A man who was told he had a 5% chance of survival in 1989 is still alive 35 years later.
Terry Kavanaugh, 77, from Sefton Park was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1989, just before his 43rd birthday and was given a 5% chance of survival. He knew something wasn't quite right when he started feeling breathless and "had a rattle" in his lung which wouldn't go away.
He went to the GP before having to rush to A&E after coughing up blood.
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The retired joiner who lives with his wife Anne in Sefton Park said: “I remember my diagnosis like it was yesterday. I had been breathless for a few weeks, and had a rattle in my lung, which wouldn’t go away.
"There were also minute specks of blood when I coughed. My GP wasn’t concerned at first and said I was run down. But I just felt something was wrong and when I coughed up a larger amount of blood, I went straight to A&E.
"It was over the Christmas period, and I didn’t want to wait for another appointment with my GP. When the tests revealed it was cancer, it just ripped me apart.
"They said at first that I was looking at three months to live.”
Terry said he "couldn't believe" his diagnoses as he had never smoked and led a healthy lifestyle, running marathons, playing rugby, and cycling. Shortly after his diagnosis Terry had surgery at Broadgreen Hospital to remove half of his left lung.
He said: “I still remember the surgeon’s words after waking from surgery; ‘Well Terry, I’m satisfied we caught it early’. And that’s why I’m still here.
"As I left the hospital I took a painful deep breath and I knew right then my life would be different than it ever was before. Fighting cancer became part of my life.
"I became a patient advocate almost straight away and I have raised thousands for cancer charities over the years. The experience of receiving a cancer diagnosis leaves its mark, and you’re never really the same again. Others are not as fortunate as I was, and their lung cancer is diagnosed too late.”
It’s now nearly 35 years since Terry’s diagnosis and he's been able to spend lots of time with his four grandchildren. He's now sharing his story during Lung Cancer Awareness Month to urge the public to back a plan from Cancer Research UK for how the next Government could help save more lives.
Ahead of the next general election, Cancer Research UK has published a manifesto for cancer research and care that outlines five key missions to speed up progress in preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer.
Terry said: ''Everything that has benefited cancer patients comes from research. Research is the key to finding a cure. Patients must have hope, hope is the essence of life. It’s the Government’s duty to give support to the health of its nation and that’s why I’m backing this manifesto.
“There are so many pressures at the moment with funding and the state of cancer services across England, but the politicians must make sure that people affected by cancer don’t pay the price for this now and in the future.”
Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North West, Jemma Humphreys, said: “We’re grateful to Terry for his support. We've made huge progress in beating cancer over the last 50 years – but it remains the defining health issue of our time.
"Cases are rising and we estimate that half a million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the UK every year by 2040. People continue to face unacceptable delays to diagnosis and treatment and the UK lags behind comparable countries when it comes to cancer survival.
“The public expect and deserve action. We calculate that the recommendations made within our Manifesto for Cancer Research and Care, will reduce cancer mortality by 15% by 2040 – helping avoid 20,000 cancer deaths in the UK every year.
"But only if we act now. I urge everyone to support the manifesto and sign our open letter to party leaders. The prize is a legacy of life-saving cancer research and care that will benefit the UK for decades to come.”
Terry's urging people across Liverpool to sign an open letter to party leaders at cruk.org/letter.
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