Joseph Kelly
Joseph ‘Tosh’ Kelly shares how our specialists are helping him recover after cancer treatment.
Their care is helping Tosh get back to normal and spend quality time with his family.
He is receiving ongoing support from our Lymphoedema specialists who treat people with a range of conditions not just cancer.
Katharine House Hospice is a charity and all our care is free.
Darts enthusiast and ex RAF corporal, Tosh was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2022.
Having dodged an Exocet missile during the Falklands War he was shocked to learn of his diagnosis several decades later.
He told us: “It was only when I got a medical report for my employer that it hit me that my cancer was so advanced.”
Luckily treatment was available and Tosh was able to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy at local hospitals.
Expert care
Tosh lost 24kg during his illness and for a long time was only able to consume meal replacement drinks via a feeding tube. He was referred to us for laser treatment to his neck and is receiving ongoing care from our specialist team.
Tosh told us: “It seemed very scary when the hospice was first mentioned. It really threw me. I didn’t realise it was a health and wellbeing centre that could help me feel better.”
Recovery
“I thought: ‘Why me? Why me? What have I done wrong?’ But now I’ve lost my best friend Andy to cancer and seen others who are worse, I have to change my attitude. I am one of the lucky ones. If it takes a while to get back to eating then that’s fine. The hospice is helping me to get there.”
Tosh is receiving low-level laser treatment and massage therapy from our expert team. We have also provided him with a mini-massage tool and specialist neck garment which have helped his recovery and enabled him to start eating again.
As a darts lover who has played against several championship players, Tosh would love to get back into the sport.
“I’ve been in remission for nearly 18 months and I’m eating more and more. The treatment I’ve had at Katharine House Hospice is helping me get my life back. I’m hoping to get back to playing darts next year.”