A Dumfries paramedic was forced to wait a year for treatment after being diagnosed with cancer during the Covid pandemic.
Alan Campbell was convinced he was “going to die” due to the delay.
But two years later, the 56-year-old is free of the disease, back to full health and has returned to the job he loves.
Alan, from Heathhall, said: “I’m just so happy that I’m still here to be able to get back to work.”
The dad-of-two was on night shift duty two years ago on April 1. Alongside his crewmate, Marc Greenland, he was allocated a job.
However, his back seized up, pre-empted by two weeks of experiencing lower back pain.
His colleagues had to transfer him into his own ambulance, and he was taken to A&E at Dumfries Infirmary.
He said: “Being taken in to A&E on a trolley early on the morning of April 1 was definitely strange with staff congratulating me on a fantastic April Fool’s Joke, as they knew I like a good laugh.
“After realising my predicament with tears running down my face, the care and treatment I received was outstanding and highly professional - everyone wanted to help me.
“After treatment for pain, anti-inflammatories and IV fluids, I was discharged. I had blood samples taken by my advanced nurse practitioner at my GP surgery the day before this happened due to my ongoing back pain, which I was trying to work through.
“A week later the blood sample results revealed a raised levels of PSA (prostate specific antigen) indicating the possibility of prostate cancer.”
Multiple tests and scans over the next seven months revealed he had two tumours on his prostate, which needed intervention in Edinburgh. Due to covid delays, it was a full year before he could undergo surgery.
Two months later, he received the news that he was cancer free.
Alan said: “This was the best news and outcome anyone could get. The relief I felt is totally indescribable, the weight lifted from my shoulders was immense and the reaction from family, friends and colleagues was a pleasure to see. I now have a totally different outlook on life and I am so happy that I will be here with my wife Sheila and my sons Scott and Murray and able to watch my grandson Theo grow up.”
Alan he is also enjoying his new role as a Buddy with Prostate Buddies D&G, a support group based in Dumfries, helping men recently diagnosed with, or who are concerned about, prostate disease or prostate cancer.
Now he wants to raise awareness of the disease and encourage others to get checked out by their GP.
He added: “It took me a while to pluck up the courage to go to Buddies but it was the best thing I could have done.
“The men at the group know exactly what you’re going through because they’ve been there themselves.
“I just want to make a difference and hopefully help to save some lives.
“We are all volunteers who want to help other men come to terms with their diagnosis and talk them through what happens next in terms of treatment and further support.
“You would be surprised what a difference a chat makes with someone who has experienced the exact same journey you are about to embark on.
For more information on Prostate Cancer visit: www.prostatescotland.org.uk
For more information on Buddies visit: www.prostatebuddiesdandg.org.uk
