Cancer-stricken teacher uses his illness as inspiration for adventure novel
When Andrew Detheridge, 56, an English teacher for over 30 years collapsed in his kitchen in November 2023, little did he know, in that moment, his life had changed forever. A week of tests at Russell's Hall hospital revealed the news no-one wants to hear: he had incurable Stage Four cancer that had spread to various organ from his brain down to his bowel. He was advised to make a will and given 6-12 months to live.
Months of immunotherapy and radiotherapy followed but Andrew was determined he was not going to sit around feeling sorry for himself. Having previously had four novels published, he decided to make the most of every minute and write a new piece of fiction, blurring together his own experiences in hospital, alongside an epic story of a man who ponders the meaning of life and the origins of the universe. He determines a way to access Heaven and ask God himself!
The book took nine months to write and was published on Amazon this week and available to purchase now.
Despite the diagnosis, Andrew continues to confound the doctors and is coming up to two years since his seizure. He is already at work on a new novel.
