A Perth cancer survivor has “braved the shave” to raise money for a cancer charity.
Mike Melloy, 70, was diagnosed with the disease when doctors found a tumour in his bowel.
Mike found out he had cancer in August last year, and had his first operation a month later.
He said: “It was devastating at the time. You think ‘oh I have cancer, I’m going to die’.
“It is not until something happens to you or your family that you realise how bad it is.”
However, Mike battled the disease and has come through his ordeal.
He said: “I was lucky as they caught it very early. It was after what I went through – and what others have gone through – that I decided to do this.
“I have always had long hair, and I just thought the shave would be a nice thing to do.”
Mike saw the MacMillan Brave the Shave page on Facebook and enthusiastically signed up for the challenge. Video of the shave is above this article.
He also spoke of the support he received from the nurses, oncologists and consultants at Perth Royal Infirmary. He said his surgeon, Mr Alastair Moses was also a huge support.
Mike added: “I couldn’t fault the NHS staff at all.”
The NHS has been a significant part of Mike’s life, having previously worked for the health board.
He started out as a porter before going to college and later becoming a pathology technician.
Since his retirement, Mike has regularly attended the Ballantyne health club, where his shave took place.
He described the club as having been “very supportive”, and currently does aqua aerobics there which has been “very helpful in his recovery”.
This is something he was unable to do for a while after his second operation, as this would have strained his bowel muscles.
Having survived cancer, Mike urges anyone with concerns to deal with them as soon as possible.
He said: “Make sure you go to the doctor if you have any symptoms. The quicker you go and they detect it the better.
“In this day and age, you can’t take any chances. Look after yourself.”
Donations can be made to Mike’s Brave the Shave page here.
