Having The Christie on my doorstep is fantastic

RETIRED HEADTEACHER HAILS CANCER HOSPITAL AS HE HAS 50,000TH TREATMENT GIVEN TO PATIENTS AT HOME

- HELENA VESTY

A RETIRED headteacher had chemotherapy in his garden shed while being treated for bladder cancer.

Des Burns was first diagnosed with the life-threatening illness back in 2018, shortly before he retired. When blood was found in his urine, he received devastating news of his diagnosis.

After quick treatment, he spent three years cancer-free, until tragically the illness returned. But thanks to a ground- breaking service by Manchester's internationally acclaimed cancer centre, The Christie, Des could get treatment from home - including in his decked-out garden shed.

The 67-year-old, from Bury, spoke of the first time he knew something was wrong back in 2018.

He said: "I was over in Ireland when I first knew something was wrong.

"I was going to the toilet a lot but just thought I just needed some antibiotics.

Then I saw there was blood in my urine - and a lot of it. I went to see my GP and was put on the cancer fast track.

"From Easter, everything happened quickly. I had an operation in June at North Manchester General Hospital, and they saved my bladder. Then, I was referred to The Christie in July, starting on my first lot of chemotherapy in August. I also had radiotherapy at The Christie.

"Despite the initial shock of the diagnosis, I never felt hopeless. Every medical professional I met said there was something that could be done, and I've been able to maintain a reasonable quality of life during the treatment.

Family and friends have been very positive and supportive throughout." For three years, Des lived cancer-free.

But a devastating scan then showed the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, needing more radiotherapy and more chemotherapy.