'I survived Morse star's cancer'

David Kirby is living proof that cancer of the oesophagus can be beaten

TV's Inspector Morse, John Thaw, has announced he is undergoing treatment for the relatively rare cancer of the oesophagus.

The disease has a survival rate of less than six per cent, but chairman and founder of the Oesophageal Patients Association, David Kirby, OBE, is living proof that it is possible to beat the disease.

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Twenty years ago David Kirby, who is in his 60's, was diagnosed with the potentially deadly cancer of the oesophagus, or gullet.

The cancer is relatively rare and usually only affects about 7,000 people a year, but worryingly the number of cases are increasing.

And the outlook for those who have the disease is bleak.

Having cancer changes your life overnight

David Kirby

Survival rates

The survival rate for the disease is just six per cent, but for those whose cancer is considered operable the rates rise to 30%.

Although Mr Kirby is among the first to have a successful operation for the disease, he was lucky because the surgeon who operated on him at the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital used very innovative techniques.

The doctors removed his oesophagus and part of his stomach. They then moved the rest of his stomach up into his chest.

Although the operation was painful and recovery slow Mr Kirby is now able to eat anything he chooses, although he admits the amounts are little and often and that three course restaurant meals are completely out of the question.

But he said his recovery and those of people like him should be a message of hope to John Thaw.

John Thaw recently announced he is fighting the disease

He said the operation had literally given him a new lease of life and the chance to decide what was and was not important.

"You find that you are on bonus time.

"Recovery was very slow, but now I run and swim and dash about and have a very active life.

"I eat little and often, but there is no diet. You can just eat about anything you want, although for the first five to six weeks just wanted to stick to soft foods like mince and shepherd's pie.

"Having cancer changes your life overnight suddenly you find that your life is very different.

"I am aware now of what is important and that is relationships and family.

"They are far more important to me than the back stabbing you get in business."

In fact, Mr Kirby was so disillusioned with the world of business that he decided to set up his own management firm.

Motivation

He said every cancer sufferer needs to have a motivation to live for and for him that had been his wife Daphne and his family, including his frail mother.

"To have motivations to help you think you are going to get over this are very important. My mother was ill and my sister had just died from cancer and I couldn't leave her.

"I knew I had to keep going. Many patients have agreed with me on this that motivation is very important.

"Those who are positive have far better outcomes than those who are negative."

He said he would be thinking positive thoughts for Mr Thaw and would be delighted if he wanted to get in touch with the Oesophageal Patients Association.

"I would be delighted to talk to him if he would like to make contact.

"I want him to survive as I have."