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.

“I AM convinced that cancer will kill me, but I am not prepared to let it do that yet. I am going to solider on, fight on and if it comes back again I will stand up and take battle”.

Father-of-four Gary McGreevy is in fighting spirit but having beaten cancer three times he knows no other way. Is it any wonder his family call him a hero?

The Kinawley man was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2006 and had the tumour removed and received chemotherapy. In 2011 he was diagnosed with it again in the remaining testicle, and had it removed, but received no treatment. Then in December of the same year he was diagnosed with cancer of the lymphoma in his abdomen.

“The first time, I remember feeling a dull, aching sensation in my testicle. As if you had a knock; it was sore and the pain wasn’t going away. I examined myself and felt an extra lump on my testicle. I went to the GP on the Monday morning and I was sent to the Erne Hospital. They found the lump and said they would get it removed. I then received a phone call to go in and see the doctor whose words to me were; ‘Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you have cancer’”.

“I felt numb and scared. When you hear the word cancer you always associate it with death. Am I going to live? Am I going to see my children grow up? Am I going to see them married? Am I going to be a grandfather?” The same day he was diagnosed he found out his wife Colette was pregnant. The second time he was diagnosed he found out she was pregnant again.

“The second time I was diagnosed I was angry. Still to this day I ask; ‘why me?’. I now believe that some people are prone to have depression. I look at myself as I am prone to get this. Maybe I am being given this to spare someone else who is not strong enough to get through it,” he said.

The second diagnosis was picked up on Mr. McGreevy’s annual routine check-up during which he received no treatment and so when he was diagnosed with cancer a third time he was angry.

“Why was I angry? I was angry with my consultant and the NHS itself. I had no treatment the second time, so the third time they told me one of the cancer cells had broken free and grew into a tumour. The question I asked at the time was; ‘would I be here if I had the chemotherapy treatment the second time?’ I would say I wouldn’t have been there a third time had I received the treatment, I feel I was failed then. I still have bitterness about it, but life goes on,” he said.

And with wife Colette and their four children; Conor (10), Niall (nine), Cormac (seven) and Niamh (two) he has plenty to be thankful for in life.

“Only for my family, I might have given up. But I feel when you are a cancer patient there is something natural that kicks in to keep you going. You have to, for your family. When I had been given the all clear the third time my wife got them to repeat it. I got them to repeat it - it went on seven times. It was complete disbelief after being told not to expect any change. I turned to my wife and we both broke down in tears. It felt like a miracle,” he said.

While remaining strong-minded and determined, the driving instructor does fear cancer returning.

“Absolutely, I do. Every ache or pain that doesn’t go away I think to myself that this is it coming back again. It will haunt me forever, it is always there.

“That’s why it is so important to check yourself; it only takes a couple of seconds. Don’t ever be scared to go to your doctor. It’s far better for them to say everything is fine rather than being told if you had come to us a couple of months ago we could have saved your life,” he said.