Thornton grandad beat cancer without even knowing he had it - and he's backing a new life-saving campaign on the Fylde coast

Steve Tingle, 67, spoke out as part of the new Let’s Talk Cancer campaign, which is being launched across the Fylde coast today, and after The Gazette yesterday revealed how some patients are skipping urgent cancer appointments for trivial reasons like going on holiday.

Steve, from Thornton, said: “Spotting it early was the key and I guess I am one of the lucky ones. It’s so important that people seek out support if they are worried about cancer. The more we talk about and normalise cancer, the more we can reduce the fear around it and hopefully this will help more and more people enjoy life after cancer.”

Grandfather-of-two Steve, a retired computer programmer at the Guardian Royal Exchange, later Axa, in Lytham, was on holiday in Spain when he thought he had indigestion.

Having just turned 60, he was sent a bowel cancer test kit – which showed “abnormalities”.

Steve, whose daughter Sarah and four-month-old twin grandchildren Ellie and Oliver also live in Thornton, had tests at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and, after his condition worsened, an operation to remove a blockage in his bowel.

“But I only found out it was cancer two weeks later after they had it biopsied. I was on a ward and the consultant came around and told me.

He told me the lymph nodes were clear and he had got everything out,” Steve said.

Since surviving cancer, Mr Tingle has dedicated much of his time to voluntary work supporting others who have experiences cancer on the Fylde coast.

The Let’s Talk Cancer campaign aims to support people to talk about their experiences of cancer to increase the number of people being screened and to improve care. It also encourages healthcare professionals to communicate more clearly on what can be seen as a sensitive subject.

The campaign launched as part of World Cancer Day today, the annual day set aside to raise awareness and improve education worldwide.

Dr Adam Janjua, a Fleetwood GP who is also the cancer lead for the Fylde coast NHS, said: “The word cancer can create fear and negative emotions. By talking about it we identify these feelings and it helps to put things into perspective.

“Through the campaign we are also trying to encourage health professionals to be more open with patients, exploring their concerns and offering clear information.

“Talking and understanding creates action. We are hoping that making cancer part of everyday conversations will support people to attend appointments for cancer screening and tests or hospital reviews for suspected cancer.

“The earlier cancer is detected, the quicker it can be treated and the longer term survival rates are better. The more we talk about cancer, the sooner we can act.”

And Steve welcomed the launch of the campaign, saying anything that makes people more open to discussing the disease and to ultimately get checked when they needed to was a good thing.

He said: "I had bowel cancer but because it was picked up so early and removed within two months, we only actually had it confirmed as cancer two weeks after they took it out.

“The bowel cancer screening I took when I turned 60 really did save my life. It showed an anomaly and that was enough for investigations to happen and ultimately for the surgery to be carried out.

“I think it’s great the NHS is launching this campaign on the Fylde coast. I have spent lots of time since the disease talking with other cancer sufferers and survivors. It’s so important to reduce that fear and make people feel more comfortable talking about this disease.”

Dr Janjua added: “By talking about cancer today you will create a ripple effect and you may save a life. You may remind someone to go for a screening or encourage them to address any worrying symptoms. Let’s talk, think and act on cancer.”