A retired headteacher from Bury has received chemotherapy treatment for bladder cancer in his garden shed, thanks to The Christie’s landmark at-home service.

Des Burns, 67, his treatment visits are conducted by a nurse from Manchester's cancer centre, The Christie.

Starting in December last year, his sitting room became a temporary renovation site, pushing the lifesaving treatments out the back, to his garden shed.

As part of a move in healthcare innovation, Des partook in the 50,000th treatment, administered by The Christie’s groundbreaking service since its introduction in 2015.

Des receives a bi-weekly dose of Avelumab, a 60-minute intravenous immunotherapy treatment.

Apart from being conditioned to the comfort of his favourite armchair, the "shed sessions" offer Des generous time with his wife, Roz.

Still actively involved with a primary school choir, where he serves as governor, his new routine seems to be working just fine.

Des’s diagnosis came in 2018, just before he stepped down from an illustrious career in teaching.

Recalling the sudden changes, Des said: "I was over in Ireland when I first knew something was wrong."

Later signs of heavy blood in his urine pushed him to seek immediate medical advice.

However, through the initial shock, he maintained a positive attitude and received significant support from his family and friends.

Continuing his detailed recollection, Des said: "Despite the initial shock of the diagnosis, I never felt hopeless."

The recovery went well, and Des was declared cancer-free for three years.

A recent scan disclosed that the cancer had spread, pushing him back to rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

His chemotherapy has then taken this new form since last autumn.

Appreciating the service provided by The Christie, Des acknowledges the immense benefits of home treatments.

He said: "As well as having more time for my family and the things I love, having treatment at home is great for my mental wellbeing."

During all the medical hurdles, Des underlines the unrelenting support from his wife, children, and the proficient staff of The Christie.

Pioneering revolutionary methods of patient care since 2015, The Christie boasts a comprehensive range of drug treatments for home patients, treating more patients at home than any other UK cancer centre.

In the last business year alone, The Christie at Home service administered 8,466 treatments in patient homes.

Crawford Meek, senior charge nurse for The Christie at Home, encapsulates their mission, adding: "The service gives patients time with friends and family and for doing the things they love."