9:50am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Michelle Archard
THE youngest man in the country to be diagnosed with breast cancer now faces another health issue – a third cancer diagnosis.
Nicky Avery, 28, from Southend, has now been told he has liver cancer as well as the bone cancer which was diagnosed last year.
But ever-positive Nicky says he is determined not to let the disease beat him as he completes the final preparations for his wedding to fiancee Cheryl Perkins next month.
He said: “I was unwell before Christmas and thought it was just a chest infection.
“It got more severe and I was rushed to hospital. I had various tests and found out in February it had gone to my liver.
“It wasn’t a good day, but as long as I’ve got the hospital and my family and fiancee behind me I’ll be OK. Things change all the time with treatments. I’m having more chemotherapy and, hopefully, will get on a clinical trial, too. Fingers crossed I’ll beat it.”
Arsenal fan Nicky was diagnosed with breast cancer when he was 24 and had the tumour removed with a mastectomy.
Then a year ago, he was told he had secondary bone cancer in his arm and head and underwent more gruelling chemotherapy.
The former labourer still needs bone fusion treatment – a radical procedure which weakens, then strengthens, the bones, to help stop the cancer coming back – every three weeks.
Despite all his trips to hospital he has made time to launch a campaign to get the male form of breast cancer renamed chest cancer, to encourage men to get themselves checked.
Nicky has also sought comfort and support from Westcliff National Spiritualist Church.
He said: “I have to stay positive and smiling. It’s the only thing I can do. Otherwise it would get to me.
“If it weren’t for my family and fiancee, I wouldn’t be here.
“My oncologist, Anne Robinson, is blinding and the chemo staff at Southend Hospital are amazing.
“They’re always smiling and make you feel special, so I want to say a big thank you to them.
“They are helping me fight it again, and I’m ready for a good battle.”
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