This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22015175
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Author Iain Banks has terminal cancer | Author Iain Banks has terminal cancer |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Author Iain Banks has revealed that he has late stage cancer and is unlikely to live for more than a year. | Author Iain Banks has revealed that he has late stage cancer and is unlikely to live for more than a year. |
| The Scottish writer posted a message on his official website saying his next novel The Quarry, due to be published later this year, would be his last. | The Scottish writer posted a message on his official website saying his next novel The Quarry, due to be published later this year, would be his last. |
| The 59-year-old's novels include The Wasp Factory, The Crow Road, Complicity and the Culture series. | The 59-year-old's novels include The Wasp Factory, The Crow Road, Complicity and the Culture series. |
| The statement said his health problems came to light when he saw his doctor, suffering from a sore back. | The statement said his health problems came to light when he saw his doctor, suffering from a sore back. |
| He was diagnosed with jaundice, before further tests established the full extent of his illness. | He was diagnosed with jaundice, before further tests established the full extent of his illness. |
| In the personal statement on his website, Banks said he had asked his partner Adele to marry him and was now on a short honeymoon. | In the personal statement on his website, Banks said he had asked his partner Adele to marry him and was now on a short honeymoon. |
| Fellow Scottish author, Ian Rankin, said the news of Banks' terminal cancer was "just awful". | |
| He Tweeted: "Typical of Iain to propose marriage to his partner Adele with the words 'Will you do me the honour of becoming my widow?" | |
| Banks, who lives in North Queensferry, Fife, said he had cancelled all future public engagements. | |
| He said: "The bottom line now, I'm afraid, is that as a late-stage gall bladder cancer patient, I'm expected to live for 'several months' and it's extremely unlikely I'll live beyond a year. | He said: "The bottom line now, I'm afraid, is that as a late-stage gall bladder cancer patient, I'm expected to live for 'several months' and it's extremely unlikely I'll live beyond a year. |
| "So it looks like my latest novel, The Quarry, will be my last." | "So it looks like my latest novel, The Quarry, will be my last." |
| He said the disease had spread to both lobes of his liver, and possibly his pancreas and lymph nodes. | He said the disease had spread to both lobes of his liver, and possibly his pancreas and lymph nodes. |
| He said there was little chance of surgeons being able to remove the tumours because of how far they had spread. | He said there was little chance of surgeons being able to remove the tumours because of how far they had spread. |
| He has asked his publishers to bring forward the publication of his new book to "give me a better chance of being around when it hits the shelves." | He has asked his publishers to bring forward the publication of his new book to "give me a better chance of being around when it hits the shelves." |
| Banks also praised NHS staff who have looked after him - and said he may undergo chemotherapy to extend his life when his jaundice clears up. | Banks also praised NHS staff who have looked after him - and said he may undergo chemotherapy to extend his life when his jaundice clears up. |
| He said: "We're all just sorry the outcome hasn't been more cheerful." | |
| Born in Fife, Banks studied at Stirling University before publishing his first novel, The Wasp Factory, in 1984. | |
| During his career he alternated between mainstream and science fiction novels, which he wrote under the name Iain M Banks. | |
| In 2008, he was named one of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945 in a list compiled by The Times. |