A UNIVERSITY lecturer is helping Yorkshire Cancer Research (YCR) raise awareness of the condition after being diagnosed with the disease twice in the past six years.

Peter Hogg is hoping that by sharing his story during Men’s Health Week, which ends on Sunday, he can encourage people to see their GP as soon as possible if they have any concerns about their health.

The 60 year-old, from Menston, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in May 2011 after noticing blood in his urine.

The problem was initially diagnosed as a kidney stone, but after collapsing at work, Mr Hogg had a biopsy that uncovered the cancer.

He then underwent a ‘radical nephrectomy’, which involved removing his whole left kidney and part of the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder.

“Finding out you have cancer is the most devastating thing you can be told,” said Mr Hogg.

“It takes the wind out of your sails, especially when you’re not expecting it. I’d never smoked and had kept very fit.

“After being diagnosed with kidney cancer and going through treatment, I decided it was more important than ever now to stay healthy. I wanted to be at the peak of my fitness so I wasn’t vulnerable if anything came up again.”

In May 2013, Mr Hogg noticed a large mole on his body while on holiday, which turned out to be malignant melanoma, the most aggressive and life-threatening form of skin cancer.

Over the next six months, he had a series of operations to remove the mole and the tissue surrounding it, with further tests confirming the cancer had fortunately not spread to his lymph nodes.

“I just couldn’t believe that I had cancer again,” he said.

“It was harder than dealing with the kidney cancer. In that situation, they knew where the cancer was and could remove it. I could understand that and live with it. The idea it could have spread was a nightmare.

“I remember thinking ‘give me a break, what’s going on here?’ But I was glad that I had done something about the mole and that I’d been diagnosed and could be treated. Early diagnosis is a big issue. I would recommend anyone to go for check-ups if they’re worried. People shouldn’t be afraid, because being diagnosed at an early stage may save your life or prolong it.”

Mr Hogg and his wife Helen recently held a party to celebrate their 60th birthdays and asked for donations to be made to YCR in lieu of gifts, raising £1,400 for the charity.

He said: “I don’t know if I’m extremely unlucky or extremely lucky. I know people who have died from cancer. I’ve had things that could be treated. I’ve always tried to take things one day at a time and be positive about everything. Being diagnosed with cancer sharpens your focus on life and makes you appreciate everything around you more.”