Mouth cancer op for Kenny Richey

JUST months after being freed from death row, Kenny Richey has been delivered a new blow with the confirmation he has cancer.

The 43-year-old chain smoker broke down in tears when doctors told him a lump in his mouth was malignant.

Although, his chances will depend on the extent to which the cancer has developed and embedded itself – and Richey has admitted he tried to ignore it while in jail in the US – survival rates for mouth cancer are not good.

In the UK the mortality rate is just over 50 per cent, despite treatment, with 2718 deaths occurring in 2005.

Richey, who has moved back in with his mum Eileen, in Dalry, Edinburgh, is reported to have said: "I had tried to prepare myself for the worst, but actually hearing the news was devastating."

He added: "After 21 years of hell it has gone from bad to worse."

Richey has admitted struggling to adapt to life on the outside.

He has sought the help of former Birmingham Six prisoner Paddy Hill, who now runs the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation (MOJO).

He was determined to build a new life by making a new start with his former wife Wendy Amerud and returning to the US to see his son.

But the revelation that he is battling a life-threatening disease has once again knocked him for six. Richey reportedly said: "When my specialist told me the tests were positive I just broke down in tears.

"The lump is on the inside of my cheek and I first noticed it a couple of years ago when I was in jail.

"However, I wasn't able to get it checked out properly as death row inmates aren't seen as priority medical cases.

"The pain comes and goes but I learned to put up with it.

"When I got back to Scotland I went to see the dentist who immediately said I should have a biopsy as it didn't look good."

However, Richey is used to beating the odds after being scheduled for execution on 13 occasions, and is determined to continue with his plan to go see his wife, son and grandchildren.

He said: "I am planning on returning to the States and I am not going to let this stop me.

"I want to hold my son Sean in my arms and see my grandkids for the first time.

"I also want to visit my father, who is also suffering from cancer, as he doesn't have much time left. I feel really bad for my mum as she has been through so much.

"She is refusing to admit it to herself though and is in denial.

"However, she has nothing to worry about as I always win my battles and this one won't be any different."

The launderette worker revealed she only found out about her son's test results after overhearing a conversation he had with his life coach, the former Blue Peter presenter Diane Louise Jordan.

She said: "He's been through enough already so I'm praying he can get through this."