Official figures show that Fermanagh has one of the highest incidence of cancer in the south west.

In Fermanagh, 1,995 people have been diagnosed with cancer between 2004 and 2012. In Omagh the diagnosis rate was 1,548 while in Strabane it was 1,208 in the same period. More men (1,065) than women (930) were diagnosed in this period in the county.

Looking at incidence across Fermanagh, cancer incidence varies between electoral wards. Between 2008 and 2012, the incidence in Ballinamallard was 107 people, compared to 56 in Lisnaskea, 50 in Lisnarick, 52 in Newtownbutler, 90 in Castlecoole and 69 in Devenish.  Read moving, straight-talking interviews with cancer sufferers and survivors as they break down the taboo with their incredible stories of struggle and survival.

WHEN Gary and Tracey Kernaghan got married 15 years ago they could not have foreseen the difficulties that would emerge later in life. But the promises, the vows, that they made on that day and their love for one another continues to help them get through the obstacles they face, particularly now one of them has cancer.

For Mr. Kernaghan having part of his shoulder removed last month is a clear, constant reminder of the way in which cancer disrupts lives. That said, the Ballinamallard couple’s gutsy attitude is a clear, constant reminder of the way in which love, wisdom and positivity doesn’t let it.

“Do I lie down? Do I let cancer beat me? I’ve never been one to give up,” said the defiant father-of-three as he deals with the reality that he has the disease in his pancreas and shoulder.

“I didn’t think there was anything wrong with me,” said the 43-year-old who went through a trying time before having collapsed with a brain tumour in 2011 while taking part in the Ballinamallard 10K.

“Cancer messes lives up, but if it’s not cancer there will be something else. It changes your life… this time last year I was fit and able,” he said.

Initially a tumour measuring 21 centimetres was discovered on one of Mr. Kernaghan’s kidneys and was removed a few weeks later. But during the surgery his bowel was accidentally perforated and part of it had to be removed which resulted in his body being poisoned.

“I had a call to say Gary was on a life-support machine,” said Mrs. Kernaghan. “We went up and saw him there, on his birthday. The poison had gone through his whole body.” After 12 hours, Mr. Kernaghan came off the life-support machine and a week later received the results of the tumour and was told it was grade three cancerous, and that part of it had spread to his lungs. His chemotherapy treatment began on the day he buried his mother.

With the cancer growing, it spread to the upper part of his right arm and two weeks ago doctors replaced part of his shoulder. “I’m now married to the bionic man,” laughed his wife.

The couple have three children; Alex (13), Nikki (11) and George (7) and rather than duck and dive their questions or anxieties they made the brave decision to discuss this journey with them.

“We’ve always made a decision that we would keep them involved in everything and the cancer is one of them. It breaks your heart sometimes to hear them talk about cancer because they talk about it with such ease.

“You can’t change what happens in life but we do have a choice with how we let the cancer affect our family and we are trying our best to keep things going. We can’t stop the pain they feel… we can’t change it. It will shape our kids, I don’t think it will all be negative. Our children are strong, capable, we are proud that we have done our job as parents. There’s a closeness in the family. Cancer slows you down, physically, so we look for the positives,” explained Mrs. Kernaghan.

And their kids want to help just as much as they do as a recent trip to Legoland showed.

“We were in the middle of Legoland in the summer and we just found out the cancer had spread to Gary’s bone in his shoulder. We were trying to take a family selfie. Gary put the hand up and he couldn’t take the photo, he wasn’t able to, so Alex had to take it,” said Mrs. Kernaghan, adding; “The kids even ran to the other end of the carousel to help their dad with the bags”.

Mr. Kernaghan dreams of a victory against cancer, until then he is going to remain focused on being a devoted father, and husband.

“Yes, it has impacted severely on our lives, family life, but there is no point getting down about it. I can’t change the fact it is there, but it’s my attitude towards it… I don’t [think about the future]… you think about what may be in the future but there is no point dwelling on it,” he said.

“Cancer changes things, but there are also some positive things that can come from cancer,” added Mrs. Kernaghan. “Gary and I, our relationship is at a different level, and what it really taught us is that you have to really love somebody to get through this together,” she said, speaking of a bond that is as strong now as it was 15 years ago.