Keith's podcast will document his cancer journey

A grandfather and business coach who is determined to beat cancer has started a podcast to help document his journey.

Keith Ayres, 70, from Ashford, started a four-month course of chemotherapy on Monday to treat oesophageal cancer, before surgery to remove his oesophagus, which runs between his mouth and stomach.

He hopes sharing his experiences and thoughts during the treatment will help keep him positive, and give hope to others also battling the disease.

The dad of two, who has three grandchildren, said: “I can’t stop anyone getting cancer, or influence their outcome, but I can hopefully help with how they feel, and encourage them to take action themselves and not sit back and let the doctors do all the work.

“I don’t believe in what I call ‘woowoo land’ but I do believe in the power of the human mind and that you can affect your health with how you think and how you act.

“I hope other people can follow my journey and see my positivity and benefit from that.”

Keith’s first symptom was difficulty swallowing, but he initially put off going to the doctor, hoping it would resolve itself.

When it in fact got worse, he sought advice and was immediately referred for tests, including an endoscopy, where a small pipe with a camera is passed down the oesophagus. Scans confirmed the diagnosis, and medics also found polyps in his bowel that need to be removed.

Keith said: “It got to the point where I felt like I was drowning or choking when I tried to eat. It was really uncomfortable.

“I did put it off, but when I did go to the doctor it was suddenly full steam ahead in top gear, and since then my care and treatment has been first class.

“I don’t allow anyone to treat me as someone who is ill. I am not ill; I have a part of me growing in the wrong way and it is a bit of an inconvenience.

“The medical teams in Kent and London are doing what needs to be done and I am doing what I can to make sure I survive. If you go in with a defeatist attitude you have already lost.

“I don’t want other people to feel defeated just because they have got cancer.”

Keith hopes to feature special guests on the podcast, including medical staff, other patients, and representatives from cancer charities.

He said: “I have no problem being on camera or with public speaking as it’s what I have been doing all my professional life.

“The primary reason is to help me cope. If I am talking about it with experts, with other patients, or just with myself, I will get emotional and it will be difficult, but I think it will help me stay positive.

“I can’t hide the fact I have got cancer, so I want to stand up and be counted. I hope people can connect to that and it can help them cope.”

You can find Keith’s podcast on YouTube. Anyone interested in being part of it can contact him via his Facebook page.