JEAN Evans and June Proffitt watched their husbands die of the country's two biggest killers: cancer and heart disease.

Seeing a loved one suffer is devastatingly painful so it takes great courage to share the ordeal with millions.

But Jean, who lost Keith to colon cancer, and June, whose partner, Denis, died of heart disease, allowed television cameras to record how they coped with the trauma.

Their stories feature tonight at 9pm on the third of a five-part Channel Four documentary Death, which started earlier this month and has already featured the story of cancer victim, Beryl Harris, who died in June last year.

Swindon film-maker Lou Hamilton followed patients with terminal illnesses, many of them from her home town.

The series took three years to complete and created one of the most powerful documentaries ever screened on British television.

Denis Proffitt, 73, from Stratton, died in July last year, exactly a year after the death of Keith Evans, 62.

By following their last two years of life, the programme exposes the lack of care available for victims of heart disease to illustrate its title You're Better off with Cancer.

Jean Evans, 60, who was married to Keith for 35 years, said: "My husband died with dignity, thanks to the tremendous care he received. We agreed to the filming as a tribute to their outstanding support."

She takes flowers to the crematorium where Keith's ashes are scattered on a weekly basis and misses him terribly.

But memories of their final moments together are filled with happiness.

"He died at home, holding my hand and clung on to the bitter end," she said.

Jean, from Cheney Manor, recalls telling him to go if he was too poorly and within minutes he died.

Keith was first diagnosed with colon cancer nine years ago.

She said: "It was a terrible shock and throws your life upside down."

Following surgery and chemotherapy, he went into remission. But their fear of the disease returning never faded.

"We dreaded it coming back because the effects were so agonising," said Jean. In September 1999, their worst nightmare was confirmed when Keith was diagnosed with terminal cancer. His body failed to respond to treatment and doctors gave him six months to live.

Jean said: "They explained nothing more could be done for him and told us to make the most of our time left together."

So they enjoyed a holiday in the Canary Islands, while Keith could still walk and appreciate good food.

"It was a wonderfully relaxing break and offered a much-needed respite from hospital beds."

Back in Swindon, Keith benefited from therapy at the Prospect Hospice in Wroughton.

He had homeopathy and was encouraged to be creative through writing stories and making crafts.

Besides enriching his quality of life, the service gave Jean time to herself.

She said: "Keith was a fighter and did not want to be a burden to me. He even organised his own funeral."

During his final month, Keith was bed-bound and wanted to stay at home.

So social services installed a special bed downstairs, with nurses tending to him day and night.

In addition to a sitting vigil with Keith, Jean was also looking after their 16-year-old poodle, Susie.

She said: "She had cancer of the neck. One day Keith shouted: 'Get rid of the dog' because he was worried about my workload.

"He never lost his sense of humour and put others before himself to the end."

His morphine levels were monitored to make sure he passed away in relative comfort.

"He parted peacefully and I am slowly learning to live without him," said Jean. "Strangely enough, the film crew were a consoling presence and really cared."

Since his death, Jean has taken several holidays, travelling to Scotland, Italy, Greece and even the Dominican Republic.

She has also started watercolour painting and attends coffee mornings at Cruse, a bereavement counselling centre in Old Town.

"It is hard but I take every day at a time. I am eternally thankful to the people who helped fulfil Keith's dying wishes and enhanced my own future."