Lung health scan detects cancer, leading to life-saving surgery

That’s the message from the grateful beneficiary of a lung health scan which detected cancer — and led to life-changing surgery within just two months of the “dark cloud” of diagnosis.

John Garner (64) said he had been “gobsmacked” by the scan results as he had not had any symptoms and had been “fit as a fiddle”, staying active into his retirement and playing football semi-professionally in his younger years.

But after receiving a letter inviting him to a lung health check in the mobile CT scanner — launched at Parkgate Shopping last November and attended by and reported in the Advertiser — the former plasterer attended his appointment in December.

He received his diagnosis in January and had the potentially life-saving surgery in early March.

John’s family — wife Mary (64) and son Niall (32) — say they will be “forever grateful”, while John himself said: “I want everybody to go and have it done.”

John, who lives in Greasbrough, recalled the horrifying day he found out he had cancer, adding: “On January 11, we were watching telly and having a cup of tea when I got the phone call.

“It is like a big dark cloud coming out of nowhere when they tell you you’ve got cancer.

“But my consultant went through everything and she absolutely put my mind at ease.

“They were fantastic, absolutely fantastic, all the nurses, everybody.

“I was very down at first until I saw my consultant and she put my mind at ease, explaining that she was going to do the operation through keyhole surgery — I’ve got the scar to prove it!”

John’s operation was carried out at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital, where steelworker son Niall had previously worked as a security guard.

“When they told me he was going to be on Chesterman Ward, I was very happy,” he said, “because I knew from first-hand experience they were good.”

The run-up to John’s operation was difficult for the family, said Niall, adding: “My mum and I had tried not to show Dad we were worried but whenever he left the room to have a shower or something, we’d break down in tears.

“He’s not just my dad, he’s my hero.

“But in the hospital, they explained everything to us, about how they were going to approach it (the surgery) and that gave us a little boost.”

John was in theatre for more than six hours and said his family was amazed when they found him awake and sitting up.

He had a third of one lung removed during the surgery and was later given the “all-clear”.

John said: “I keep on doing the exercises they gave me, and I also attend BreathingSpace (Rotherham’s community service at Badsley Moor Lane for people with respiratory conditions).

“I still get out of breath and can’t walk as far as I used to but I am slowly building it back up.”

John’s message to Advertiser readers was clear: “Go and have the scan — I didn’t have any symptoms whatsoever and was fit as anything — so I want to promote it and have everybody go and have it done.”

Niall added: “It’ll only take an hour but that hour could change your life.”