David Beattie, (86) from Comber is married to Winifred-Nora and has two sons, David and Noel. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago and has had reoccurring Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) – a common form of skin cancer.
David is a keen advocate for checking your body for any lumps and going to the doctor if you notice any changes.
“A few years back I started to notice little lumps on my skin that began to get worse and sporadically appear over my body and face. I went to the doctor about it and was diagnosed with BCC skin cancer. I would get the lumps removed anytime I visited Ulster Hospital and had 5 biopsies done. I also had plastic surgery on my nose to remove a lump.
“I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer when I was 83, I had no symptoms. I went to my doctor to get my bloods taken as a routine check-up. I was then referred to the hospital to get more bloods taken and that‘s when I found out. I needed an operation and then I had to go to City Hospital every day for two months for radiotherapy.”
David has been a Driving Service user since 2018. Before then travel to get to and from his cancer-related appointments in City Hospital were costing him over £40 for each return journey.
“We were told at City Hospital that Cancer Focus NI provides a transport service for cancer patients and that it would be beneficial to us. My wife gave them a call and it was arranged with no issues at all.
“I couldn’t do without Cancer Focus NI’s Driving Service. The volunteers are brilliant and very reliable. They will drive me to the hospital and then head off to do the same thing for someone else, then when I am ready, I phone them, and they come back to get me. This service takes such a weight off my shoulders – mentally and financially. It’s just one less thing to have to worry about and it means so much.”
Although he is near 90, David is so full of life, his age doesn’t bother him. “I’m just an ordinary bloke, if you saw me, you wouldn’t think I have cancer. I comb my hair four times a day and I enjoy my life when I get out and about. You have to live life.”
“I hope that by sharing my story you can see how beneficial the driving service is. We need to make sure Cancer Focus NI can continue to run it in 2022, so, please donate £19.80 today, to support a 44-mile journey, £29.70 to support a 66-mile journey or £39.60 to fund an 88-mile journey to and from hospital for those affected by cancer.”
Your Christmas gift of £20 – £40 today, or whatever you can afford, to support our driving service, could help your neighbours, friends or family should they ever find themselves in Anne’s position.
With your support today, another local person could receive the help of our drivers, like Martin this Christmas and into 2022.
