My wife saved my life (From This Is Lancashire)

My wife saved my life

1:58pm Thursday 8th November 2007

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A CANCER sufferer has urged people not to ignore the warning signs of the disease - after revealing how his wife saved his life.

John Cubbins struggled with a persistent cough for four months but refused to go to the doctors because he was a non-smoker.

But his wife Marianne's actions in insisting he got a check up caught lung cancer in its early stages.

John's plea has been backed by Macmillan Nurses, who help sufferers and their families through the disease.

John, 56, of Kent Court, Barrowford, was diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2006 and had to have the top section of his right lung removed, followed by chemotherapy.

In May this year, more tests revealed the cancer had spread to his liver and bones, but the father-of-three is now in remission.

He said: "I had a persistent cough but I ignored it. My wife insisted I got a check-up and that effectively saved my life because the cancer was caught in its early stages."

John said that after his chemotherapy Macmillan nurses gave him and his family vital help and support.

He said: "A lot of it is guidance and advice, and they do every-thing they can to make sure you know everything that's going on."

John was cared for by Macmillan lung cancer nurse Paul McKenna at Blackpool Hospital, and he said: "The level of care I was given by Paul was extremely high. My wife and I were always well informed and never felt in the dark about my cancer, which was important to us."

John, who has never smoked, urged everyone to see a doctor with any signs of the disease.

Macmillan is running a campaign this month to make people aware of the dangers.

Mr McKenna, said: "Every day 105 people are diagnosed with lung cancer and another 92 people die of the disease.

"Lung cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer. For 80 per cent of those diagnosed, their disease is inoperable because it has been noticed too late.

"If they had been to the doctor earlier they could have been operated on and for many, their lives could have been saved."

Symptoms to look for include: a cough that doesn't go away after two to three weeks, worsening of a long-standing cough, persistent chest infections, coughing blood, unexplained persistent breath-lessness, tiredness and weight loss, and chest or shoulder pain.

Macmillan Nurses will be at Rawtenstall ASDA, St Mary's Way, on Monday; Accrington Market Hall on Tuesday; Burnley shopping centre, on Monday, November 19; Clitheroe Market Place, on Tuesday, November 20; Ainsworth Street, Blackburn, on Monday, November 26, and Sainsbury's, Darwen, on Tuesday, November 27, all from 11am until 2pm.

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