A father has revealed how he was told he had terminal cancer - just days after thinking he had received the all clear.
Father-of-four Glyn Whittaker had treatment after a lump in his neck was thought to be throat cancer, which had spread to his lymph node. 52-year-old Glyn said in January he was given the all clear, and he returned to his job as an associate ambulance practitioner in Brighouse ambulance station.
However, two days after being told the chemotherapy and radiotherapy had worked, Glyn was then given the horrendous news that his cancer had spread to his lungs and that it was incurable, Yorkshire Live reports.
Glyn, from West Yorkshire, says he is determined to fight the cancer with the support of his wife Tracy. He insists he has not given up hope on fighting the disease even thought his prognosis does not look good.
Glyn was told his cancer had spread to his lungs and was incurable (Supplied)Moreover, he wants his family to be financially stable, in the worst case scenario. He has established a special fund to help save the family home because the mortgage was not covered by critical illness insurance. Recently, he purchased the house which is his wife's childhood home.
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Glyn previously was in the Army and RAF, and said his diagnoses was "absolutely devastating". Yet he said the support from his wife, family members, friends and colleagues had been "amazing". He said: "I have had messages and cards and gifts - and jokes about how I will get off work. But ultimately it was absolutely devastating.
"Mentally, I am quite a strong guy, but I did have a dark time. I thought it was terrible and what was I going to do." Glyn comes from Sheffield and currently lives with his family in Ckeckheaton. He has set his sights on fundraising for his family and going back to work in May.
Meanwhile, he has begun a strict "fasting" diet and has begun researching "home remedies" to ensure he can fight cancer. He is still waiting on additional scans and tests before the treatment to manage his cancer begins.
Glyn Whittaker with his family, from left, daughters Phoebe, Ruby and Amelia, son Kieran, and Glyn's wife Tracy (Supplied)He has been told he has approximately five years or a little longer to live. He said: "My wife Tracy and I haven’t given up on curing this. His Go Fund Me page - titled 'Saving my home from cancer' - has already raised nearly £8,000 from around 300 donations. One donor paid £50 and called Glyn "one of the nicest people I've ever met."
Speaking about the fund, Glyn aid: "I'm just looking for any help to try to leave my wife and kids safe and secure in our family home before the day comes I have to leave them." He found it 'quite humbling' to see how many people were supporting him. Friends and colleagues are also organising their own events.
A comedy night is taking place at Brighouse Sports Club on Sunday, July 28, featuring Colin Manford, Jack Carroll and Jenny Hart, hosted by Graeme Rayner. Contact Ross Mallinson for details on 07944 742762. A football match on the same day will take place at Brighouse Town FC. And James Clarke has set up his own Go Fund Me page to raise money from a 120mile bike ride from Leeds to York and back via Harrogate and Bradford.
James said: "I am doing the ride for my good mate who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer - a proper good bloke with a lovely family." James has already raised more than £500.
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