“Weston Park saved my life” – Anthony’s story

4th May 2022

When he was diagnosed with cancer in late 2017, Anthony Hinchliffe’s ‘brush with mortality’ was life-changing. Five weeks of daily radiotherapy treatment and a six-hour operation later, he was – and still is – thanking Weston Park for saving his life.

When he was diagnosed with cancer in late 2017, Anthony Hinchliffe’s ‘brush with mortality’ was life-changing. Five weeks of daily radiotherapy treatment and a six-hour operation later, he was – and still is – thanking Weston Park for saving his life.

“Being diagnosed with bowel cancer was a very worrying time,” said Anthony, who heads up Sheffield-based Ant Marketing – one of the UK's top telemarketing companies.

“It was a very stressful time when I was having my tests to find out what the issue was. Eventually, the word ‘tumour’ was used, a couple of weeks into my tests, and I looked my consultant straight between the eyes and thought: ‘I’m a cancer patient now’.”

“It was massively concerning, and I was very conscious that I had to tell my children,” said Anthony.

“They still were my children, despite the fact they were in their twenties. I thought ‘my word, how do I phrase this?’ They’re two very bright people and I didn’t want to cover up what the situation was.

“On the other hand, there’s no point everybody running around panicking and crying – we needed to get through it as best we could.”

Anthony was prescribed a course of radiotherapy each weekday for five consecutive weeks at Weston Park, plus chemotherapy tablets for the duration of his treatment.

Following radiotherapy, Anthony had surgery to remove what remained of the tumour. He was thankful for improvements in treatment which helped make his experience a positive one – improvements which Weston Park Cancer Charity continues to support by enabling cancer research in Sheffield.

“My treatment was successful in that it shrunk the tumour – but there was a chance that if it hadn’t shrunk, or if it had grown, I’d have been in serious trouble,” said Anthony.

“But 30 years ago, they’d remove the tumour and try and kill off any bad cells left behind. Nowadays, they shrink it first and then exit it. How clever is that?”

Fortunately, Anthony was later given the all-clear – but his experience changed his perception of life forever. 

Anthony’s experience of Weston Park led to him increasing his support for Weston Park Cancer Charity, support which includes his company’s headline sponsorship of the Ant Marketing Weston Park Race Evening. The event returns to Doncaster Racecourse on Friday 3 June after a two-year gap due to the pandemic, and will feature entertainment from Yorkshire rock giants the Kaiser Chiefs.

Tickets remain available for the event, with a limited number of hospitality packages also available for companies or groups. Call 0114 553 3330 or email charityteam@wpcancercharity.org.uk for full details.

Patients at Weston Park Cancer Centre can also access up to four free tickets for themselves and family members – for details on how to apply, call or email the charity using the above details.

Anthony has supported organisations like Weston Park for years through a variety of means – including through sponsorship of the charity’s events, supporting the hospital teams and much more.

“It’s great to ‘get real’ a bit and get involved with some really important causes,” said Anthony.

“It’s quite amazing, the experience I had within Weston Park. I met super bright, super experienced consultants. I don’t know anything about medicine, so I just put myself completely in their hands.

“My operation at the Northern General to remove the tumour, following my radiotherapy, was a big one. Afterwards, I said to my consultant there ‘sir, you have saved my life’ and he said ‘no, Weston Park saved your life’.

“And it was so powerful. I met so many incredible people when I was at Weston Park – each and every member of staff is incredible. 

“That’s the reason I’m a massive supporter. Weston Park is Sheffield and South Yorkshire at its best. For cancer care, we’re the best in the country.”

Weston Park Cancer Charity relies entirely on its extremely generous supporters and donors to provide vital cancer support services, enhance treatment experiences like Anthony’s, and fund essential research. 

To support the charity, visit www.westonpark.org.uk or call 0114 553 3330. Alternatively, to support the charity by attending one of its events, including the Ant Marketing Weston Park Race Evening at Doncaster Racecourse on Friday 3 June, call 0114 553 3330 or email charityteam@wpcancercharity.org.uk.