My Fight With Cancer
by Ian
Nov 25, 2002

My name is Ian. I am 39 years old now, although my battle began at the ripe old age of 32. Here is my story........

Back in 1995 I was working as a firefighter at a military base in the United Kingdom. As well as doing that job full time, I was working as a retained firefighter (part time) in the town where I live. It was after a call one night with my part time job that I noticed a problem. We had been called to a fire at a refuse tip and it was a large job, dragging on for hours, so we had a canteen wagon sent out to us. Anyway, a couple of weeks after this incident I noticed a lump in my neck. I went to my doctors and told him about the fire at the tip, thinking maybe it was something to do with that.
He had a quick look at me and told me not to worry and if I still had the lump the following week to get back to him.
The following week I was back there again as the lump was still there and getting bigger. He had another look at me and once again told me not to worry and sent me on my way. This went on for a number of weeks until I got fed up with it and told him I wanted a second opinion, which I got. The second doctor told me the same as the first and not to worry. Too late to be telling me that because by now I was worried. Anyway I persisted and told the doctors I wanted to see the senior partner, which I managed to do.
The senior partner didn't have a clue about the lump either, so he referred me to my local hospital. After seeing a consultant there, he seemed a little concerned by my lump, so he took a sample of fluid from it, with what he described as a SMALL needle.( He lied, by the way coz it wasn't small !!! ) The following week I went back to have a biopsy taken.
A week later I had to go back to see the consultant, where he confirmed what I already suspected. I had cancer. To be more precise, I had a Malignant Melanoma in my neck. My first response, was "Right, what can we do?". Not being an Oncologist he couldn't answer that, but there may be a few options. Being unable to advise me he referred me to a professor of oncology at Nottingham City Hospital.
I eventually met a wonderful surgeon called Len Sully, who was to perform my operation, after being told that neither chemo or radiotherapy would work. Not liking hospitals at the best of times I was a bit nervous at the prospect of having bits of me removed. I needn't have worried though. I was admitted early in July, 1995, and had a block dissection on my neck. When I came round I felt a bit sore, covered in staples and stitches and looking like I'd been to war.
To cut a long story short, I had 4 months off work, followed by 3 months on light duties, then in February 1996 went back to being an operational firefighter, which I'm still doing now.
I found the strength to carry on regardless after having seen little kids with cancer still smiling, even though their young lives had been invaded. I vowed that no matter what I'd beat cancer and continue doing the job I love and trying to make a difference. I would also like to issue a warning. If a doctor doesn't know what's wrong, never give up. Be persistent and never give up and most of all, make the most of what life's got to offer you.

Ian Mutch