LIFE IS PRECIOUS MAKE THE MOST OF IT!

The Darlington dad was 45 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2008 after finding a lump in his leg.

“Nothing prepares you for that diagnosis of cancer,” said David.

Offered chemotherapy, David decided to do some research first and discovered a drugs trial taking place which offered him an alternative. The drug - MabThera - is now widely used to treat blood cancers.

But six years ago, David was doing the Coast to Coast to raise funds for Lymphoma Action when he was hit by a car.

“I needed operations to repair broken bones and they found out my cancer was back,” said the grandfather-ofone. “I had the bones fixed and had to have chemo and immunotherapy.”

Although it was a shock, he knew it would return at some point.

“That’s the nature of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” said David, who has a number of conditions following treatment including peripheral neuropathy.

David has run a lymphoma support group at the Trinity Holistic Centre for five years and the members have become firm friends.

“Kathryn and all the team at Trinity Holistic Centre are fantastic,” said the dad-of-three. “All of the group have tried some of the therapies and they can’t speak highly enough of the centre.”

Treatments include reiki, auricular acupuncture, aromatherapy, yoga, acupuncture, clinical hypnotherapy, reflexology, tai chi and counselling.

“I’ve tried reiki,” he said. “I was very sceptical about it but it makes you feel better. If you don’t give these things a go you never know.”

Lymphoma support group meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month (excluding August) from 6:30pm to 8pm.

The meetings are an opportunity to meet others who have experienced lymphoma or are living with the condition.

The group often hosts expert speakers and welcomes patients, partners, carers, family members and friends.