(Please note; this story was written during a work experience with the Goole and Selby Times).
A Kelfield man has shared his remarkable and inspiring story of how he battled cancer twice
Alan Smith, from Kelfield, North Yorkshire was first diagnosed with oesophageal cancer when he was just 48-years-old.
Fortunately for himself and wife Joyce, his cancer was found in the early stages; being told he was “batting on a good wicket”, offering high hopes for recovery.
Despite this, Alan had no idea on how his operation to remove the cancer would effect his life moving forward.
The early days after his operation were tough, having to learn what he could and couldn’t eat.
From then on, he made sure to make holidays his first priority - making sure to enjoy his life to its fullest, taking a holiday to Lanzarote just a few months after his operation.
Returning to work a further seven months after his operation it became a challenge and Alan decided to rethink his career choice as it was proving difficult.
Deciding to head back into further education, Alan achieved both a professional qualification as a Higher Education Careers Advisor as well as gaining a MA in Literature Studies. Achieving both of these just months after being diagnosed with his cancer.
Joyce explained how, in 2011, Alan was feeling positive, she said: “He was enjoying both a good lifestyle, despite the obvious limitations, three holidays a year abroad in the sunshine and a satisfying career, not bad for an inner city Birmingham lad who was written off by Birmingham’s Education Department as having no prospects.”
Working for a further nine years after his first diagnosis with oesophageal cancer, and despite his pain he had to endure each day, Alan made the decision to retire.
Sadly this wasn’t the retirement he had in mind and wasn’t the end of Alan’s battle with cancer.
He was later diagnosed with Prostate cancer, a battle with cancer he thought he had already won.
Undergoing hormone treatment, brachytherapy and radiotherapy this still didn’t stop Alan from achieving a Doctor of Philosophy award from his written work on Thomas Hardy, researching into the writings of this 19th Century author and poet.
Having been hugely successful in both his education and career Alan’s determination showed that he would not let his cancer ruin his future.
Joyce said: “Some people choose to set themselves physical challenges, he chose to stretch his brain; the study was stressful at times, but good stress, he certainly didn’t want his identity to be “two cancers” Smith.”
Twenty years on, Alan is still up for a challenge, wanting to use his higher education studies and qualifications further.
Joyce said: “If anyone knows how he might use his newly obtained qualification, which includes adapting four scripts of Thomas Hardy’s short stories for television and creating an original one, plus of course, academic underpinning in literature, please get in touch, he’s still looking for a further challenge!”
Battling with two cancers, Alan shows great determination and drive towards achieving his goals, both through his careers and also when he had retired; showing us there really are no limitations to what you can achieve if you set your mind to it.
