HE’S endured a risky operation to remove a tumour, gruelling bouts of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and beaten the Big C twice – it’s no wonder Geoff Williams has a message to share when it comes to cancer.

The popular Basildon councillor is more than qualified to be the face of a new poster campaign aimed at preventing lung cancer in the over 45s.

Geoff, 64, is helping the Essex Cancer Network to advertise its new “Lung Cancer, Get it off Your Chest” campaign.

The retired school teacher and leader of the Basildon Lib Dems, was diagnosed with lung cancer 12 years ago. Then, last year, he was dealt the blow he had skin cancer.

However, Geoff has come out fighting and is now in remission.

Geoff of Hillcroft, Langdon Hills, who also has diabetes, believes he is one of the lucky ones.

He said: “I was diagnosed with lung cancer when they spotted a tumour the size of a 10p piece near my windpipe.

“Before that, I had gone to the doctor with a bad cough and he’d sent me to Basildon Hospital to see a consultant.

“They had a gut feeling something wasn’t quite right.

“I went into Barts Hospital in London where it was removed. I then underwent chemotherapy and later radiotherapy.

“That was the hardest part for me, the radiotherapy. It just knocked me out and it took me a good 18 months to recover.

“After all the treatment I remember I was at Barts and my consultant said to me ‘I’m going to say something I hardly ever say to my patients – you are cured’.

“My father died of lung cancer when he was 74 so I’m really lucky to be here. If I hadn’t got such good treatment I’d have died within half a year, I’m sure of it.”

Geoff recently underwent an operation on his head after being diagnosed with skin cancer.

He said: “They removed a patch of skin from my thigh and put it on my head. But it seems to have worked. Sometimes I think, ‘what next?’ but plenty of people have it a lot worse.”

The Essex Cancer Network – an NHS body helping deliver the best cancer treatments possible – heard about Geoff’s story and asked him to be part of their new lung cancer awareness campaign. Part of the drive has seen Geoff’s face plastered all over the side of buses across the county. Geoff said: “I actually saw myself on a bus for the first time yesterday when I was in Pitsea.”

Lung cancer kills more people in the UK than any other type of cancer. But the earlier it is spotted, the more treatable it is.

Geoff added: “Unless you are a complete hypochondriac, if you feel something is not quite right, trust that instinct.

“Also, you have to treat cancer like any other disease and not give up because it’s ‘cancer’.”

For more information, visit www.essexcn.nhs.uk