Simon MacCorkindale Vows Cancer Fight

Last week, 10th Nov 12:30

Simon MacCorkindale has vowed to fight his terminal cancer.

The former 'Casualty' star had been given just five years to live after doctors discovered bowel cancer has spread to his lungs, but he is determined to live life to the full.

The 57-year-old actor - who played Harry Harper in the BBC medical drama - said: "People have such a fear of the 'C' words - both cancer and chemotherapy. These have a hugely negative impact. But I'm sitting here perfectly healthy.

"I don't want people to think that I'm pale, losing my hair, losing weight and on the way out. I'm not. I'm as active as I've ever been."

Simon - who is married to actress Susan George - was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2006 and while doctors were convinced he would make a full recovery, he was told a year later the disease had spread to his lungs and was incurable.

I don't want people to think that I'm pale, losing my hair, losing weight and on the way out. I'm not. I'm as active as I've ever been.

He said: "It came as a complete bombshell. It was the last thing in the world that I expected. I had gone for a routine check-up thinking everything was fine.

"The news hit me like a sledgehammer because right up to that point, I thought I had beaten bowel cancer and it was all done and dusted.

"I didn't want to make a fuss. We are very private people and wanted to deal with it on our own. We thought no one needed to know because, for the first year or so, we didn't think it was that serious."

Simon is undergoing a six-month course of chemotherapy, and is also receiving treatment using with a combination of alternative medicines including homoeopathy.