Teacher who beat cancer '˜never felt like he would die'

A former primary school teacher who beat cancer was among those who spoke up about local health services at a recent event.
Jason Bottomley, 45, from Cleveleys who is recovering from cancerJason Bottomley, 45, from Cleveleys who is recovering from cancer
Jason Bottomley, 45, from Cleveleys who is recovering from cancer

Jason Bottomley, 45, from Cleveleys, went to the World Cafe Listening Event, held at the Hilton hotel on the Promenade to help improve cancer services on the Fylde coast.

He said: “I had a very good experience of treatment, so I wanted to put over something positive at the event.

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“It was good to hear what other people thought. I think it’s important to remain positive when you have cancer.

Jessica Jones, Macmillan Cancer Transform Lead for Blackpool Teaching HospitalsJessica Jones, Macmillan Cancer Transform Lead for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Jessica Jones, Macmillan Cancer Transform Lead for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals

“I have been lucky because it was curable. Everything has been good for me.

“I found a lump. The next day I went to the doctors and was sent for scans.

“I was told I had testicular cancer. On the second week my tumour was removed. It came back in my stomach.

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“I never felt very ill or that I was going to die – even when it came back.”

Jessica Jones, Macmillan Cancer Transform Lead for Blackpool Teaching HospitalsJessica Jones, Macmillan Cancer Transform Lead for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Jessica Jones, Macmillan Cancer Transform Lead for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals

Jez Such, Macmillan development manager for Lancashire, added: “It’s fantastic we had this opportunity to engage with people affected by cancer, and to make sure what they say is at the heart of our attempts to improve cancer services.”

Three key issues were identified during the event, which followed a similar one last September: Information and support, having someone to talk to, and money.

A ‘service user information officer’ will be funded by Macmillan, a cancer charity, and work at Blackpool 
Victoria Hospital, to seek patients’ views and help to develop services, it was also revealed.

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