Former footballer praises NHS for helping him fight throat cancer

Diagnosed in 2008, he underwent a course of 21 radiotherapy sessions and has been given the all-clear by doctors at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

He talked about his experiences to Speak for Thy’sen, a Huddersfield support group set up for patients undergoing treatment for a head or neck cancer.

“The diagnosis was a real shock to me and my loved ones. At the time I thought all the shouting I was doing as a manager had caused me to lose my voice. But it wasn’t getting better so I got it checked out and ended up being told I had cancer.

“The Macmillan nurses were a massive help to me. The radiotherapy burned and damaged my vocal chords. I was a football manager and my voice was such an important part of my job. I needed to rebuild the strength in my vocal chords and the nurses helped me to do that.

“People did ask me if I was going to go private but I didn’t want that. I wanted the NHS because it is the best in the world. The nurses have been with me every step of the way from diagnosis right until now and I can’t praise them enough.”

Wife Alison, a former oncology sister, said: “As a nurse I was determined to look after Peter and didn’t think I needed support. As a nurse you are used to getting on with the job. But I did need support and the nurses had such understanding and empathy.”

Specialist nurse Natalie Haigh, said: “Peter spoke with such positivity and humour. We are very grateful to both him and Alison on behalf of our patients.”