A man still receiving treatment for an aggressive stage-four cancer has become a volunteer dining companion at Salford Royal Hospital
Mike Atkinson, 47, was diagnosed with stage-four glioblastoma in July 2022 after suffering from lost weight and severe migraines before being admitted to Salford Royal’s A&E department. Three days after he was diagnosed with cancer, he underwent a five-hour operation.
Glioblastoma is a type of cancer that is found in the brain or spinal cord.
“It took me a long time to say the word cancer because you never think that’s going to happen to you,” Mike said.
During his recovery at the Hospital, Mike had a certain knack for cheering up his fellow patients in his ward. He was told by nurses and consultants about the hospital’s volunteering system and that he would be perfect for the role of a dining companion.
He said: “I was always up and about speaking to people in my ward, I thought I’d love to do this
“Everyone was laughing, to me, that’s a massive part of volunteering, giving something back to what they’ve given me.
“If I can help someone else’s recovery, it’s worth it. There’s still light out there.”
A dining companion is someone who interacts and chats with patients as well as helping with feeding the patients or supporting those who struggle to feed themselves. They are a friendly face to have a chat with and get people to smile.
Mike is still receiving treatment for his diagnosis, but on the days he isn’t, he likes to spend his time volunteering, listening to people’s stories and helping them out.
He spoke about getting patients to talk who previously wouldn’t and making people smile who had been there a long time.
Mike said: “Lifting that mood to the way it was, it’s amazing, they look forward to that every day.
“It’s a very personally rewarding thing to do. I’ve always been a people person and I love to see people smile. If I can make someone smile and brighten their day and get something back, I’ve achieved something. I’ve made someone’s day really good. That’s a bonus.
“It’s never going to change me as a person, yes I have my off days, but those off days are getting less and less now. It’s never going to beat me.
“I tell anyone I meet now if you start getting things in your body that’s not right, please go to your doctor because it could literally save your life.”
Dining companion service lead, Jayne Potter, is amazed by what Mike does. She said: “Mike is fabulous in his role with Volunteer Dining Companions, who knows better what a patient needs than Mike who has lived it. Every time he comes in with a big smile and a real enthusiasm for life. He amazes me with his outlook and determination I am in total awe of this man.”
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