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Professor retires after 35 years caring for patients
ONE of the region's best-known doctors is stepping down from Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield after a remarkable career caring for cancer patients for more than 35 years.
Barry Hancock, professor of clinical oncology, is to retire after a distinguished career which has seen him rise from a top student to international acclaim in his field.
Prof Hancock, aged 63, decided to dedicate his life working in healthcare after his experiences of hospitals as a boy. He was born with only a third of his hearing and spent much of his childhood undergoing operations.
He said: "I utterly revered the nurses and doctors who took care of me. I was totally struck by their kindness and care towards their patients. After receiving such good care, and seeing how they helped their patients, I knew I wanted to do the same."
Prof Hancock studied medicine at The University of Sheffield, graduating at the top of his year.
For five years he trained in general medicine around different departments, but treating a very ill teenager made him decide he wanted to specialise in cancer.
He said: "In 1973, a 15-year-old boy was admitted very weak from Hodgkin's lymphoma. We decided to treat him with chemotherapy which was quite new at the time.
"Within 24 hours of the treatment he was considerably better and that sealed it for me. I knew I wanted to specialise in that area. I'm still in contact with that patient to this day, which is a great feeling."
Prof Hancock has dedicated his professional life to tackling cancer ever since, and has risen to become one of the world's leading specialists in the field.
He is an expert in lymphoma, gestational trophoblastic disease, and biological therapy, has authored or edited eight books including Cancer Care in the Hospital and Cancer Care in the Community, and received the OBE for services to medicine this year.
He also received the Lord Mayor of Sheffield's 1999 New Year honours award for services to the community beyond the call of duty, and in 2005 he was honoured with Sheffield University's centenary award for outstanding achievement.
Prof Hancock has worked with Sheffield University throughout his career, and in 1988 was appointed Sheffield's first Chair of Oncology.
He said: "It has been a privilege to work with staff and care for patients here at Sheffield. I have an enormous admiration for the work my colleagues do, and I still get inspired by how dedicated and motivated they are, even after all this time."
Mike Richmond, medical director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said: "Barry has given the people of Sheffield a lifetime of dedicated service and has helped so many patients.
"He has made an enormous contribution in the field of oncology and has been a tremendous asset to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and to this
city.
"He has been a very popular member of staff and his friends and colleagues at the Trust wish him a long and happy retirement."
Prof Hancock is looking forward to spending time in retirement with his wife Helen and family. He also intends to take up golf and travel to Borneo to see orangutans in their natural environment.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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