A BRAVE Newport man has survived cancer five times, as well as MRSA, kidney failure and a three-week coma.

But with the help of his wife Linda, also a cancer survivor, Graham Price is enjoying life again and has been free from bowel cancer for almost six years.

Father-of-two Mr Price, 63, from Bassaleg, found a large lump in his abdomen in May 1986 t At he Royal Gwent Hospital surgeons removed a tumour wrapped around his spine, blood vessels and a tube of his right kidney. After a biopsy, they realised it had been testicular cancer.

Just weeks after the operation former civil servant Mr Price was well enough to give his sister away at her wedding, but bad news arrived again that year, when he noticed pain. Doctors told him he had another testicular tumour, giving him only a 50 per cent chance of recovery.

He underwent six months of chemotherapy which did combat the cancer. Almost a decade later, in 1996, Mr Price was told he needed surgery for a “large polyp”, which turned out to be bowel cancer.

Another operation seemed to be a success but just a few months later the tumour had returned and he had an operation to remove much of his large bowel. In 2007, another bowel cancer was diagnosed.

This time the operation was worse, leaving Mr Price in a coma in intensive care for three weeks and with MRSA pneumonia.

Tragedy struck again when, shortly after he returned home, his wife Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. But now the couple are both in remission. Mr Price said he spoke to the Argus in the hope that other cancer patients might be inspired by his story and to remind them they can access help from St David’s Hospice Care. He said: “Cancer is not a death sentence as it once was.”