Book helped Billy on the recovery trail
Billy McCourt, who has written a book about the experience of being diagnosed with bone cancer. 120467a Picture by Andrew Higgins
A 56-YEAR-OLD Scarborough teacher was devastated when the doctors told he had a rare form of bone cancer.
But by keeping a daily diary he managed to keep going towards a recovery almost five years later.
The diary, together with his research into his family tree, has now been published in a book – White Lycra Man – with all profits going to help the Royal Orthopedic Hospital in Birmingham where he underwent a successful operation.
Billy, of Muston Road in Hunmanby, said the diagnosis was confirmed in June 2007 and his operation was at the end of the following month. He added: “It took me a long time to get back on my feet.”
He said doctors had to remove part of his pelvis, which has since been replaced, and the chances of being diagnosed with his particular form of cancer were one in 8,000,000 – the operation is carried out six times a year.
“Some of the book is about the cancer and coming to terms with it. It was a way of communicating with my family,” he said.
“I started it off for the Kindle e-book reader and a lot of people came back and said ‘I’ve not got a Kindle you need it in paperback.”
People who would like to find out more about the book can contact Billy on (01723) 892533 or email him at wmccourt27@hotmail.com
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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