It’s not unknown for patients of The Royal Marsden cancer hospital to write about their experiences, but it’s unusual for them to provide photographs as well.

Bangers and Mash by Keith Hern is a personal account of the journey through cancer treatment published with the express intention of de-mystifying the whole experience and, in the author’s words to: “take away some of the fear.”

Keith being a professional photographer, it was always on the cards that some pictures would sneak their way into the account and, in terms of taking away the fear, the succession of pictures of a remarkably calm, cheery and surprisingly unscathed cancer patient really hit the mark.

Keith’s consultant at The Royal Marsden, Kevin Harrington, appreciates the role that books like this can play in helping people undergoing the often gruelling treatment: “I can tell people the facts and describe the treatment, but I can’t tell them how it feels”.

Bangers and Mash does just that. It doesn’t pull any punches, but Keith’s engaging blend of energy, optimism and humour carries you through every stage with him.

No doubt it was this persuasive mix that also convinced nurses, radiographers and doctors to allow the camera to invade their normally private environment, providing an essential insight into what the treatment actually entails.

Bangers and Mash (you’ll understand the title when you read it) is available from Amazon or via www.keithhern.com.