A security guard is throwing himself in the deep end – by swimming the Channel in memory of a tragic pal.

Steve Jones was devastated when Jenna Wharton, 25, lost a 14-month battle with cervical cancer.

Jenna went to her GP after developing bleeding in November 2009.

She was stunned when tests revealed she had cancer – and it was too advanced and aggressive to be treated.

Jenna, from Salford, died last January. Now, a year on, Steve, 32, from Ellenbrook, Worsley, has decided to take on the marathon swim in tribute to her strength and bravery.

He is aiming to raise £6,000 for St Ann’s Hospice where Jenna, a former pupil of Walkden High School, was treated before her death.

He is swimming 22 miles a week in training for his attempt in August. Steve said: “Jenna was a true fighter, friend and an inspiration to us all.

“Her strength and courage was amazing and St Ann’s made her life, as much as was possible, a lot better. It’s a fantastic charity and I’d love to raise as much as I can to help other patients.”

Jenna’s mum Diane, a district nurse, explained how her family would always be grateful to the staff at St Ann’s for their support during her illness.

She said: “Jenna had always been very healthy – she didn’t think there was anything seriously wrong when she went to the GP. She just put it down to something hormonal. it was a massive shock when she was diagnosed.

“Jenna’s symptoms became complex and difficult to manage at home and she was very grateful for the support received from the team at St Ann’s Hospice.”

Steve, who works for a security company said:“My biggest concern is if it can’t take place because of bad weather but I’m being positive. I’m not too fond of jellyfish to be honest which is why I’m training in Albert Dock in Liverpool to get used to them.”

He has already completed 11 miles on Lake Windermere during his training and plans to do double that distance there before attempting the Channel crossing.

He is looking for sponsorship and has already received support from businesses and friends. a non-uniform day at Haslam Park Primary School in Deane, Bolton, raised over £170. To sponsor Steve go to swimforjenna.co.uk  or call him on 07403 296173.

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Cancer victim says Prospect are superb

5:26pm Wednesday 11th January 2012 in News

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Tony Sheen has praised Prospect Hospice for the care it has given him during the year after he was told he would have just six months to live.

Honda worker Tony, 53, from Stratton, was given a prognosis of just six months more than a year ago when he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in November 2010.

“For me, it’s our own way of putting something back.”

- Tony Sheen

he was admitted to Prospect Hospice in Wroughton during the weekend before Christmas when the pain from his symptoms became too great to bear.

With the support of the expert teams at the hospice, Tony’s symptoms were controlled and managed to such an extent that he was able to return to the family home on Christmas Eve, and stay there until he was re-admitted to the hospice on Boxing Day.

he said he has defied all expectations thanks to the hsopice staff, as well as his family, friends and colleagues.

he has also shown his appreciation of the hospice’s care by donating £407 raised for him by his workmates towards the charity’s care.

“I really can’t thank them enough for all that they have done for me, and for my wife Carolyn too,” he said.

“The support has been incredible. That said, I was reluctant at first to accept that I needed the help of the hospice at all. I just wasn’t ready to hear it.”

Tony’s care since his diagnosis has involved the support of a Prospect Nurse Specialist – one of the community-based nurses who plan care packages for patients throughout their illness – and an occupational therapist, who has helped him and his wife adapt their home to meet his care needs.

Tony has also sought the support of the clinical psychologist who works with patients at the hospice and, when he has been at the great Western Hospital, he has been supported by the Prospect team there too.

During 2010, Carolyn regularly attended the monthly Carers’ Cafe that brings together people in the new and unfamiliar role of carer to share their experiences and offer mutual support. She has also attended a carers’ course run by the hospice’s family support team, and has also worked with the hospice’s welfare and benefits adviser to help lessen the financial concerns that are often well-known to carers.

Throughout 2011, the family has chosen to show its support for Prospect Hospice through a variety of events, with Tony’s full approval.

Son Luke and son-in-law Gareth both took part in the Swindon Half Marathon to raise funds in October, while future daughter-in-law Laura ran the same event for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Luke also took part in a sponsored rugby match for the Prospect Barbarians team in November, while Becky is planning a netball tournament for later this year.

Tony said: “I am very proud of them for getting involved because my illness could happen to anybody, and I want other people to receive the care I have had.

“For me, it’s our own way of putting something back.”

Tony has thanked the many friends he has made working for Honda over 25 years, where workers have been highly supportive ever since his diagnosis.

he also praised his GP Kerry Wallis, and the Jupiter Ward team at GWH, where Carolyn works.

he said: “There are many more I could thank too – and, of course, Carolyn especially. As long as I feel as well as I do now, I want to go on for as long as possible, enjoying the time that I have left with my family and friends.”

