My Terry didn’t stand a chance

Janet Kelly and Terry Kelly

THE devastated widow of a tragic cancer victim wants the age range for NHS bowel-cancer screening to be lowered after losing her husband to the disease.

Janet Kelly is driving a campaign to raise more awareness about the third most common form of cancer which led to the death of her beloved Terry.

When former Oldham Golf Club captain Mr Kelly died at the age of 59, he was only a year short of the eligible age for bowel-cancer screening.

Janet (53), of Kimberley Street, Hollinwood, is now urging the Government to do more for sufferers before it is too late.

Janet, who married Terry in 2009, said: “Terry wasn’t one of those people who would stay away from seeing his GP if he thought something was wrong.

“He never really had the chance to see the symptoms, like blood in your stools, because he was colour-blind — so if he had the test at an earlier age, maybe the cancer would have been detected sooner.”

Janet has now written to Prime Minister David Cameron.

Mr Kelly, who devoted much of his life to golf, began feeling ill when he woke up one morning with severe pains in his stomach, in early 2011.

An emergency doctor saw the former Oldham Royal Mail manager and diagnosed him with constipation.

The couple went to hospital around two months later after becoming concerned about Mr Kelly’s sudden weight loss.

It was then he was diagnosed with the condition. He died in the caring hands of Dr Kershaw’s Hospice in November, 2011.

The NHS bowel cancer screening programme in England began in July, 2006, and is currently screening all men and women between the ages of 60 and 69 every two years.

The test, not compulsory and delivered through the post, aims to detect bowel cancer early.

Anyone over the age of 70 can request a kit by calling 0800-707 6060.

Scottish bowel screening began in July 2007 and is for 50 to 74-year-olds, every two years.

Janet is holding a benefit day in memory of her husband, later this month, with proceeds going to the Royton-based hospice.

Join Janet’s plight by supporting her family fund-raising day at The White Hart, Hollins Road, Oldham, on Sunday, April 22, from 4pm. There will be potato hash, a DJ and raffle.
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