A dad-of-three, who lost his eye to a rare from of facial cancer, has set up a new charity to help suffers of the disease.
Dan Jackson, 38, began experiencing a persistent watery eye in 2012.
Believing it was nothing more than a blocked tear duct, he ignored it, but eventually sought medical help when his eye didn’t improve.
He was diagnosed with a rare for of facial cancer when doctors found a tumour between his eye and nose – the same day his wife told him she was pregnant.
As part of his treatment, Dan, from Ramsgate, Kent, underwent 20 surgical procedures, including the removal of his eye.
He also underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Fortunately, in September, Dan received the news he had been looking forward to for four years – he was cancer free.
Now, Dan is setting up a new charity to help people dealing with cancer.
The organisation, which will be called CancerNOW, is inspired by the help he received from Let’s Face It, a charity which gives support to people with head and neck cancers.
Dan said: “Having facial cancer alters your identity in a profound and visual way.
“It changes the way you feel about yourself and changes how others look at you as well.
“There are various coping mechanisms to deal with that.
“I believe in friendship with others who have gone through something similar.
“People’s faces are destroyed by facial cancer. There are some amazing prosthesis but it is not the same as scar-free healing.”
In 2014, Dan completed the Brighton Marathon to raise money for The Royal Marsden, where he was treated.
He has also completed Sail 4 Cancer, a 24-hour boat race which funds respite days.
Dan is also set to appear on a Channel 5 documentary called Me and My Face.
