A devoted Wigan Warriors fan who was battling cancer died aged 84 after developing sepsis
A dad determined to fight cancer tragically died from the complications of treatment, an inquest heard.
Allan Pickford, 84, was an avid Wigan Warriors fan, holding a season ticket for 60 years, and a stalwart member and life president of Wigan and District Table Tennis League.
He lived in Leigh with his wife Jean, had two children and was a retired packaging technologist.
An inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court – held as a documentary hearing without witnesses in attendance – heard his family described him as “fit as a fiddle”.
But in September, he went for a health check and an abnormality was found in his prostate, which doctors said could be an early indication of prostate cancer.
Further tests revealed Mr Pickford had stage three Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a type of blood cancer – and he could have chemotherapy to fight it or begin palliative care.
The court heard his family said he was a “fighter” and chose chemotherapy.
He received the first cycle in January, but he collapsed and was admitted to hospital on February 4 with sepsis, which was treated with antibiotics
The strength of the chemotherapy was reduced for the second cycle, but he became ill again and spent 10 days in hospital.
In a statement, Christopher Gregory, consultant haematologist at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the strength was reduced again for the third cycle and Mr Pickford did not need to be admitted to hospital.
But during the fourth cycle, he needed a blood transfusion on April 21 and was admitted to Wigan Infirmary on April 26 with sepsis.
His condition was very unstable, despite being given antibiotics, and Mr Pickford died in the early hours of the following day.
In their statement, his family said they wanted to pass on their thanks to the medical team and believe they did everything they could to help him.
Mr Pickford’s cause of death was neutropenic sepsis caused by Hodgkin’s lymphoma and its treatment with chemotherapy.
Senior coroner Timothy Brennand recorded a narrative conclusion that he died “as a consequence of a combination of naturally occurring disease and recognised complications rising from its necessary treatment”.
He said Mr Pickford was “choosing life” when he decided to have chemotherapy and that showed “the strength of his character”.