HOWARD Phelpotts isn’t one to mope. Despite being diagnosed with multiple myeloma – a type of bone marrow cancer – nine years ago, he refuses to let it get him down.

His motto is “There’s always someone worse off than you”. And during the course of his illness, which has involved treatments at three different hospitals, he has seen those people.

“When I first went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QE) in Birmingham, I walked past the children’s ward and there were kids in there who had leukaemia. I could not tell if they were boys or girls. They were going through that illness and they were only about 10 years old,” said 61-year-old Howard, who lives in Callow End.

But taking a positive attitude towards life and whatever it brings is just part of Howard’s nature. “You have to be positive,” he said in an unerring manner. And having a very strong sense of humour most definitely helps. He is prone to the odd practical joke – even with his Worcester Royal Hospital consultant Dr Salim Shafeek.

Howard, retired owner of Kerbside Garage in Hylton Road, Worcester, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2006 but he wasn’t actually showing any symptoms.

He went to the doctor after passing a few spots of blood, which revealed a bladder problem. While investigating if anything could be done about the bladder issue, blood tests were done which showed the bone marrow cancer.

His treatment started with a six-month course of thalidomide (chemotherapy) followed by stem cell transplants. Medical staff at the QE removed enough stem cells from Howard to enable two transplants.

Most patients have to stay in hospital for three or four weeks before they can go home to recover for another few months after the stem cell transplants.

“I told them I would be in for two weeks,” said Howard and that is exactly how long he was in hospital. Due to his quick recovery, Howard was given the nickname “Ferrari” by hospital staff.

Howard responded extremely well to treatment and was able to go back to work - remaining in remission for four years until he was re-diagnosed in 2011. The cancer had returned.

In October 2011 he went back to the QE for a second stem cell transplant. His wife Janet said: “The second treatment was worse and he felt ill for longer but he still only had two weeks in hospital. He went into remission again.”

But the cancer has since come back and Howard is now on chemotherapy for the rest of his life together with monthly intravenous doses of haemoglobin to boost his immune system.

“At the beginning of 2014, the doctor expected the cancer might come back. I can’t have any more stem transplants so I am taking medication for it. Due to the illness and treatment, I have no immune system so I also have to have intravenous haemoglobin every month,” he said.

Of course, Howard has regular visits to his consultant and the oncology team at Worcestershire Royal Hospital who monitor his condition and medications. He has nothing but praise for the NHS services.

“I go every month to Worcestershire Royal Hospital and I cannot fault it. We hear so many people complaining about the NHS but I have had the best possible care. I want to thank everyone who has treated me and cared for me.

“My family and friends have been a great support in helping me out and taking me to the hospital. We have a lot of good family and friends. My wife has been like a Florence Nightingale – she has been my nurse and injects me with some of the medication I need.”

Although Howard is retired he still enjoys tinkering with cars and has taken up gardening – previously his wife’s domain.

“For anyone who is diagnosed with cancer, I just want them to know that it is not the end of the world and particularly with this cancer. I’ve been living with cancer for nine years and I am living proof.”

In addition to Howard’s cancer, he also fell off a ladder and broke his leg – not a good move for someone with bone marrow cancer - and before the second stem cell transplant he developed a pain in his neck. After seeing his doctor he was immediately sent to Cheltenham Hospital for radiotherapy because a lesion had attached to a bone in his neck.

And if all this was not enough in the past nine years, Howard and Janet’s home has twice been flooded – in 2007 and again in 2014 - due to its proximity to the River Severn.

The house is just about back to normal after the floods in February last year and they now have their own personal flood defences to make sure they can keep it dry in future.

Janet, who works at the Crowngate Physiotherapy Centre in Worcester, said: “We just brush ourselves off and get on with it.”

Howard’s sister Joy Hume said: “Howard is amazing. He lives each day as if it’s his last and is a very funny laid back guy. I admire him so much and love him to pieces and I thank God for every day he is still with us – so does everyone he knows.

“He hopes his experiences will inspire others with cancer to never give up.”