58-year-old Leeds local Michael had 35 sessions of radiotherapy and three cycles of chemotherapy, and was hospitalised twice. He got the all-clear in February 2022.

"Being a train driver is the best job; it makes you feel alive every day. But in July 2021, my world turned upside down. I lived on coffee, but drinking it had started to give me sharp pains at the back of my throat. I got checked out and it was the worst-case scenario – throat cancer.

As soon as I was diagnosed, the treatment clicked into place. I was really poorly, admitted to hospital twice and because of covid, I had no visitors. I had a feeding tube which I found really difficult. After three months of aggressive treatment, I was given the all-clear in February 2022.

After treatment, I couldn’t walk to the top of the street, but slowly I began to build my strength back. I was looking forward to going back to work, when in April, I had a pulmonary embolism. It was the worst pain. I thought I was dying that day. The NHS saved my life all over again."