COMMUNITY champion Archie Dryburgh was told he had just five months to live – if medics hadn’t discovered he had a brain tumour.
Councillor Archie Dryburgh made a trip to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary to be checked out after falling ill on holiday in July this year.
He was then hit with the shock news that he was facing one of the most aggressive forms of tumour.
Within days of a full assessment, the 60-year-old had to undergo risky surgery at the Western General Hospital Edinburgh on July 29.
Now, five weeks on, Archie has resumed granddad duties and is slowly getting back to doing his work as a councillor.
While there is still radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment ahead, Archie is positive about the recovery journey.
He said this week: “Things have been great. I’ve been up to the hospital a few times for assessments, a CT scan and MRI.
“I’ll be starting a six-week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the Edinburgh Western General next Monday.
“Things have been going pretty well considering it was the worst kind of tumour – and if I didn’t have the operation I would have been dead within five months.”
The news that Councillor Dryburgh was facing the biggest battle of his life came as a shock to the community as he has served as a councillor in Dumfries and Galloway for the past 17 years.
An ex-serviceman and leader of the region’s Labour Group, Archie has also been the region’s armed forces champion for over a decade. This led to him being awarded an MBE for his work on behalf of veterans in the Queen’s Honours List in 2019.
His wife Elizabeth, three daughters, son, and six grandchildren have also had a difficult time over the last couple of months.
Archie said: “I had the operation on the Monday and was home on the Wednesday. The NHS staff have been brilliant and I’m pretty positive about the outcome. I’ll just keep taking their advice over the coming weeks and months.
“I do get tired quite quickly at the moment. I’ve been out a couple of wee walks, and I’ve been able to attend council meetings online for a small period of time.
“My driving licence has been taken off me for two years, so now I’ll need to rely on public transport – and see what it’s really like!
“But I’m 60 now, so I’ve at least got a free bus pass.”
People in his Annandale and Eskdale ward and beyond have been showing plenty of support and cards flooded in through the postbox.
“People have been telling me, ‘it’s your turn to look after yourself’ and saying ‘if you need anything let us know’,” said Archie.
“Hearing those comments and seeing the amount of get well cards has been really heartening.”
