My six-year 'cancer' hell
Doctors told me I was dying but got it wrong
CORRIE star Ken Cope has told how he spent six terrifying years waiting to die from cancer-only to be told doctors had made a MISTAKE.
The 77-year-old actor had been diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable disease caused by contact with asbestos.
But after six years of heartache, docs admitted they'd got it wrong and he'd NEVER had cancer at all.
His excruciating chest pain and shortness of breath was due to a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
By then, Ken-who plays Jed Stone-had undergone treatment, moved hundreds of miles so he could spend his final days with his family in Merseyside, and flogged his French holiday home.
Pain
In an exclusive interview, he said: "For six years I lived under a false death sentence. When I found out the truth I was shocked, angry and elated."
Ken-married to wife Renny, a one-time Corrie actress herself -now uses inhalers, has physiotherapy and relies on a body double during rehearsals because he is too weak to stand for a long time.
The actor-whose character has just survived being throttled by evil Tony Gordon after rumbling his involvement in Liam's murder-was diagnosed with cancer at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford in 2000 after suffering chest pain.
Medics said he could have been exposed to deadly asbestos in a theatre where he used to work.
In 2005 Ken was referred to specialists in Liverpool who decided he didn't have cancer-but it took a further YEAR for him to find out. He went on: "All that time I had been waiting to die, and then I found out I didn't have cancer.
"All I want is an apology from the NHS. It is disgusting that they have put myself and my family through such anguish and heartache."
A spokesman for Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Mr Cope's case was independently reviewed and no fault was found."
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This article has 4 comments
Kenneth sue them for as much as you can get, It's about time they got rid of the incompetence, no fault found indeed, don't forget shoesmith she figured that they were doing a good job, this kind of stuff makes me sick to my stomach
By AGNES & ROBERT. Posted January 4 2009 at 11:55 PM.
OMG!!! 'No fault was found' - excuse me? A mistake was made, the same mistake repeatedly and then when they did find out the truth they took another year to gather the guts to tell him. Excuse me but he made life changing decisions based on this mis-diagnosis. I mean of course its great that he hasnt got cancer and isnt going to die any time soon but, someone has to accept responsibility and at least apologise. Some people in this same position go and spend their life savings in their final days only to find out it was a misdiagnosis, its great that they arent dying but that doesnt help them with their plan for the future coz they have spent all their money.
By rose. Posted January 4 2009 at 11:54 PM.
it really annoys me that doctors spend years training at medical school and yet can get it so wrong
By anita. Posted January 4 2009 at 5:18 PM.
NO FAULT? NO FAULT?
What on earth do they mean?
This man has lived with a death sentence for years and they say " NO FAULT was found"
Sue the pants off them for all the worry and stress you and your family have suffered.
Good Luck Ken.
By jill. Posted January 4 2009 at 9:43 AM.