Pancreatic cancer survivor feels 'extremely lucky' to be alive

A man who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer six years ago has said he feels "extremely lucky" to still be alive after his symptoms were caught in time for life-saving treatment.

Tom Hawthorne, from Lisburn, Country Antrim, is among only 8% of patients who have survived for five years or more after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which is very difficult to treat.

Now 66 years old, the businessman says he is grateful to his doctors who treated him within weeks of his first visit to his GP and urged others not to ignore cancer symptoms.

30 November 2023