IT'S back to work next week for radio DJ Gary Burgess - less than three months after starting intensive cancer treatment.

The 23-year-old will return to The Wave on Monday afternoon (July 26) to present his four-hour DriveTime show and the sports slot on Saturday.

And, although still very tired from his chemotherapy, he admits returning to work will fill the gap while he waits to get the all-clear in August.

Gary said a temporary goodbye to his listeners at the beginning of May after revealing he had testicular cancer and would need to attend the Christie Hospital.

Now, after four three-week cycles of treatment, the plucky presenter is back at his Bispham home just itching to get back into the studio.

"I'm due for a scan on August 6 and then I get my results on August 13," he told the Citizen. "I didn't think there was any point in staying off work while I waited.

"Doctors said to go with how I feel, but I'm not going to overdo it. I lived for my work before, staying in the studio until midnight, but I won't be doing that for a while."

He'll certainly be getting support from his work colleagues. The Wave's programme director Simon Tate said: "We're delighted to have Gary back. I know many listeners have been following his progress and they too will be looking forward to hearing him on The Wave again."

Gary's "progress" has included a week in hospital and two weeks at his Bispham home tired out. He went through this four times and doctors have told him his recovery is going in the right direction.

"I've had bad days and better days which weren't as bad as I feared," he said. "The first cycle left me like a zombie though, and after the second and third I was very tired. I finished the last of my treatment on Friday and I feel about seven out of ten now."

Gary went public with the news of his illness in the hope that other men would check themselves for cancer. His story was picked up by a Channel 4 production crew who are now following him around for a series out in the autumn.

"They have done a bit of filming at the hospital and will be coming into the studio on Monday," said Gary. "They have been very good and only filmed what they've needed. I've not objected because it's taking my mind off everything."

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