournemouth Over for Trust.

His ride will be supported by Mark Wratten and Andrew Woods, two bike workers from Trek Bicycle Poole, who met while organizing his veterans’ charity walks.

Bob also has other ideas for raising chapters related to cycling to his sleeve, such as hosting a nightlife night pub while on his bike, and cycling for three hours in a cylinder in both Poole Hospital and Bournemouth Hospital. For more information, visit Bob’s Justgiving Page.