“I am forever in his debt” – Blackpool Victoria Hospital patient Alan returns to thank his surgeon

59-year-old Alan Whitehead has returned to Blackpool Victoria Hospital to personally thank the surgeon and medical team who saved his life seven years ago – just as he promised he would do if he reached this milestone.

Having been diagnosed aged 52 with lung cancer in his left lung, Alan had been advised that surgery would be difficult due to the cancer’s location. However, Consultant Cardiothoracic surgeon Mr Joseph Zacharias said he was willing to do the procedure.

This meant having a double sleeve resection which is a surgical procedure to remove a section of the lung, along with the bronchus and pulmonary artery. Following the surgery and a course of chemotherapy, Alan has had regular scans and has now finally been given the all clear.

Alan says “It has changed my outlook on life, I lost my father to lung cancer and because of this, I made sure I had check-ups so that if I ever got lung cancer too it would be detected earlier, making it more treatable.

When my chemo finished, I brought in a bottle of spirits as a gift for Mr Zacharias, as well as one for Sister Bernie McAlea. I’d told Joseph at the time that if I made it past five years, I would buy him another – and here I am to do just that.

Joseph came to see me every day when I was on the ward – he even visited me on his day off. I am forever in his debt - he is a truly fabulous man.”

Alan, from Laneshawbridge near Colne, now plans to live life to the full and enjoy holidays visiting his favourite destination, Egypt.