Birkenhead cancer patient Peter Cavanagh sees dog cocker spaniel in X-ray Walton Hospital

‘It’s just barking!’ Grandfather battling cancer is stunned to find the face of a ‘cocker spaniel’ in X-ray of his spine

  • Peter Cavanagh, 70, went to Walton Hospital in Liverpool for a routine X-ray
  • He couldn’t believe it when he saw a shadow shaped like a cocker spaniel 
  • Grandfather of more than 20 beat oesophagus cancer but now it’s in his spine

A grandfather battling cancer was left baffled when he looked at his spinal X-ray to see the face of a cocker spaniel staring back at him.

Peter Cavanagh, 70, beat cancer of the oesophagus three years ago, but the disease has now returned to his spine.

He was having a routine X-ray at Walton Hospital in Liverpool when the saw the shape of the dog’s face next to his spinal chord.

Mr Cavanagh, of Birkenhead, and his wife of 50 years Tess, had to stop themselves bursting into a fit of giggles.

Mr Cavanagh, of Birkenhead, and his wife of 50 years Tess, had to stop themselves bursting into a fit of giggles and argued about whether it looked more like a beagle or a spaniel 

Peter Cavanagh was having a routine X-ray at Walton Hospital in Liverpool when he saw the shape of the dog’s face next to his spinal chord (pictured) 

They argued over which breed of dog it looked like the most, but he decided it was more a spaniel than a beagle.  

He said: ‘It was one of those surreal moments. We’ve joked since that it is just ‘barking’.

‘The dog’s nose is exactly where the cancer is affecting my body. The family have argued over whether it is a spaniel or a Beagle but I’m definitely going with spaniel.’

Mr Cavanagh, who played for Everton Football Club as a youngster, is now to undergo further treatment.

The father-of-three, who has more than 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, added: ‘Cancer is not a pleasant disease but you have to keep smiling and battling on.

‘I just hope that it will put a smile on people’s faces, particularly if they are in the same sort of position as me. You’ve got to keep smiling.’  

Mr Cavanagh had his X-ray done at The Walton Hospital in Liverpool (pictured) 

Mr Cavanagh had his X-ray done at The Walton Hospital in Liverpool (pictured) 

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