FORMER mayor Rex Barnett has thanked everyone who has supported him since he was diagnosed with lung cancer last year.

The 73-year-old has finished six sessions of chemotherapy, and scans have shown that his tumour has reduced slightly in size.

Last May, just a week before his term as mayor came to an end, Rex was told he has epithelioid mesothelioma.

He has since endured chemotherapy which he described as ‘dreadful’, but says his cancer has now been described as stable.

“I have now had my third scan and I am delighted to say that everything seems stable which is absolutely brilliant,” he said.

“As far as I’m concerned, as long as it stays stable then that is fine. I have to accept that it is something that can still develop at any time but while it is like it is, that is brilliant.

“I have heard of someone who was diagnosed when he was 40 and told it was stable, and he is in his 90s now – but he may just be lucky of course.

“I am feeling well in myself, I could do with better breathing but that is something I have to accept – I don’t think that will ever come back.

“Apparently there are two types to this cancer – the slow moving type and the really aggressive form and fortunately mine seems to be the slightly slower one.”

Rex and wife Sandra thanked everyone who had sent cards and messages of support since his diagnosis and said they were looking forward to attending more community events and supporting charities.

Rex said: “Now Christmas is over I would like to say thank you for all the cards, good wishes and the prayers. It has just been brilliant the amount of support we have had.

“We are now looking out for more charities we can support, trying to raise a few shillings for them. At the moment we are supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Willows, Macmillan, St Mary’s Church, Christ Church and others.

“And anybody that asks us to anything we always try and go to, now we’re trying to get out a bit more. When I was diagnosed I got a bit unreliable because I would say I would go to something and then I would be having a bad day and feeling a bit unwell.

“I can’t thank everybody enough for their support.”