A retired bank clerk from Breightmet remarkably saw the same doctor for two different cancer treatments 20 years apart.

Joyce Cook, 72, was first treated at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester 20 years ago for a melanoma which had spread to the lymph nodes.

She was put under the care of Dr Paul Lorigan, who successfully treated her and she was in remission for two decades.

Last year she noticed a lump in her stomach and quickly got it checked out.

Unfortunately Joyce, had relapsed and the cancer had returned to her lymph nodes.

In a weird twist of fate, she was seen by the same consultant, Paul Lorigan, who was by now a professor.

Joyce is currently completing 24 sessions of immunotherapy which she’s able to do at home thanks to The Christie At Home service, where Christie nurses visit patients in their own home.

The treatment is working and her condition is stable and the cancer is currently under control.

Professor Paul Lorigan said: “We obviously hope we don’t see patients again once in remission but when we do, it’s nice to offer them continuity of care even when two decades have passed.

"Our treatments have improved dramatically in the intervening time and we have been able offer the most effective treatment available.

"I’m delighted that Joyce is responding well to the treatment and it’s keeping the cancer at bay.”

Joyce said: “Professor Lorigan is such a wonderful, approachable man so I was so pleased to be under his care again.

"At 52, it was really scary to discover I had cancer and Professor Lorigan and his team were fantastic.

"He saved my life and gave me 20 more years. If he can give me another 20 years I’ll be happy.

“The Christie At Home service is marvellous and saves us two days a month of travelling to The Christie in Withington.

" My bloods now get done at my GP practice, tested at Bolton Royal Infirmary and the results sent through to The Christie.

"The nurses that visit are angels and it’s more like friends coming to make you better than anything else.

"We have a really good natter and I look forward to it. My husband can sit with me in the living room which is so much better than him waiting for hours in the car, as visitors aren’t allowed in the hospital at the moment.”