‘Coming to Willow Wood is like having a great big hug’

Tony Elliott was 30 years old when he first discovered a lump on his face.

What seemed like something small turned out to be the beginning of a journey that would change his life.

“I went through about five years of trying to persuade the doctors that there was something there,” he said.

“They finally decided there was and did a scan. I went back for the results and they asked me to come in the following week for an operation. I was in surgery for eight hours and they found it was bigger than they anticipated.

“They took it out and then I was alright as I would go for a scan every year, get the results and they said I was fine.”

For nearly two decades, Tony carried on with life as normal – working, raising his family, and enjoying his hobbies. But then another shock came.

“We found a lesion on my lung which they operated on by keyhole surgery and got rid of that. Then nearly five years ago, I went for scan results and the doctor said my cancer is back in both lungs and it was too much to operate on. I was really well at this time and on that day, I’d just run my 5k on the Couch to 5k – I was healthier than I’ve ever been. It was quite a shock.

“My wife Catherine and I both took some time out from work because we needed to get our heads around it – we went from having years where everything was fine to suddenly it wasn’t.”

Tony, who is now 58, was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma – a rare, slow-growing cancer that forms in glandular tissues, most often in the head and neck.

“I went to see a consultant at the Christie who specialises in my cancer. I promised that if he could get me to live for five more years, I’d buy him a bottle of champagne so he’s getting closer to that!”

‘I’m taking each day as it comes’

Despite the diagnosis, Tony says he has felt “really quite well” for most of the time. It has only been since the start of 2025 that things have changed.

“It’s very slow growing most of the time and then it can suddenly just have a spurt. It starts in my face then spores out into the body. It can just sit there quietly and then suddenly strike – it can come back in different places and all the doctors can do really is cut it out. It’s not like a normal cancer where it all mutates.

“I feel that I am lucky, though, because some people who are told they have an incurable cancer only have months to live and I’ve had over four years.”

Tony lives in Denton and spent 18 years working at Cormar Carpets in Bury, first as a Customer Service Manager and then as Merchandising Manager. Away from work, he is a huge Manchester United fan, and loves reading both fantasy and historical novels – a passion that stems from his days studying history at university.

Tony describes his health now as “a bit up and down”.

“I’m trying to get used to some new tablets so I’m taking each day as it comes and I’m not feeling as great as I was. If I’m having a good day, Catherine and I will go out somewhere – we recently went to the National Portrait Gallery and the Titanic exhibition in Manchester.

“If I’m having a bad day, we will just stay at home and chill out.”

Tony’s wife Catherine, aged 56, has been by his side throughout. The couple have two daughters and recently became grandparents to an 18-month-old grandson.

It was through his Specialist Palliative Care Nurse that Tony first heard about Willow Wood Hospice.

“Genine thought it would be good for me if I used the services here and asked if I’d be interested, so I thought I’d give it a try. I came in and the first thing I tried was some counselling, which was really helpful.

“I’ve been to the Be Active group run by the Wellbeing team which is fantastic. Catherine and I have also had complementary therapy with Sharon which is so relaxing.

“I don’t like to think of not having something at Willow Wood to come to because it’s just really comforting. I told the Wellbeing team that coming here is like having a great big hug.

“No matter how you feel when you come in, you always feel better when you leave.”

‘Everything disappears for an hour’

Catherine has also seen the difference the Hospice has made to both of their lives. Working locally in adult social care, she already knew of Willow Wood but didn’t realise just how much the Hospice offered.

“It’s good having the support mechanism that Willow Wood provides and to talk to people who may be suffering with the same sort of pain,” she said.

“I’ve known about Willow Wood through my role in adult social care at Tameside Council and I have referred people to the Hospice but I didn’t know the full extent of the services it provides until now – I was surprised about how much there is to do.

“Julie suggested I come in and have some art therapy along with other carers, so that’s when I started to come to the Hospice with Tony and I really enjoyed it. I’ve kept in touch with the other carers and we are informally supporting each other.

“I agree with Tony that you always feel lighter or in a different place when you leave compared to how you arrive at Willow Wood. It’s a really positive thing for us and means a lot. Sometimes we just come and sit in the gardens, which are massive and really lovely.

“I’ve really liked the reiki and reflexology – which has been good for helping me to switch off, as I often struggle with that when lots of things are going on. Everything disappears for an hour.

“Willow Wood has always been here for us. It’s that fluidity and consistency of care that we find really good. It’s good that we both can come together at times for the Be Together session but equally it’s good that we can both come separately too.”

Sharon Herod, Complementary Therapy Co-ordinator, commented: “Tony finds a new level of relaxation and leaves feeling more refreshed and calmer. Those effects can last for several days and Tony sleeps a lot better as a result.”

Julie Moran, our Wellbeing Team Lead, said: “Our Wellbeing service is here for all Tameside and Glossop patients and carers by providing a safe, compassionate space where they can connect with others facing life-limiting illnesses. These shared experiences help reduce isolation, offer emotional support, and foster a sense of community.

“The service is designed to be flexible and responsive, adapting to the unique needs, preferences, and circumstances of each individual. Whether through group sessions, one-to-one support, or tailored activities, the aim is always to provide comfort, empowerment and holistic care at every stage of the journey.

“By reading Tony’s and Catherine’s stories, I hope that it encourages other patients and their families to get in touch and let us support you to live well with life-limiting illnesses.”

‘I’d be completely lost without Willow Wood’

Tony and Catherine describe the care they have received at Willow Wood as excellent and faultless. They find it reassuring that support is always at hand.

“The team do care about you and I think that’s a great thing,” explained Tony. “If I wasn’t here for one of my sessions, someone would be ringing me up to find out if I was okay – that’s brilliant.

“The Wellbeing team helped by fitting my sessions around my work and treatment initially, so having that flexibility was important.”

Like many of the patients and families who come to Willow Wood, Tony and Catherine were surprised to learn that it costs around £10,000 a day to keep the Hospice running – and that only 24 per cent of this comes from government funding.

Tony said: “The services at Willow Wood are so important. Just being around people with a similar illness or diagnosis to you who understand where you’re at is so important – I don’t think you’d get that anywhere else.

“The counselling, the complementary therapies, the wellbeing sessions – all of them are so vital. It’s wrong that the government don’t fund it more and it relies on people to raise money to keep it going. We’ve made donations and follow the Hospice on social media.

“I’d be completely lost without Willow Wood Hospice. I sleep so much better once I’ve been here and it makes the world of difference. I always look forward to coming in.”

Tony says his perception of a hospice has changed massively since arriving at Willow Wood and he has one final message to anyone who may be nervous about coming.

“Come and give it a go because you’ll be amazed at what’s on offer and it will do you the world of good. They’re always thinking about you, always caring about you. Don’t be worried – you’ll be amazed at how much it will help you.”

To find out more about Willow Wood Hospice’s services, visit www.willowwood.org.uk or call 0161 330 1100.