A retired post office worker from Ellesmere Port who took his own life had been diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer.
The brother of Stephen Wilson, 59, said he will be remembered for his sense of humour.
The body of Mr Wilson, of Atherton Road, was found hanged at his home on March 1; his inquest was held at Chester Magistrates Court on July 12.
A previous bout of cancer had left him with a stoma, which had made him more anxious about social situations on top of his struggles with mental health.
Senior coroner for Cheshire Nicholas Rheinberg recorded a verdict of suicide.
He said to Mr Wilson's brother: “I’m so sorry I met you in these sad circumstances.
“It would be easy to form a negative opinion of Mr Wilson from the evidence, but we know he was someone with a good sense of humour.
“He enjoyed life when he was not dogged with the threat of cancer.
“I’m satisfied this is something Mr Wilson had arranged. There’s no doubt he wanted to end his suffering from the cancer, clearly his life had become intolerable.”
Born in Birkenhead, Mr Wilson had a number of jobs throughout his life, but had spent the longest amount of time working in a post office.
He had a history of anxiety and depression, and his GP at Whitby Group Practice said he had developed an ‘avoidance of social situations’.
Mr Wilson was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2008 and needed an operation to remove the tumour.
Unfortunately this left him needing a stoma, an opening in the abdomen which diverts faeces and urine into a pouch, which only made him more anxious about leaving the house.
In 2009 he took an overdose expecting to die, then told his doctor he woke up the next morning feeling both ‘relieved and disappointed’.
His GP added the 59-year-old had trouble ‘discussing the emotional difficulties of his experiences’.
The cancer returned in late 2014, but he was told doctors would be unable to operate on it. Effects of this tumour left him mostly housebound.
While discussing a do-not resuscitate order in 2015, Mr Wilson said he ‘didn’t like the protracted process towards death’.
'It's so sad'
Mr Wilson remained close with his family, who regularly visited him at his home and brother Paul would help out with the shopping.
Paul Wilson said: “Stephen had a good sense of humour. It’s so sad.
“He never talked about harming himself, but it was very difficult for him when the cancer returned.”
The brothers spoke on the phone on February 29, but Paul Wilson said something seemed a bit strange as his sibling was very quiet.
Stephen Wilson did not answer any texts or calls the following day.
Paul Wilson said: “I called round and I saw a note which said to call the police urgently.
“I was shouting for him and there was no response, I smashed in the back window to try to get in. After I found him I dialled 999.”
Police arrived in Atherton Road at 1.10pm and officers found a note on a search of the bungalow which the coroner said ‘made clear his intentions’.
A post-mortem examination found the cause of death as hanging, the toxicologist found only prescription medicine in Mr Wilson’s blood.
If you are struggling with mental health, contact charity Mind on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans provide confidential support and are available to talk 24 hours a day on 08457 909090.
