Ex-asbestos worker to have lung removed

This is Lancashire

By Jane Lavender

A grandfather is today preparing for extremely rare surgery to remove his lung after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer caused by asbestos.

William Royle, aged 66, was told he was suffering from mesothelioma in November and given the devastating news he only had a few months to live.

Mr Royle, an amateur dramatics enthusiast has travelled to Leicester where he will, today, undergo pioneering surgery to remove his diseased left lung, and the lining around his right lung and heart in a bid to give him an extra three years. advertisement

Just four people in Bolton have been eligible for the surgery in the last two years.

Mr Royle, a father-of-two, of Marlborough Gardens, Farnworth, said: "I know this is major surgery and that it isn't a cure, but I'm just grateful that it will buy me some more time with my family and the people I love."

Last November Mr Royle, who is a member of the amateur musical society at Five Saints in Farnworth, began to suffer from flu-like symptoms.

As he had just had his flu and pneumonia jab, he put his chest pain down to that, but visited his family doctor.

He was immediately referred to the Royal Bolton Hospital where a chest X-ray revealed he had 3.5 litres of fluid around his left lung, which needed to be drained immediately.

The former quality control worker was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

This is caused by contact with asbestos in nine out of ten cases and Mr Royle says he worked with asbestos as an apprentice engineer at United Ebonite Lorival in Little Lever between 1958 and 1962.

He later went on to work for British Aerospace for 33 years The disease has so far only affected his left lung and he is considered fit enough to undergo the five-hour operation, which is only carried out at a handful of places across the country.

Mr Royle is hoping to be out of bed within 10 days of surgery and wants to be back in his Farnworth home within a fortnight.

He even hopes to be on stage again in a few months.

He said: "My wife Dilys, and the rest of my family have been so supportive. I'm looking forward to more time with them and to getting back to doing the things I love."