Marie Orr said if it wasn't for the dedicated staff at the Albury Wodonga Cancer Centre, especially oncologist Craig MacLeod, she doesn't know whether her husband's bowel cancer would have been discovered in time to save him.

It was only because Dr MacLeod decided to go the extra mile and investigate Bill Orr's persistent cough, that a 'massive tumour' in his bowel was uncovered.

"We're just very very grateful," Mrs Orr said.

"The children now still have their father and I still have my wonderful husband.

"We don't know what would have happened in the near future if it hadn't have been discovered or if they discovered it too late and maybe it had already started spreading..."

Retired policeman Bill, now 83, was diagnosed with prostate cancer mid-2019.

During one of his final check-ups Dr MacLeod asked whether he could investigate Mr Orr's chronic cough which led to the uncovering of a massive cancerous tumour.

Mrs Orr said Dr MacLeod could have easily said everything was right with Bill's prostate and sent the couple on their way.

"Thank goodness for him," she said. "We would have come home and gone on with having the normal cough [treatments] and goodness only knows what would have happened."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Mrs Orr said they don't know whether the cough was linked to the bowel tumour or if it was just a coincidence.

"The cough is gone now, that's the amazing thing about it," she said. "We're just presuming maybe because the cancer was so big it was pushing on his lungs."

As of August 11, Mr Orr is officially cancer free and to give back to the cancer centre Mrs Orr has decided to participate in this year's Sunshine Walk, and shave her head if she raises $5000.

"I have mixed feelings about it, but I think when you do something like this you have to think of the people you're doing it for and the cause you're doing it for," she said. "We need this facility and if I can do something [to help]... well what's a bit of hair, it'll grow back."

Mrs Orr said her husband had 38 treatments which would have meant multiple trips to Melbourne without the local cancer centre.

Last year Mrs Orr completed the five-kilometre Sunshine Walk - only six weeks after being fitted with a pace maker.

This year she plans to walk 10 kilometres with the Hearts of Howlong team.

To support Mrs Orr visit https://give.awcancertrust.org.au/fundraisers/marieorr