A RETIRED Astley businessman has beaten off throat cancer -- with a fighting spirit and great sense of humour.

Now with the future looking good, Doug Findlay is urging people who have any fears or early symptoms of the disease, such as a persistent hoarse voice or recurring light cough, to seek treatment urgently.

Doug, 67, secretary at Atherton Sailors' and Soldiers' Club, was prompted to tell his story after watching the true story concerning a surgeon in the USA who had the misfortune to develop a similar condition.

In his case a biopsy was donethe next day and on the second day treatment was started.

Doug says: "In my case, under our world famous NHS, things were rather different."

His troubles started when two mounds appeared in front of his ear lobes and his family thought it a great joke.

A nursing friend was consulted and identified the problem as the result of blocked salivary glands.

The cure was simple -- she told him to suck a lemon. It didn't work.

Some nags later he went to see his GP who referred him to hospital for a check-up.

Weeks later a letter arrived inviting Doug to attend the ENT out-patients' department at Wigan, but it arrived after the scheduled appointment date.

Following a phone call he went for an examination seven days later. Doug, of Chelford Drive, Astley, said: "I presented myself to the receptionist and sat for only a few minutes before being called. My height was taken and I was weighed.

"This meant I had been treated within 10 minutes of my appointment time -- the figure is the one stated in the House when questions are asked.

"The reality was different and I was kept waiting for a considerable time.

"Eventually a 'Box Brownie' was pushed down my throat," said Doug. "This revealed a little wart on the vocal chords which would have to be checked out.

"My head reverberated from his words. I'd only gone in to have my cheeks looked at and I was going home a nervous wreck.

"My imagination works overtime at the best of times and now it was in overdrive."

"It was now that the waiting began. Days passed into weeks and still the letter had not arrived. Something malignant was growing in my throat and I lay awake at night sweating, my mind churning over. At last the letter arrived. Would I attend for a pre-op assessment? I would be in for a day or two when a slice of the offending growth would be taken for analysis and the result would be known in a week. My blood pressure went sky high and I was sent home because it was too high to risk an operation. This situation yo-yoed. More delays.

"At last I went back and was left alone with my case notes which showed three warts on my vocal chords.

"My blood pressure was still too high and to make matters worse I developed a cold.

"Within 10 days I was recalled to hospital and the biopsy was completed. I was released in the early afternoon and told that I would receive a letter. More waiting -- almost two weeks.

"At the next appointment I was informed it was malignant, but at an early stage. It was a 'Box Brownie' up the nose again and a specialist from the Christie Hospital said there was no reason why I could not be cured.

"The following day I read that Acker Bilk had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Welcome to the club.

"The millennium celebrations were being planned everywhere and a long holiday was forecast. Just my luck. More delays to my treatment.

"A friend in Texas was shocked when I mentioned the amount of time since the first suspicions to confirmation.

"He told me over there I would have been treated within a week. "It was not going to be a very happy Christmas. I could feel the enemy clutching my throat. It was a great relief when at last I was summoned to the Christie Institute. It takes three or four sittings to make the collar which keeps the neck in the same position during treatment sessions and line up the treatment area with the machine, and this was a first class experience.

"The operative was competent, confident and friendly, a bit like a dentist really. He instructed me not to move a muscle and then told me a funny joke.

"I was happy enough that something was happening at last, and further fittings took place over the next two or three weeks.

"Christie Hospital is a very busy place and the delays now came into perspective. There you discover that there are always people much worse off than yourself and there is an air of friendliness everywhere."

Treatment began in January and 16 days of treatment seemed fairly standard. By the eighth, Doug's throat was sore, by the 16th extremely painful and liquid painkiller was supplied.

Doug said: "Eating was difficult and nothing had any taste. My voice went, a blessed relief for the family, and I lost some excess weight. I felt sorry for myself.

"Gradually the pain and discomfort eased and my voice returned a bit thin at first, but within weeks I was as annoying as ever.

"Six weeks after my final X-ray treatment I attended for a progress report and things were looking good. A month later I saw the top man.

"If I had the talent I would put his words to music 'It's clear." The sun has come out from behind a cloud. I'm walking on air.

"Outside the entrance to the Christie the ground is littered with cigarette ends discarded by those having a last puff before entering. Perhaps even more litter is caused by those discarding chewing gum in a belated attempt to stop smoking. Smoking definitely causes larynx cancer. I have never smoked so it is not exclusive to those addicted to the weed. Hoarseness that persists is a symptom as is a recurring slight cough. So if it happens to you or anyone you know see an ENT specialist at once. Delay equals death. This may sound melodramatic but it is the truth."

Doug has now successfully completed his six weekly inspections and is now taking part in a three year follow-up programme run by a specialist nurse at the Christie.

"There is no doubt about the thoroughness of the follow-up treatment and I feel that I am well on the way to recovery with my voice as good as ever. I could never sing and still can't, but it could have been worse. With luck I should survive my three score and 10.

"Something will kill me one day and it could be the hated big C, but until then the quality of my life has got to be a major consideration. It should be other people's too."

He added: "If someone up there loves me perhaps I'll win the lottery in compensation. If I do, I know where the first big cheque is going."