ONE of Northern Ireland’s leading oncologists is swapping his stethoscope for a guitar, all to raise funds for local cancer charity Friends of the Cancer Centre.

Bangor’s professor Joe O’Sullivan, clinical director of oncology at the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital, has written and recorded an album inspired by his patients and his work as an oncologist.

The album, Take a Deep Breath, was recorded with Joe’s bandmates Sarah Williamson, a health service manager and Dr Rossa Brazil, a psychiatrist.

The album, which went on sale yesterday, from Friends of the Cancer Centre and online at www.friendsofthecancercentre.com , features 10 tracks covering some of the memorable encounters Joe has had with his patients throughout his career and touches upon love, loss, grief, forgiveness and even men’s unwillingness to talk about their feelings.

The album artwork also has a connection to Joe’s work as it features a painting by one of his former patient’s, local artist Graham Catney. In a fitting partnership, Joe is donating the proceeds from the album to one of Northern Ireland’s leading cancer charities, Friends of the Cancer Centre.

Joe said, “I have always loved music and I first started playing guitar at University and over the years I’ve even been in a couple of cover bands. In recent years I’ve started to write my own songs and that’s really how the album started.  Most songwriters say you should write about what you know and what you care about, so for me that meant my work and my patients.

“The main inspiration behind the album comes from the courageous people I’ve had the privilege of meeting and treating over the years.”

• Take a Deep Breath is available from www.friendsofthecancercentre.com or you can pre-order on iTunes now.  The album costs £10 and all proceeds will be donated to Friends of the Cancer Centre.