Ex-cancer patient flies high again (From Witney Gazette)

Ex-cancer patient flies high again

8:26am Monday 26th February 2007 in Witney By Victoria Owen

TWO years ago, Jason Hopkins had his bladder removed to combat an aggressive cancer.

Now he is flying high in more ways than one. Not only has he been given a second chance after being diagnosed with the disease, but he has bought a paramotor to celebrate his good health.

Mr Hopkins, 35, who lives with his wife, Julie, 33, and daughters, Jasmin, five, and Jade, three, in The Blowings, Freeland, is helping Cancer Research UK with its new awareness campaign.

Called Together We Will Beat Cancer, it includes a television advert, featuring people like him, who have got their lives back following successful treatment.

The businessman, who is also a keen motorcyclist, said: "There's nothing I can't do with my kids these days that I want to do.

"I've always been an active man, and I am again. I have my life back, and that's thanks to the major advances that've been made by organisations like Cancer Research UK.

"I've been given a second chance, and my experience also made me realise that life is quite short."

In January 2005, doctors at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford, discovered Mr Hopkins had a rare bladder cancer.

He said: "They said there was nothing they could do for me, except operate. There was no other option, except doing nothing and dying. It was horrendous.

"At the time, my youngest daughter was 18 months old. There was a lot going on in my life, and it was like being punched in the face. It just knocked the stuffing out of me."

Two months later, he had a nine-hour operation to remove his bladder, and replace it with an internal neo-bladder - made by surgeons from his small intestines, and unusual for a man so young.

Mr Hopkins, who runs a garage in Long Hanborough, said: "I didn't want my children to see their dad with lot of tubes coming out of him.

"I reached my lowest point when I was allowed home from hospital just for a day, and looked at myself in a mirror. But that was also a turning point, because I told myself things were going to get better - and slowly they have."

Following the surgery, investigations showed the cancer had been contained in his bladder, and had not spread elsewhere in his body.

Although he will not be given the all-clear for five years, and has six-monthly check-ups, the operation has allowed him to have a normal life, and his paramotor flights are a well-known sight over Witney.

He said: "I'd always enjoyed extreme sports, but decided to give up sky-diving because I have a young family and because I went through a traumatic experience.

"Flying a paramotor seemed the most exciting thing, with the minimum danger. I just love flying low over the field, with my wife and children waving at me frantically below."

More than 250,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK. Thanks to Cancer Research UK, thousands who would not have survived ten years ago have been given their lives back.

Cancer Research UK spokesman, Helen Johnstone, said: "Across Oxfordshire, people like Jason are benefiting from major advances that have been made in cancer research.

"Much hard work lies ahead if we're to go on saving lives, but together with local communities, we will beat cancer."