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She is in hospice, was not expected to live more than 6 mos. that was two years ago. at that time they took her off all meds including the synthroid. she is doing pretty well now, but does have symptoms of hypothyroidism. should she be put back on now?

Is CT scan accurate?

How to cure lung cancer permanently?

Are there any dangers for a 80 years old man to have any therapy curing lung cancer?

Thanks a lot

If the CT scan showed it then yeah they are pretty accurate, I would say physical symptoms would be re-current resp. infections, difficulty in breathing, removing the lung or a lobe may be an alternative but you said the patient is 80, the surgery would probably kill the patient, any surgery at this age is risky, the chances for developing pneumonia is great. and when you are talking about removing a lung that would be devastating, you may opt for chemo and radiation to prolong life but given the patients age, the quality of life will diminish, chemo and radiation make you very weak and sick, have you talked to the person? maybe you can talk to someone from hospice, If it was me or a relative I would try to spend time with them help them prepare and finish up wills etc. when you live to 80 that has been a good life, you may get a couple months or a couple of years, But any doctor that would suggest surgery at this age is only trying to milk medicare out of dollars. I wish you good luck.

some symptoms are chronic cough, coughing up blood, weight loss, difficulty breathing…ct scans are almost always accurate…there are a lot of dangers at his age in trying to cure it..but the doctor will evaluate him, his currant condition and make the best decision for him.

Take a look at ( all-about-cancer.us )
There is a lot of good content and information there.

Good luck.

Lung cancer is usually found somewhere else before it is found in the lung(s). Often there are no signs until then. Yes a CT scan can tell.The only way to cure it permanently is to beat it. If an 80 year old wishes to fight it then please do. The decision is that persons to make.

General symptoms of lung cancer
The symptoms of lung cancer can be

Having a cough most of the time
A change in a cough you have had for a long time
Being short of breath
Coughing up phlegm (sputum) with signs of blood in it
An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Losing weight

Less common symptoms of lung cancer
There are other symptoms of lung cancer that are less common. They are usually associated with more advanced lung cancer. you may have
A hoarse voice
Difficulty swallowing
Swelling of the face caused by a blockage of a main blood vessel from the head (SVCO)
Swelling in the neck caused by enlarged lymph nodes
Pain or discomfort under your ribs on your right side (from the liver)
Shortness of breath caused by fluid around the lungs (called pleural effusion)

I'm afraid there is no known permanent cure at this time.
The dangers should be determined by your doctor and oncologist.
Best wishes……..

I am not a doctor or nurse, so my answer is only from personal experience. Lung cancer is one of the worst and fastest as far as being terminal. there is no cure(Dear God, I wish there were) I am not knowledgable enough to answer your? about an 80 year old man but I promise to keep him in my prayers.

I do not know about the CT Scan, but I do know he can be helped by natural means, but it is not a quick fix, as it took time for him to get the cancer, but there is help. we have helped people who the doctors have given up on. Some of the things you can do is get him right off sugar and sugary, syropy foods. Also off acidity foods, onto alkalade foods. As most people have too much acid in their bodies which breeds the cancer and sugar feeds cancer. you probably got all kinds of chemicals in the house with the cleaning supples, which also can cause cancer.
Get in touch with me and I will send you the foods he can have and the ones he should not have.

Breathlessness. actually I don't know about cancer but I do know about
Emphysema. which my dad had. That's caused from smoking, being exposed to burning rubber, for tyres, my dad was a supervisor at Dunlop Tyre Factory – for those in Melbourne – at Montague – and my ex father-in-law smoking and being a cane train driver smelling smoke from the 'Cane Fields' in Mackay, Qld.

A person has advanced cancer AND advanced alzheimers. now sleeping a lot..as in most of the day and night. Can no longer walk, chew, etc… Does all of this denote a time frame of survival?

My father-in-law stopped eating, drinking, ect about a week before he passed. he was sent home from the hospital with hospice and they told he would only live a few weeks – they were right. he slept the last week before he passed and when he was awake he was incoherent.

Is this person at home or in the hospital??? If they are still receiving fluids I would think they would still live awhile.

My husband died of colon cancer this past June. in the last weeks, he couldn't eat anything. he completely relied on a feeding tube. he also had a lot of pain (back, stomach, heartburn). he could not longer sleep in bed because of the pressure in his chest. he slept sitting up in a chair. I don't think you can really say there is a time frame. I think it just depends on the individual's body. it holds out for so long and then just goes. my husband seemed to be doing a little better and within 10 hours his kidneys failed, his blood pressure and pulse continued on a downward spiral, he was losing blood internally, his white blood cell count skyrocketed and he became unconscious.