A WREXHAM man has opened up on his battle to get cancer treatment.

Steve Marsh, from Summerhill, was diagnosed with cancer of the kidney in July - but is still waiting for treatment.

The 52-year-old has already had one operation to remove the cancerous kidney cancelled - because of what he says was due to a surgeon being ill.

Mr Marsh explained: "I was referred by my doctor to Wrexham Maelor to have a scan after complaining about pain in my side.

"I went for my scan and then waited five to six weeks before Wrexham Maelor even looked at them - I rang constantly over this period however I was told first the surgeon went on holiday followed by his secretary so nobody could check the scan results.

"When this finally did happen they transferred me to Glan Clwyd Hospital in September - I was then told that I was on their waiting list and it could be quite a while until I could have the kidney removed.

"I can understand that I would need to be patient, stay calm and focused as there are lots of people with worse cancers than I have, however, we are now in January.

"Following the cancellation of my operation in January, I also rang on the January 20 only to find that the surgeon is now on some sort of course, so there's still no news on when this can now take place."

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has apologised to Mr Marsh and said "it is not the experience we wish to offer our patients".

But Mr Marsh, who was made redundant in November, says the wait has impacted massively on his mental, as well as physical health.

He said: "I have suffered with stress and anxiety attacks over the last few months due to this - compounded with the fact that I was made redundant after 24 years.

"The whole experience has been hugely stressful - from trying to get any benefits that are due, asking my bank for help, to getting forms filled by doctors or hospitals to prove I am actually ill.

"I am just hoping that the operation will take place soon so I can put this whole episode behind me and start the dubious task of looking for work."

Mr Marsh says he has been simply "left to get on with it".

He said: "I've not been given any medication - if there is any - to slow it down, no phone calls to see how I was and to let me know I hadn't been forgotten.

"I have also asked if other scans could be done to make sure it has not spread anywhere else as the kidney mass was 7cm and was already pressing against my liver back in July.

"I believe myself and my doctor had caught the cancer early enough however we are nearly out of January and still no news."

A Betsi Cadwaladr spokesman said: "We would like to apologise to Mr Marsh for the delay to his surgery. It is not the experience we wish to offer our patients.

“We have undertaken a review of our Urology Service, in particular the management of urological cancers.

“We are working with our clinicians across all three of our main hospital sites to ensure that we can offer timely intervention.”