Published: Wednesday, 24th June, 2009 2:00pm

Son hid his cancer to protect mum

TRAGIC LOSS: John Paul.

A HEARTBROKEN mother has revealed how her cancer-stricken son died a week after being rushed into hospital.

John Paul, 54, had been ill for some weeks but did not tell his family until a few days before he died.

Devoted John who lived with his elderly mother, Catherine, in Castle Road, Greenock, kept the deadly secret to himself for weeks to make sure he did not cause her distress.

She said: 'John knew more about his illness than he told us. He said he had a cyst on his kidney but it could be treated and not to worry.'

There were warning signs only a few weeks before, when John was taken into hospital with breathing problems and had to get fluid removed from his lungs.

Even then, hard-working John was back at his job in Aulds at Inchinnan the next day.

A scan revealed he had cancer only a few weeks ago but when he arrived at the Beatson Oncology Unit in Glasgow last Friday, a week before he died, he was told nothing could be done as the cancer had spread throughout his body.

It was only when he was gravely ill, needing oxygen and morphine, that John delivered the bombshell news to his beloved mum.

Catherine, 79, said: 'He told me there was nothing they could do for him and they were going to let him home.

'He decided to go into the hospice instead of coming home because he did not want to upset me, but he didn"t make it and died on Monday.'

Avid Morton fan John was a member of the supporters" club since he was 18 and a popular committee member.

He was in the club"s darts team and was a West of Scotland darts champion. He was also a member of the golf section.

John never married but he was close to his brothers, Mark, 37, and Matt, 56, and sisters Sandra, 46, and Rae, 51, brother-in-law Scott, and adored his five nephews and niece.

Devastated Sandra said: 'That was the kind of person he was - he would put anyone in front of himself. He was selfless. He didn"t want anyone to worry about him and would go out of his way to do anything for everyone else.

'The nurses said he was very brave the way he handled it.

'I don"t think it"s sunk in with my mum yet. She relied on him. He was the man of the house.'

The family urged anyone who feels ill to go to their doctor straight away. Sandra said: 'He was never ill and didn"t like going to the doctor. I would urge anyone who feels ill to go to the doctor. We don"t want anybody to go through what we"re going through.'

John"s funeral is being held at Greenock Crematorium on Friday at 10am.