58-year-old diver back in the water after surviving stage three lung cancer

Nick Whitehead, 58 from Woodham survived stage three lung cancer after having part of his lung removed and still continues his passion for diving.

The 58-year-old underwent chemotherapy and had half his left lung removed after being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017.

He is currently undergoing training to qualify as a rescue diver and still enjoys scuba diving.

Nick said: “I had half my left lung removed in a six and a half hour operation and doctors said it would be unlikely that I could dive again.

"I was desperate to get back into it, I just thought I’ve got a life to live and this isn’t going to stop me.”

The diver convinced doctors that he was well enough to dive again and was back in the water less than 12 months after he was diagnosed.

He said: “I just wanted to get back to living life and I’ve been so fortunate to survive this so I wanted to continue enjoying my passion of diving.”

Nick is supporting the Do it For Yourself campaign which aims to raise awareness around the symptoms of lung cancer across Tyne and Wear.

The campaign highlights the symptoms of lung cancer – symptoms similar to Covid-19.

He added: “I had a persistent cough for over 12 months and really bad night sweats, looking back I wish I’d gone to my GP and found it sooner.

"Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK so it’s so important to get yourself checked because it can be too late for some people.”

The Do it For Yourself campaign has been launched by Merck & Co (MSD) to encourage the people of Tyne and Wear to not delay and contact their GP if they have had a cough for three weeks or more.

Paula Chadwick, Chief Executive of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation said: “It’s important we remember that not every cough is a Covid cough and that local communities and GPs work together to encourage patients to contact them to discuss any health concerns – or we risk undoing much of the progress that has been achieved over the past decade.”

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